e4 best by test - wrong?

Thank you ChessGeekYT.

AncientGM please stop as you have NO IDEA what you're talking about. 

Look at ANY databases or read ANY chess theory book, they all say the exact opposite to what you're saying. If Kasparov plays 1. b4 and wins what the hell are you talking about? Have you ever even looked at a database in your life?

There are lots of strong and interesting players around here with a lot of chess knowledge but I don't understand why people like you feel the need to spread misinformation without having any idea what you're talking about. 

The site has so many people like that. It's the reason why I quit the forum for years. Can you really believe you have any idea what you're talking about? Just stop.   

The things I am talking about here are nothing new and will definitely be useful for people who keep failing at keeping an opening advantage. There is a system which enables White to maintain initiative, but not quite finished yet. There are still some questions to be answered. Keep in mind that being open minded is a good thing. As for books...of course they will say something like "Winning with the Scotch" for example. That doesn't mean it is true. It will get more attention that way.

Again just a reminder! If you don't find my advices useful than, maybe someone else will. You have expressed your negativity and disbelief towards the idea I proposed and that's fine, but telling me I have no idea what I am talking about since you don't understand or don't want to understand is just wrong.

Let me give you one example of the system in use.

Let us say 1.d4 is White's best first option since it is the only move that controls 3 squares in the center right?

Black has 2 respectable replies here: 1...d5 and 1...Nf6.

Let us say we start our first exaple with QGD 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6

Now for the second move for White it is certain that 2.c4 is the best. Why not 2.Nf3? The answer lies in the fact that it is gives up control over the e4 square for no reason and blocks the f-pawn which could be useful later in a fight for initiative for it can support the e4 pawn.

If we continue to follow this kind of approach it is not hard to realize that the White's best third option is 3.Nc3 keeping the initiative. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6. Now arises the question of which move is preferable and why (4.cxd5 or 4.Bg5). The answer is 4.cxd5 and here is why. By playing 4.Bg5, White will unfortunately after 4...Be7 have to concede the fight for the e4 square (and the fight for initiative) by playing either 5.e3 or 5.Nf3 or he will have to exchange a couple of minor pieces which will only help Black due to a simplifications as to keep fighting for initiative White would have to play 5.cxd5 but here the difference is that Black can take with the Knight instead of the e-pawn. As said, the resulting position is too simplified to expect any opening advantage (4.Bg5 Be7 5.cxd5 Nxd5! 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.e4 Nxc3 8.bxc3).

After determining why 4.cxd5 is the right choice we can continue on. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 now that pawn on d5 has been fixed can we continue moving forward. Other moves fail to keep the initiative going. 5...Be7 or 5...c6 is more or less the same for us since 6.e3 is the way to anyhow. 6.e3 is a move that denies Blacks LSB to join in the fight which is extremely important if White was to expect an advantage.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6. So far as White we have:

- Center pawn majority and the ability to advance them

- Ability to control the e4 in the future while it cannot be said for Black (e5) and 

- Better Bishop

Since ...c6 was played it is well clear that Black discarded c5 option and now Black has only 1 good idea and that is placing the Knight on the e4 square if allowed by White.

So, is the most common 7.Bd3 the correct and best move? NO

The only move that keeps White's initiative is 7.Qc2!

7.Qc2 prevents the move Ne4 by Black as it simply loses a pawn due to tactic on the d5 square (7...Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Nxd5 cxd5 10.Qxc8+).

Queen's position cannot also be taken advantage off (7...Na6 8.Bxa6 one more merit of the move 7.Qc2, not moving the Bishop too early). 7...g6 (planing 8...Bf5) is answered with well timed 8.Bd3 after which the plan of 8...Na6 9.a3 (for demonstrating pusposes) Nc7 10.Nge2 Ne6 11.Bh4 Ng7 12.f3 Bf5 13.e4 is refuted by White

7...O-O 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.Nge2! Re8 10.O-O Ne4?! again failing due to White's optimal piece placement 11.Bxe4! dxe4 12.Bf4 f5 (the only way to protect the e4 pawn) and 13.Nd5 getting the necessary winning advantage.

After the best 10...Nf8 we can finally start playing in the center which would be impossible or significantly inferior if any other moves for White were being played prior to this (moves like Nf3 at any point and 7.Bd3)

11.f3 Ng6 12.e4 dxe4 13.fxe4 Be6 (13...c5 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.dxc5).

14.Bxf6! Proved to be the best Bxf6 15.e5 Be7 16.Rad1 Bf8 17.Rf2

This was one example of what this is all about.