I ranked all 20 responses to e4 for black

Exactly, maybe you can survive for a bit longer in the Sicilian but you have to know theory. Like in the position I showed, you have to know to not play 5. ...Na6. Very theoretical.

you seriously think scandinavian is superior to the nimzowitsch??

Its just opinion.

using my eyes

the actual sicilian positions look good for both sides

maybe op doesnt know how the sicilian is good, and thinks white is crushing in those lines

but the caro looks more better for white

btw that b5 line with f5 is not the matovinsky

a) whites up a pawn

but more importantly the bishops on b5 not on d3 (where it has a purpose, attacking the diagonal)

Thank you ultimate trashtalker

i was talking to the person who thinks that the sicilian is eighth in this list because "white can achieve a better position easier"

disprove this (that white cannot) instead of parroting on one thing i said

i need you to prove that it is so much easier for white to "achieve a better position" in the sicilian than the caro to warrant a 5 place difference in favor of the caro (if not you are talking about something else)

and btw ops nuremberg variation nonsense is wrong

Hey, don't pick on me man. I'm just part of the angry mob.

Example?

I’ve been trying to tell people not to knock the Nimzowitsch and people keep placing it 9-12 for some odd reason. I put it third (directly behind e5) seeing as Accepted is so good and Declined is literally just e5

Here’s my personal list of the top 4 responses to 1. e4. Notice the Sicilian’s placement.

1. e5

The most classical and the most popular response to 1. e4. Filled to the brim with theory, unless you play a Petrov or something. Somewhat drawish compared to the Sicilian, but great from beginner level to grandmaster level.

2. c5 (Sicilian Defense)

Easily the best counterattacking weapon to play for a win. More common than 1… e5 at the grandmaster level and rightfully so. There are many variations to choose from, each with its own advantages, disadvantages, and so on. The Sicilian is a really tough opening to crack, and even if white plays perfectly, black is still almost equalizing. There isn’t a single line where black is worse (as long as he knows what he’s doing). For example, in the Open Sicilian, the best response for white, black is still great and manages to counterattack white in every good line. Overall, the Sicilian usually offers a solid structure AND endless dynamic possibilities for both sides, which is why I like to play it as both white and black.

3. e6 (French Defense)

Great choice from beginner to intermediate level. Counterattacks quickly at the cost of a bad light-squared bishop and a slight space disadvantage in the center. The French Defense offers a super solid structure while maintaining the countless dynamic possibilities. The only reason it’s under the Sicilian is because of the space disadvantage in the center- locking in most of black’s pieces, and the bad bishop, both disadvantages the Sicilian doesn’t demand.

4. c6 (Caro-Kann)

Probably the last great defense against 1. e4. I’m pretty sure it was created as a substitute to the French where the light-squared bishop remains active, but at the cost of 2 tempi (The pawn on c6 supports d5, but will go to c5 later, and c5 needs to be supported by e6 which reveals the bishop’s defense, a move that could’ve supported d5 earlier). Very solid, somewhat drawish, but doesn’t try to get a cheap advantage or trick like some openings. Great option for beginners.

5. Pirc defense

The pirc defense is a hypermodern opening where black adopts a kings indian setup and does not show his cards untill move 5-7. black uses this to his advantage due to white having to show his cards earlier. black usually will play in a philodor setup or a benoni setup depending how white plays

6. alekhines defense

the alekhine defense is a hypermodern opening where black manuvers his knight all around, claiming that he is making white overextend his pawns and that they are a liability, not a strength. The alekhine is very sharp, typically it is played to win and is a respected opening

@Sea_Turtle

How would you compare the Pirc to the Modern? I find myself preferring the Modern often as it's more flexible.

What advantages would the Pirc order have?

uhh

modern typically has no knight on f6, so the bishop is stronger

and the modern is a good transposing opening

the pirc is agianst e4 and is typically more agressive and confronting

and the modern isnt?

The French and the C-K both tend to take time to get their pawns/pieces to ideal squares.

In the C-K, this often happens with c6+c5. Black uses time to get the c-pawn where he wants it.

In the French, this often happens with Bd7+Bc6/Bb5, or b6+Bb7/Ba6. Black uses time to get the LSB where he wants it.

All paths lead to Rome.

Either way, I don't think tempi are worth worrying about, in either of these defenses ... as both Black and White tend to move their pawns and/or pieces multiple times, to position them well.

Oh the 5 place gap is because the top 10 are all close in my opinion, there really isn't a very big gap between 2-9.

question, will you respond to my comments?