Is the danish a good opening?

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wait-what-am-i-doing
I have learnt the danish gambit and it seems really good but I want to know if it’s good for a 700/600 like me or if I should try other openings (caro kann,Vienna
KeSetoKaiba

It is a good opening and especially if you want to learn how to attack, or attacking concepts such as the power of the initiative in chess. However, the Danish Gambit is not objectively the most solid opening at the highest levels. Mainline openings like the Caro-Kann Defense or Vienna Game (since you mentioned those) are better objectively speaking.

I don't typically recommend gambit openings for players under 1200 rating, but there is nothing "special" about the 1200 number I mentioned. If you want to play the Danish Gambit because you like it, then great! Play it at any level if you like. I played someone at my local chess club who was about 2200 rated and they play the Danish Gambit, so if they can play it successfully, then rating isn't a huge issue.

Before you get to 1200-ish rating, or at least until you gain a lot more chess experience, usually following chess opening principles is more important than which opening you choose:

https://www.chess.com/blog/KeSetoKaiba/opening-principles-again

If you want to experiment with openings, then that is fine too. If you are considering switching openings, then I recommend checking out this YouTube video I made about 2 weeks ago. It will give you some resources to help decide what opening you might be good with and my favorite of these resources is the chess personality quiz I mention in the video. happy.png

TheSampson

I won’t whip you for playing the Danish, but I’d argue it isn’t the best. It sacrifices two pawns for the supposed initiative yet loses it all when a single bishop is traded. Gambits usually ignore opening principles and are unhelpful for a beginner’s growth. I’d recommend the Scotch Game, it’s a great opening for beginners which follows principles and encourages basic tactics and positional use. The Vienna is fine, but the Scotch is much more solid and the Caro-Kann isn’t an opening for white.

TheSampson
KeSetoKaiba wrote:

It is a good opening and especially if you want to learn how to attack, or attacking concepts such as the power of the initiative in chess. However, the Danish Gambit is not objectively the most solid opening at the highest levels. Mainline openings like the Caro-Kann Defense or Vienna Game (since you mentioned those) are better objectively speaking.

I don't typically recommend gambit openings for players under 1200 rating, but there is nothing "special" about the 1200 number I mentioned. If you want to play the Danish Gambit because you like it, then great! Play it at any level if you like. I played someone at my local chess club who was about 2200 rated and they play the Danish Gambit, so if they can play it successfully, then rating isn't a huge issue.

Before you get to 1200-ish rating, or at least until you gain a lot more chess experience, usually following chess opening principles is more important than which opening you choose:

https://www.chess.com/blog/KeSetoKaiba/opening-principles-again

If you want to experiment with openings, then that is fine too. If you are considering switching openings, then I recommend checking out this YouTube video I made about 2 weeks ago. It will give you some resources to help decide what opening you might be good with and my favorite of these resources is the chess personality quiz I mention in the video.

Hey i really like the opening on the thumbnail of that video

wait-what-am-i-doing
Thx for the advice but what if I practice on bots (it actually worked on Nelson :))
TheSampson
MariaMilk14569 wrote:
Thx for the advice but what if I practice on bots (it actually worked on Nelson :))

shouldn’t really matter, chess is chess

wait-what-am-i-doing
Ok
DrSpudnik

Not if Black knows what to do.

wait-what-am-i-doing
Also what about
-the silician
-the evans gambit
TheSampson

The Evans Gambit is good but you won’t ever get it at your level because everyone plays Nf6

The Sicilian really depends on your line. There are some lines which are so painfully theory-filled that if you make one mistake, your opponent’s after you. There are then, some very calm lines. But there’s also the risky stuff like the Smith-Morra and all the other sidelines you have to know

wait-what-am-i-doing
I just like positional dominance
lolar231
This is good
lolar231
I don't typically recommend gambit openings for players under 1200 rating.
SpelerThomas

The Danish is a great attacking opening for beginner levels. I would recommend the Italian though. 1 e4 e5 2 nf3 nc6 3 bc4. You can also play bc4 first and then nf3. But black has a few options now. If he plays anything other than bc5 or nf6 then you can play 4 d4 exd4 5 nxd4. You have a great center and you didn't gambit a pawn. Now if he instead played nf6, you play ng5, which threatens the pawn on f7. This is called the fried liver. Black has some options now if he knows theory, but if he doesn't then white should be really good. If he doesnt play nf6 but he plays bc5, then you play b4, which is the start of the evans gambit. On the next moves you play c3 and d4. And later you play Qb3 to attack f7 twice. It's a really good gambit and played even at higher level.

wait-what-am-i-doing
Wow!
annybionmui

You can go to Techloky, where the latest mods are always updated

fremble

At lower ratings it's fine to use. Likely more on the meh side higher up, and probably unsound (?)

undergroundbrownrice

If you really want to play gambits, I suggest you try Queen's gambit.

Cobra2721

It is good and very fun to play. I prefer Italian but it all a matter of taste, any 1500 who comes in here saying its refuted by stockfish, ignore them.

nighteyes1234

I would say its critical for black with e5 to study it.