The list is hogwash. There is absolutely nothing wrong with 1...c6 or 1...e6. On move two, they contest the e4-pawn instead of the d4-square like 1...e5 and 1...c5.
Jan Gustafsson's List of Good 1.e4 Defenses
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Jul 2, 2024
0
#3
It's not that there's nothing to his POV, it's just small minded. Because you can play chess in many different ways. Also... there are more good sicilians than that. And why isn't the italian on the list...? The trend has actually been away from theoretical variations at top level... Seems small minded to me.
LeGambiteer wrote:
In Jan's Chessable course, he said it's hard to endorse moves like 1...e6, 1...c6, 1...g6, etc. The center is there, fight for it! But don't go overboard with something extreme like 1...d5 or 1...Nf6, of course.
Black can use any of those opening moves to fight for the center.
What Jan seems to have meant is that he prefers openings that contest the d4 square right away (1... e5 or 1... c5).
But d4 square isn't the only square in the "center". There are four central squares: e4, d4, e5, and d5.
Even if we give Jans the benefit of the doubt, we can reduce his message to say "Fight for White's center!", which would be referring to two squares: the e4 square, and the d4 square.
The Alekhine and the Scandinavian both challenge the e4 square on move 1. The French and the Caro both challenge the e4 square on move 2. The Modern prepares to challenge the d4 square a few moves down the road, usually with an eventual ...e5 or ...c5 push.
So ... they all fight for the center - just in different ways.
Jul 7, 2024
0
#5
Jan is assuming most have his memory, and can go 20+ moves deep in theory. Most players cannot/ and below 2100 in blitz and rapid it is next 2 impossible. Find positions u like, open/ closed/hypermodern/ whatever, then find a defence that can likely steer u there.
later dudes
goommba88
Best opening for player who wants to get better is for sure 1..e5
Jan is talking about world championship level of openings, in which case he is correct these days. But usual GMs can and do play those openings successfully
Jan has it right.
tygxc wrote:
Jan has it right.
As you yourself said it multiple times, both the French and the Caro-Kann were played by world champions. They are now rare at the top level, but they may rise again. Fashion in chess changes almost as fast as in other areas.
Also, there were times in the recent past when some of the listed openings (the Berlin, the Marshall) were out of favor and no top player played them.
In Jan's Chessable course, he said it's hard to endorse moves like 1...e6, 1...c6, 1...g6, etc. The center is there, fight for it! But don't go overboard with something extreme like 1...d5 or 1...Nf6, of course.
He then lists strong black openings against 1.e4, they are the following:
Does Jan's list still hold in 2024 or is it outdated? Should he have included the Breyer, the Zaitsev, the Kalashnikov, the Taimanov, or the Dragon. How do you rank these openings in terms of recent masters games