You only ranked e4 openings after e5
Ranking openings for the intermediate (1200-2000)

What would white play after eg e4 e6
d4 Nc3 e5 a3 bxc3 Qg4 is mainline im pretty sure.

No that’s the old Winawer mainline, but 7. h4 is better in the Winawer iirc and most French players play 3… Nf6, not the Winawer.

No that’s the old Winawer mainline, but 7. h4 is better in the Winawer iirc and most French players play 3… Nf6, not the Winawer.
Bro who the hell still plays the messy maccutcheon?!?!?!?!

The MacCutcheon, the Burn, and the Steinitz are all still pretty common. The Mainline and the Winawer have become a lot less popular.

The MacCutcheon, the Burn, and the Steinitz are all still pretty common. The Mainline and the Winawer have become a lot less popular.
Personally i wouldn't play the maccutcheon or the burn or the steinitz.

Also what line do you reccomend in the Ruy Lopez for white after a6
The mainline.

That's very theory heavy though
this logic is straight up flawed.
Noone knows mainlines nowadays because "Its too theory heavy though".

Ok, I get your logic, but I think near the higher end of the range(1800-2000) people will definitely know their main system against the Ruy Lopez really well

If you respond to e4 with e5, you will probably know what to do vs Ruy Lopez as it's the most popular opening vs e5.

If you respond to e4 with e5, you will probably know what to do vs Ruy Lopez as it's the most popular opening vs e5.
Soo are you telling me your average 1800 is getting into trouble out of the opening when playing the ruy?

If they don't know the opening, the will probably lose. That's why they learn the opening, so they don't lose. That's why if you are white, you have to learn the opening, so that black(who learnt the opening so they wouldn't lose) wouldn't just beat youq

If they don't know the opening, the will probably lose. That's why they learn the opening, so they don't lose. That's why if you are white, you have to learn the opening, so that black(who learnt the opening so they wouldn't lose) wouldn't just beat youq
But white will know theory.
And by your logic, The ruy is too theory heavy soo black has studied it?
Hello, I decided to give you people my own opinion on openings for the intermediate player.
Many consider it controversial and even bad!
Lets start from what i consider to be the best.
1.
The ruy lopez
Now, I know what you are thinking. The ruy lopez on first place??? Really??? Well yes. The ruy lopez has good prospects, And aims to start an attack on the kingside. What really makes you want it is that the engine agrees its the best!
Now, I know yall gothamchess fans wringing your hands in frustration. But you know what? Your marshall and Qf6 doesn't work. Other chess youtubers said schliemann, Steinitz, Modern steinitz, Etc. But noone is willing to go into the mainline. Why??? Black also has fair chances in the mainlines. Is it because you are not willing to study theory?
https://www.chessable.com/ruy-lopez-masterclass-edition/course/3489/
If you want to learn it, Here is a free resource to get you started.
2. Queen's gambit.
Im not going to rank the catalan, But what i AM going to rank is how explosive the queens gambit can be. I thought the queens pawn openings were all passive untill i have seen this:
And now i got a respect for the queens gambit as it is not as passive as i thought. It can be aggresive!
https://www.chessable.com/short-sweet-1-d4-for-mad-men/course/38275/
This is the sharpest 1. d4 course i have seen.
3. Italian opening.
Possibly THE sharpest opening. It can also be played quietly developping a kingside attack, But won't reccomend it.
Here is how it can go:
https://www.chessable.com/short-sweet-krykun-s-italian-game/course/50526/
This short & sweet is a great resource to learn the italian game (Sharp. Not quiet.)
4. French defense
I know this may come as a surprise that the french defense is higher than the siccilian, But...
I feel like the siccilian defense is not played well enough at the intermediate level.
Here is how the french can go:
https://www.chessable.com/short-sweet-giris-french-defense/course/48354/
The man himself, Anish giri!
5. Sicilian defense
This has become hard to rank as we will have to take into account every variation... Soo its a solid 5. I feel like the siccilian defense just isnt played that well on the intermediate level...
Now here is a funny line of the sicilian defense, Shveshnikov sicilian.
https://www.chessable.com/short-sweet-magnus-sicilian/course/30136/
This course covers the sicilian defense over all, And all the mainlines too, and sticks to one sicilian, The shveshikov.
6. English opening
This is a very exquisite opening, With good possibilities.
Again, It has many variations in on of itself, Soo lets just stick to the botvinnik.
Now, The botvinnik system is also exquisite, But it isnt a "Vanilla" English.
https://www.chessable.com/short-sweet-botvinnik-english/course/51996/
Very solid. Would reccomend.
7. Reti opening.
The reti is a strong opening with lots of possible transpositions. I dont know a thing, But i do enjoy playing a KIA from time to time.
https://www.chessable.com/short-sweet-king-s-indian-attack/course/74386/
This course is fantastic. Not going to lie.
8. Ponziani opening.
Screw gothamchess, But seriously this is great!
Why is this great? Welp, Just take a look at these lines!!! This is absurd!!!
Or this line:
https://www.chessable.com/the-devious-ponziani/course/92093/