Stop playing 1.e4
I'm not sure, but I think that if you configure Fritz's reference database with a database where white wins 60% of the games with 1. h4, Fritz will play 1. h4! I like Fritz, but I don't think we can use its first move as the absolute truth about opening theory.
Computers still rely on opening books alot, because they don't have the hundreds of years of experience that players do have.
After a few minutes of infinite analysis, Rybka gives me 1. d4, 1. Nf3, 1. Nc3 and 1. g3 as +0.09, and only then 1. e4 as +0.07. So if that analysis even means anything, it doesn't even prefer 1. e4.
f4 is known as Bird's Opening and is very playable. It avoids the Sicilian and the French. Many people play e4 thinking they will play the Ruy Lopez, Scotch or similar, but very rarely get to do so because of Black's first move. Bird's Opening gives you a better chance to play on your term!
Hey, I've just talked myself into having another look at this opening
That's also the main reason why I like the Scandinavian as black so much. After 1. e4 d5 I get Scandinavian in 99% of my games (which should be my territory) and only very occasionally someone tries the Blackmar-Diemer, or plays something like 2. Nc3 or 2. e5. Objectively, the Sicilian may be better, but after 1. e4 c5 white can play dozens of Anti-Sicilians (Alapin, Morra, Wing Gambit, Grand Prix, Closed, even 2. a3!? etc.) which you all have to be prepared for.
With the Bird's it's about the same. After 1. f4 the opening choice is already very limited. You'll get either some Reversed Dutch system, or a Sicilian Grand Prix formation where white can play e4 when he wants to, or you face a From's Gambit which is also ok for white if played correctly. Also only few players know the opening, so if you are prepared, you'll still have a good chance of an advantage out of the opening.
I'm not sure, but I think that if you configure Fritz's reference database with a database where white wins 60% of the games with 1. h4, Fritz will play 1. h4! I like Fritz, but I don't think we can use its first move as the absolute truth about opening theory.
I'm not sure, but I think that if you configure Fritz's reference database with a database where white wins 60% of the games with 1. h4, Fritz will play 1. h4! I like Fritz, but I don't think we can use its first move as the absolute truth about opening theory.
It does if you don't configure anything.
d4 is better for positional play, less tactical surprises, good understanding of the endgame can be quite rewarding.
That's a joke. Even Rybka 3 is not completely reliable at the opening phase. There are many cases where the engine initially prefers a certain move or gives a certain evaluation, then quickly realizes that it's wrong a few moves later.
If Fritz can figure out the opening, why is it still using an opening book? Why not just let it calculate on its own and "solve the opening" from scratch?