What to play against 1. e4

Hello there, I have a problem..

Let's start, I'm an 1. ..e5 player, and I enjoy positions from that, I play Ruy Lopez (I even started to play Berlin), Italian.. sometimes I play the Petroff, but, the thing is, it often gives me only a draw.

I need a second option, which would give me a real opportunity to get a full point, especially in last rounds of the tournaments, when I have to win a game.

Now I write my opinion about some other openings:

Sicilian: I don't like it when I face it as white, I tried many times to learn it, but I'm losing almost every game I play it (I tried Najdorf, Classical, Taimanov) and it's too tiring for me to calculate every variation on every move. A theory is scary to me, but I would try to learn if it's worth it.

Caro: When I play as white against C-K I have almost no trouble, I rarely lose, I know how to attack it, as black I have a problem how to defend & how to develop and in my opinion is too passive. It also isn't the opening you play when you have to win...

French: It would be fine for me, if only the exchange 3. exd5 wouldn't exist, then I face a draw problem..

Pirc/Modern: I used to play it a lot a few years ago, I try to play it now, but I realised it's impossible for me to get a playable position, many ways for white to attack and I'm unable to defend it.

I haven't tried something like 1. ..b6 or 1. ..d5 (although I don't like it as white, very tricky). I'm even afraid I can't play anything else than e5 ;)

Any suggestions what to do?

I like Nc6 or D5

scandinavian?

scandinavian?

scandinavian?

1.Sicilian , if you want to learn and play it, my suggestion is to learn Sceveningen (sorry for the wrong spelling) with e6, d6 center. This variation is very flexible and white side has many ways to attack, which you can also see in other variation. For example, Be2 (classic variation), g4 (Keres variation), Be3 (English variation), Bc4 (Sozin), and g3 (fiachitto). Start from Narjadorf is ready bad idea. After Sceveningen, you can learn dragon, which is my favorite.

2. Caro kann, if you like Sicilian, don't try this unless you are pro. This opening is very solid and positional. Quite unlike Sicilian.

3. French defence, as black I suggest 3....Bb4 line. Black give up the pair of Bishop but gain better pawn structure and has space on queen side. You can learn from Kochinoi (Wrong spelling again?)

4. Modern and Pirc. Too cramped for me.

Overall, my suggestion is to learn Sicilian from scheveningen.

To learn Scheveningen, you can find some games from Kasparov.

If you choose Scheveningen, you are free to choose either e5 break or d5 break.

I prefer the Sicilian, I used to like e5, but became boring

What about the najidorf ( do not know the correct spellings) variation of the sicillian ?Try it if you like to attack.

I used to think this (I also didn't have much trouble facing it as White). Then I played an NM who played the Caro-Kann and completely crushed me. I studied some theory and played 1. e4 aginst him again...and he did it again. Then I picked up the Caro-Kann and have found it to be awesome.

 Like you, I rate around 1800 - 1900, Daily style. Generally speaking, and based on my records of own games on this site & ICC, I've found for players of the ability range 1600 - 1900, the Scotch Game for White tends to produce more wins than other openings I've tried. Overall I have used a dozen different openings as White and often come back to the Scotch. That isn't to say there aren't problems posed by Black in the Scotch - there certainly can be.  The Steinitz Variation by Black can pose some, for example but overall I've found this opening is the most consistent for White in my own experience. Hope this helps 

Now to partly answer your specific question, which is you as Black play 1.e4, e5 (your preferred response), the probability is  that White will then play 2.Nf3. Then what? Well the statistics of master games tell us that Nc6 is the preferred option. It also happens to be the best reply for players at our level - it makes more overall sense for good, but non master level players who don't memorise openings to very deep levels.

Now if you play 2...Nc6, you're probably going to get one of the standard attacks that spring from that. If it's the Ruy Lopez 3. Bb5, then have you ever tried Bird's Defence 3...Nd4? At first it looks scary for Black to play it, but at our level it can also scare White, because many good, non master players have never faced it and it takes them right out of standard, expected play. I've had good success with it in the range of 1600 - 1900 opponents. 

 

Grow some balls and play the Sicilian.  If chess is a lifelong hobby for you, then hell yes its worth it to learn theory!  

NC6 is my favorite. not many plays it. Scandinavian defense as well cause it have many good traps. 

 

The O'Kelly variation of the Sicilian has a good record for black, unless white converts it into Alapin. However not all white players will want to play Alapin.

Maybe something your opponent won't be prepared for, e.g. the Schliemann Defence to Ruy Lopez, (seems to be also called the Jaenisch Gambit) which I have played a couple of times in

Rapid tournaments here. 

This was discussed 8 years ago

My game yesterday proceeded exactly like the last of those in that post. I'm not sure what white's best next move is, but certainly not the Qxf5 played against me.

 

 

Please realise that opening choice on our level of play is completely useless in function of gaining a win. Stick with an opening that you understand and feel comfortable with. this is much more important than playing some deep theory because 1. You wont be able to remember your own theory and 2. Your opponent wont have all the theory just laying around.  this means you both have to play at the board in any case so you might as well choose an opening you're familiar with.

With regards yo your observations: If calculating is not your thing I would stay away from that opening as far as possible; it is the most combative respons to e4 but the theory is humongous, and calculating variations is crucial.

The Caro kann is only as passive as you want to play it. The bronstein-larsen or korchnoi variation are not passive tries. Furthermore the idea of the CK is to defend a solid position and, when equalized, try to win based on white's pawn structure (in most cases)

The fact that the french is ok for you, if not for the exchange seems odd reasoning to me; being near equality on move 2 seems good to me, and again don't let the opening decide your winning chances, there's plenty of game left for either player to go wrong.

the pirc is difficult to get so if it's not your thing can't help you there

So taking everything into account: It would be my suggestion to play the french defense, since you're already comfortable playing it, it is sound, and there are definite winning chances, you just have to know how to create them

Please be aware though that the french defense is also just a defense, you will not be playing attacking chess right from the opening. Without some degree of concession by black, that opening simply does not exist.

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Regarding your difficulty to deal with the Sicilian as White, have you ever considered playing the Closed Sicilian?

Have a look at the nice and pretty complete video by GM Krasenkow on youtube and these 3 Smyslov games analysed by GM Smith.

These 4 analysis are close to be a complete lesson on the Closed Sicilian.

Thus, you can skip the bunch of theory on the usual Sicilian, it will be more about understanding concepts and manoeuvers. Plus, GM Krasenkow consider Closed Sicilian players get a solid position, easy attack opportunities and can achieve great results (= few draws) until Master level.