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Why doesn't everyone play 1.Nf3?

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BeepBeepImA747
It is objectively the best move for white, according to engines AND statistics. Why doesn't everyone play it as white?
hajsjwbdjd

Top player does

kindaspongey

The September 2017 issue of Chess lists the top twenty openings compiled from a list of 2798 July games where both players were rated over 2400 Elo. One can not take position on this list too seriously because it is greatly influenced by how the openings are grouped. For example, all the Retis are grouped together, while English is separated into 1...c5, 1...e5, etc. Nevertheless, for what it is worth, some of the list entries are: 177 Retis, 122 Caro-Kanns, 121 King's Indians, 114 declined Queen's Gambits, 98 Najdorf Sicilians, 97 Slavs, 77 Nimzo-Indians, 70 1...e5 Englishes, 64 1...c5 Englishes, 63 Queen's Indians, 62 Closed Ruy Lopezes, 57 Berlin Ruy Lopezes, 56 Classical Gruenfelds, 55 Tarrasch Frenches, 48 1...Nf6 Englishes, and 44 Kan Sicilians.

whiskersinthejamjar

i found it too drawish but when i switched to 1.Nh3 i won every time.

Ziggy_Zugzwang

1...b6 !

poucin

They don't play it because too afraid of the beep beep counter attack 1.Nf3 g5!

SIowMove
BeepBeepImA747 wrote:
It is objectively the best move for white, according to engines AND statistics. Why doesn't everyone play it as white?

 

Which statistics are you referring to?

Here are the stats for 2600+ players, according to Chess Tempo's database:

1.e4—wins 30.5%, draws 50.9%, loses 18.6%

1.Nf3—wins 28.9%, draws 52.2%, loses 18.8%

Ziggy_Zugzwang

Don't forget that black as the so called 'informational lead' as well. If white uses 1Nf3 to try and get into a symmetrical English 1Nf3 c5 2c4, I think black can play a reverse Botvinnik I think - which I (subjectively) like. White has blocked his f - pawn as compared to 1c4.  Yes, I know, swings and roundabouts etc 1Nf3 might also transpose into the more insipid d pawn openings as well. Overall it is flexible for white, but perhaps white loses some humph ?

SIowMove
Ziggy_Zugzwang wrote:

Overall it is flexible for white, but perhaps white loses some humph ?

It's a solid first move. Stops black from immediately planting a pawn on e5. But it also allows black to play ...d5 without needing to make any concessions.

With 1.e4, black often has to make adjustments to get that central d-pawn thrust in (like playing ...e6 or ...c6 first).

Depends on what kind of game white wants to play.

BeepBeepImA747
Well it is still the best first move. +.30 vs 1.e4 +.20-ish
Yigor
BeepBeepImA747 wrote:
Well it is still the best first move. +.30 vs 1.e4 +.20-ish

 

These evaluations depend on a chosen engine and on the depth too.

BeepBeepImA747
On high depth any engine will say nf3 is the best move.
Yigor
poucin wrote:

They don't play it because too afraid of the beep beep counter attack 1.Nf3 g5!

 

Wow IM poucin is able to make open-minded jokes. happy.png

Yigor
BeepBeepImA747 wrote:
On high depth any engine will say nf3 is the best move.

 

Have U tried it with various engines?

Yigor

I see that Stockfish on lichess puts +0.1 to four moves 1. c4, d4, e4 and Nf3 (5 lines, d=40, Cloud). tongue.png

CP6033
BeepBeepImA747 wrote:
On high depth any engine will say nf3 is the best move.

To which I respond, who cares? Anyone who just uses an engine for their opening repertoire is going to have a weird repertoire.

krecs
poucin wrote:

They don't play it because too afraid of the beep beep counter attack 1.Nf3 g5!

Ok but after nxg5 Qxf7#!!!!!!  Your only an IM What do you know. I am 400 points higher rated than magnus carlsen in rapid so i am obviously a superior player!

 

poucin
Yigor a écrit :

I see that Stockfish on lichess puts +0.1 to four moves 1. c4, d4, e4 and Nf3 (5 lines, d=40, Cloud).

U mean that all your analysis are done with engine online??

Then it is more pointless that i thought...

BeepBeepImA747
1.Nf3 develops a piece, controls the center, and promotes the integrity of the pawn structure. Any pawn center put forward by black can easily be challenged. What other opening can say this?
Yigor
poucin wrote:
Yigor a écrit :

I see that Stockfish on lichess puts +0.1 to four moves 1. c4, d4, e4 and Nf3 (5 lines, d=40, Cloud).

U mean that all your analysis are done with engine online??

Then it is more pointless that i thought...

 

It means nothing, I just glanced how Stockfish on lichess evaluates the initial position.

 

Have U something to do except for monitoring my chess knowledges ?!? Get some students and teach them. It would be more productive.