And whats even weirder, After 1.e4, chess engines like houdini consider 1....c5 almost a blunder!
One of those situations where whites doing a lot better in theory than he's doing in practice, I guess.
Umm.... chess engines don't determine opening theory, humans do.
its BETTER
SmyslovFan, don't assume Carlsen will reach a title match. It is not a forgone conclusion.
Also, Carlsen plays everything, so why expect to see more 1.e4 from him?
Wafflemaster, the Berlin IS played a lot at the top level. Yes, White often avoids the Berlin Endgame, but the defense itself is played frequently.
1. g4 or 1. b4 are da best.
Again "fisher said best by test" I have heard its best to used both 1.e4 and 1.d4, both have different ideas, plans and outcomes.
I don't believe Fischer played 1.d4, however he did play 1.c4 and transposed into the QGD against Spassky.
1.d4 looks for a quiet and positional game! Perhaps grandmasters prefer a more positional game than a sharp and quick game
Because in SuperGM play, Black can easily draw with the Berlin Defense and/or Petrov. So if you want to win as white, you play d4.
... because d comes before e ( abc...z) ? Is it not a way of a preference from the time you learnt to play chess ? Is it not way to surprise players who are used to e-4 and have been learning answers to e-4 as if robots ?
d-4 is really a feminine opening, just study the masters profiles, those who prefer d-4
Because in SuperGM play, Black can easily draw with the Berlin Defense and/or Petrov. So if you want to win as white, you play d4.
Not necessarily cos you can draw a lot in d4 :) I'm a d4 player. Perhaps d4 is just more suitable and perhaps it is quieter so you can look for an exciting game?? Well 1.e4 is a lot more sharper and games end more quickly, some grandmasters still stick to 1.e4!
Because it is a good move?!
if you ask me d4 leads to 'My System' by Nimzowitsch kind of play most of the time, you know, blockade, restraint, and other strategical ideas
Old response is old.
The two players in the WC match felt they could get an edge playing the catalin. They were therfore studying those lines in preperation for the wc match and that was what you saw.
Because in SuperGM play, Black can easily draw with the Berlin Defense and/or Petrov. So if you want to win as white, you play d4.
Not necessarily cos you can draw a lot in d4 :) I'm a d4 player. Perhaps d4 is just more suitable and perhaps it is quieter so you can look for an exciting game?? Well 1.e4 is a lot more sharper and games end more quickly, some grandmasters still stick to 1.e4!
Wow it's almost like you can draw with any opening. Who knew?!
Thanks for the wonderful insight!
1.d4 is played that often because it's a good move.
Please don't tell anyone, this is a top secret.
Touché, good sir!
And whats even weirder, After 1.e4, chess engines like houdini consider 1....c5 almost a blunder!
One of those situations where whites doing a lot better in theory than he's doing in practice, I guess.