e5 *is* a great way to meet e4.
It's actually a much better choice than c5. The sicilian requires you to study a ton of theory only to survive in an awkward position. It has been considered unsound for centuries, go figure.
why is e5 more popular than c5 at lower levels of play?
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because its a more logical choice, contests centre and enables Bf8 to develop, so black will castle more quickly, etc...
1...e5 looks simpler (for a beginner's point of view), u know what to do.
If u teach an opening or principles to a beginner, 1...e5 sounds more logical than c5 for these reasons.
Adding to IM poucin's statement,
I once talked to someone about the Sicilian dragon who said that they never understood the Sicilian (they are mostly an e5 player in response to e4). The Sicilian seeks to control the center indirectly and as such for beginners taught to control the center as fast as possible, e5 just is logical because the center is being contested immediately as opposed to indirectly.
Because symmetry is easier to the eye for beginners
The last comments make it sound like e5 is a beginner move.
It is not. It's the most principled approach and it is also one of the best moves at all levels.
The begginer's instinct is right.Any beginner should first and foremost get the feel of the open game before dealing with the semi-open and closed game.Beginners should invariably open with e2-e4 and answer e2-e4 with e7-e5.Can you imagine the chess instructor trying to teach opening principles and then advising his beginner pupil to play the Sicilian Paulsen?
It's a beginners move, however the thing is that it is a good move. It's not grandmasters move, as there are more beginners that play it than the grandmasters.
skotheim2 wrote:
It's a beginners move, however the thing is that it is a good move. It's not grandmasters move, as there are more beginners that play it than the grandmasters.
??? I don't understand.How is e7-e5 not a Grandmaster's move?Are all those Ruy Lopez at the ultra top level not counting?!
Thats what I thought. I was an e4 player at first, and when I didn't even know basic strategy and it was clear to me that e4 was sound because it allowed my bishop and queen to easily get into the game.
electric_limes wrote:
skotheim2 wrote:
It's a beginners move, however the thing is that it is a good move. It's not grandmasters move, as there are more beginners that play it than the grandmasters.
??? I don't understand.How is e7-e5 not a Grandmaster's move?Are all those Ruy Lopez at the ultra top level not counting?!
All I'm saying is that it is normal for the beginners to play this, and while grandmasters play it, they also play other things. That's why it's considered beginners opening.
Nov 1, 2015
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#12
electric_limes wrote:
The begginer's instinct is right.Any beginner should first and foremost get the feel of the open game before dealing with the semi-open and closed game.Beginners should invariably open with e2-e4 and answer e2-e4 with e7-e5.Can you imagine the chess instructor trying to teach opening principles and then advising his beginner pupil to play the Sicilian Paulsen?
Exactly.
Coach: You must control the center. Play the paulsen. Give up center control immediatly.
Student: Chess doesn't make SENSE!! WAHAHAHAHA!!! *Bawls in frustration*
darek123 wrote:
Interesting question I had. Most players new to the game of chess respond to e4 with e5 more than c5, which is the most popular opening played. They see e5 as a great way to meet e4 and c5 as a move that accomplishes nothing. Im speaking of people rated(100-1000).
Because it is! I believe it's much easier to play properly with 1...e5 compared to 1...c5. There are many sharp lines, and a single mistake in such lines will lead to your doom. The Sicilian also requires tons of theory.
besttrollhere wrote:
plutonia wrote:
e5 *is* a great way to meet e4.
It's actually a much better choice than c5. The sicilian requires you to study a ton of theory only to survive in an awkward position. It has been considered unsound for centuries, go figure.
E5 is a good move to meet e4, but the sicilian was not considered unsound for centuries. Carlsen and many other top players play it and win.
Actually, the Sicilian Defense WAS considered unsound in the past.
besttrollhere wrote:
TheBlunderfulPlayer wrote:
besttrollhere wrote:
plutonia wrote:
e5 *is* a great way to meet e4.
It's actually a much better choice than c5. The sicilian requires you to study a ton of theory only to survive in an awkward position. It has been considered unsound for centuries, go figure.
E5 is a good move to meet e4, but the sicilian was not considered unsound for centuries. Carlsen and many other top players play it and win.
Actually, the Sicilian Defense WAS considered unsound in the past.
Not now though so rekt
Nobody said it's considered unsound at the moment.
c5 is simply harder to play, especially at the begginer level. MAny versions of the sicilian defense are actually quite complicated, and begginners would often not understand why many of the moves are played. That being said, I don't play the sicilian defense...
Nov 1, 2015
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#17
Because e5 is more solid, logical and do not leads to unbalanced positions. This is because it's best beginner s choice.
the Sicilian is more theoretical and tries to create an imbalance in the game
Nov 1, 2015
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#19
When I was hired as a chess instructor they told us they teach the students the Italian Game because it's easiest to learn and understand. It was only in occasional, special lessons that the instructors would provide an overview of a different opening like the Sicilian or Queen's Gambit. I mostly agree with this wisdom: the Sicilian is extremely theory heavy and involves tactical prowess, and the Ruy Lopez is similar, so both of those attributes are unsuitable for almost all beginning students. In a thread several weeks ago somebody mentioned that the Najdorf Sicilian is almost 100% tactics, so the whole nature of the opening changes in very sharp openings like that, which denies students the chance to learn positional generalities that will help them in most openings.
Interesting question I had. Most players new to the game of chess respond to e4 with e5 more than c5, which is the most popular opening played. They see e5 as a great way to meet e4 and c5 as a move that accomplishes nothing. Im speaking of people rated(100-1000).