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First Four Moves... what we can learn from top players?

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benhunt72
Dec 25, 2019
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#1

I just made a short video about an idea that I've had for a while, which is to look at some top players' first few moves made in games.

I simply looked at the first 4 moves by each side in 8 games from some of the world's best ever GMs, and noticed the following patterns:

  1. Most develop two minor pieces and two pawns in the first 4 moves.
  2. No queens developed in any of the games.
  3. The center pawns (d and e files) are moved most commonly. However, c5 is also played in Sicilian defences, and an edge pawn may move to kick an early bishop (e.g. Ruy Lopez).
  4. Castling or taking can happen in the first 4 moves, where it makes sense.
  5. (To castle in the first 4 moves, you must move either e or g pawn, bishop and knight in the first 3 moves.)