Does the opening matter? - Chess Forums

Elijah1829

14 days ago

0

#1

Just because some openings have more win rate than another doesn’t mean the opening failed them right?

blueemu

14 days ago

0

#2

Win rate isn't necessarily an indication of the value of an opening line, correct.

Consider this line in the Petroff's Defense, which at one time was a main line and was considered very solid for Black.

This position was reached many times in international tournament play. White tried various moves such as Bf4, Bg5 or Re5, but Black did quite well against all of them. The winning percentages after Black's 13. ... c6 were 35.7% White wins, 21.4% draws and 42.9% Black wins.

Advantage Black... right?

Or maybe not.

The problem is that once a very strong reply or a refutation is discovered, people stop playing that line! ... and the winning percentages get "frozen in" at the point where they were BEFORE the refutation was discovered. Because nobody wants to play the line and lose.

Abirdwithinternetyt

14 days ago

0

#3

Yesn't, if you play the rest of the game well, and its just an abnormal move you don't often see, you won't be that badly off. Now if you play something truly awful like sacrificing 382 pieces instead of just an abnormal move, that's another case.

Elijah1829

8 days ago

0

#4

Its also probably how they play as well

Abirdwithinternetyt

6 days ago

0

#5

blueemu wrote:

Win rate isn't necessarily an indication of the value of an opening line, correct.

Consider this line in the Petroff's Defense, which at one time was a main line and was considered very solid for Black.

This position was reached many times in international tournament play. White tried various moves such as Bf4, Bg5 or Re5, but Black did quite well against all of them. The winning percentages after Black's 13. ... c6 were 35.7% White wins, 21.4% draws and 42.9% Black wins.

Advantage Black... right?

Or maybe not.

The problem is that once a very strong reply or a refutation is discovered, people stop playing that line! ... and the winning percentages get "frozen in" at the point where they were BEFORE the refutation was discovered. Because nobody wants to play the line and lose.

For the second one, what does pawn G6 do after Bh6?

Abirdwithinternetyt

6 days ago

0

#6

I doubt it does much to help the position, thought I may as well ask though since it isn't mentioned.

chesssblackbelt

6 days ago

0

#7

g6 loses to Bg7 then Bf6