I've been playing a while now and have started to get into a growth groove and I'm hoping to figure out which opening in the e4 family to focus on. I'm torn between the italian(which I have decent familiarity but haven't dove intl) or the kings gambit(which just seems fun). I like aggressive openings for white but I don't want to focus on an opening that will ultimately hinder me in the long run.
"... in experienced hands the King's Gambit can be an exciting opening to play. However, I can't recommend it to young players who are taking their first steps with 1 e4 e5. ... White's king often becomes very exposed, ..." - First Steps: 1 e4 e5 by GM John Emms (2018)
@kindaspongey said in #2:
> "... in experienced hands the King's Gambit can be an exciting opening to play. However, I can't recommend it to young players who are taking their first steps with 1 e4 e5. ... White's king often becomes very exposed, ..." - First Steps: 1 e4 e5 by GM John Emms (2018)
Yea, I was looking into it and frankly I don't like how often I don't get to castle and you're just supposed to be ok with it lol
> "... in experienced hands the King's Gambit can be an exciting opening to play. However, I can't recommend it to young players who are taking their first steps with 1 e4 e5. ... White's king often becomes very exposed, ..." - First Steps: 1 e4 e5 by GM John Emms (2018)
Yea, I was looking into it and frankly I don't like how often I don't get to castle and you're just supposed to be ok with it lol
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4
Experiment. Test openings and play the opening that is the most interesting/fun for you. Also play the one that gives you the best results. 15+10 games should be good. I'm assuming you want e4 openings for white- here's a few.
Centre Game
Danish Gambit
Italian
Scotch
Ruy Lopez
Of course it depends on your opponents move after e4. Instead of e5 they could play c6 or d5.
Centre Game
Danish Gambit
Italian
Scotch
Ruy Lopez
Of course it depends on your opponents move after e4. Instead of e5 they could play c6 or d5.
Don't forget the English!
Staunton's pride
Oh wait, that's not an e4 opening, but it gives interesting chess and is less familiar than e4 openings for many lower level opponents.
Staunton's pride
Oh wait, that's not an e4 opening, but it gives interesting chess and is less familiar than e4 openings for many lower level opponents.
Nothing wrong with Scotch or Italian.
My suggestion after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 is to play the Ruy Lopez especially main lines in correspondence games. Then you have time to study and understand.
In shorter format games, I suggest also playing it but going for the early d4 lines. They cut out a lot of theory and are less subtle. They are also fun, open games.
-Bill
My suggestion after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 is to play the Ruy Lopez especially main lines in correspondence games. Then you have time to study and understand.
In shorter format games, I suggest also playing it but going for the early d4 lines. They cut out a lot of theory and are less subtle. They are also fun, open games.
-Bill
I agree with EvilPyrokar that the Scotch would be a very good choice:
- Solid mainline opening which you can continue to play while you improve against stronger opponents
- Open positions with classical ideas (fast development etc.) which are to improve all basic skills
- Limited number of mainlines so easy to learn (and if you are in a crazy mood sometimes: Beside the main lines with 4. Nxd4 you can also for Gambit lines like 4. c3 which are less good but fun).
A good starting point to learn more about it is that video from "Hanging Pawns"
youtu.be/wAKWIie29YM?si=p2UeJFNXe7olvk0T
If you liked the kings gambit but want to have a safer version of it you can try the bishops opening 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4. It often includes an early f4 e.g. 1. e4 e5 2. Bb4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. f4
You may want to keep in mind that your choice against 1. e4 e5 should somehow fit to the openings you choose against ofter responses like 1. e4 c5. Lets take the Scotch and the bishops opening as example:
- The Scotch with early d4 is somehow similar to the open Sicilian with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4
- The bishops opening resembles more a closed Sicilian or Grand Prix attack with 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 followed by f4
Has to be mentioned that Scotch+OpenSicilian are better openings than BishopsOpening+GrandPrixAttack
- Solid mainline opening which you can continue to play while you improve against stronger opponents
- Open positions with classical ideas (fast development etc.) which are to improve all basic skills
- Limited number of mainlines so easy to learn (and if you are in a crazy mood sometimes: Beside the main lines with 4. Nxd4 you can also for Gambit lines like 4. c3 which are less good but fun).
A good starting point to learn more about it is that video from "Hanging Pawns"
youtu.be/wAKWIie29YM?si=p2UeJFNXe7olvk0T
If you liked the kings gambit but want to have a safer version of it you can try the bishops opening 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4. It often includes an early f4 e.g. 1. e4 e5 2. Bb4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. f4
You may want to keep in mind that your choice against 1. e4 e5 should somehow fit to the openings you choose against ofter responses like 1. e4 c5. Lets take the Scotch and the bishops opening as example:
- The Scotch with early d4 is somehow similar to the open Sicilian with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4
- The bishops opening resembles more a closed Sicilian or Grand Prix attack with 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 followed by f4
Has to be mentioned that Scotch+OpenSicilian are better openings than BishopsOpening+GrandPrixAttack
@FourtyTwoFields said in #9:
> I agree with EvilPyrokar that the Scotch would be a very good choice:
> - Solid mainline opening which you can continue to play while you improve against stronger opponents
> - Open positions with classical ideas (fast development etc.) which are to improve all basic skills
> - Limited number of mainlines so easy to learn (and if you are in a crazy mood sometimes: Beside the main lines with 4. Nxd4 you can also for Gambit lines like 4. c3 which are less good but fun).
>
> A good starting point to learn more about it is that video from "Hanging Pawns"
>
>
>
> If you liked the kings gambit but want to have a safer version of it you can try the bishops opening 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4. It often includes an early f4 e.g. 1. e4 e5 2. Bb4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. f4
>
> You may want to keep in mind that your choice against 1. e4 e5 should somehow fit to the openings you choose against ofter responses like 1. e4 c5. Lets take the Scotch and the bishops opening as example:
> - The Scotch with early d4 is somehow similar to the open Sicilian with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4
> - The bishops opening resembles more a closed Sicilian or Grand Prix attack with 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 followed by f4
>
> Has to be mentioned that Scotch+OpenSicilian are better openings than BishopsOpening+GrandPrixAttack
I think I'm going to try the scotch
> I agree with EvilPyrokar that the Scotch would be a very good choice:
> - Solid mainline opening which you can continue to play while you improve against stronger opponents
> - Open positions with classical ideas (fast development etc.) which are to improve all basic skills
> - Limited number of mainlines so easy to learn (and if you are in a crazy mood sometimes: Beside the main lines with 4. Nxd4 you can also for Gambit lines like 4. c3 which are less good but fun).
>
> A good starting point to learn more about it is that video from "Hanging Pawns"
>
>
>
> If you liked the kings gambit but want to have a safer version of it you can try the bishops opening 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4. It often includes an early f4 e.g. 1. e4 e5 2. Bb4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. f4
>
> You may want to keep in mind that your choice against 1. e4 e5 should somehow fit to the openings you choose against ofter responses like 1. e4 c5. Lets take the Scotch and the bishops opening as example:
> - The Scotch with early d4 is somehow similar to the open Sicilian with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4
> - The bishops opening resembles more a closed Sicilian or Grand Prix attack with 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 followed by f4
>
> Has to be mentioned that Scotch+OpenSicilian are better openings than BishopsOpening+GrandPrixAttack
I think I'm going to try the scotch
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