1.e4 openings series #1

Hi, this is a forum series about what white should do after black makes a move after e4.  Today, we are going to talk about the most common move after 1.e4.  Yes, it is 1...e5!!!  Many people play this opening, but after that, they have no idea on what to do and so they just randomly choose a move.  Well, after 1...e5 the best and most common move is 2.Nf3.  In chess, you always want to control the center, because that is where you can control the most squares from.

  White is also attacking black's pawn.  Black protects it with 2...Nc6.  Now, there are many ways you can play this now.  You can continue developing the knights with 3.Nc3, and then black goes 3...Nf6, or you can play the Ruy Lopez, and play 3.Bb5 and black does whatever at that point.  Its your choice, but in both of these variations, you still develop and you still attack.  We are going to go over the Ruy Lopez, because it is the more interesting one.  White puts pressure on c6, and plans to create a nasty pin.  Black can play 3...a6 and try to push white out of the pin spot.  4.Ba4 will then lead to 4...Nf6.  White then castles, and he/she does not need to protect the pawn because if 5...Nxe4, then take the knight on c6, and black needs to take back.  White then moves hies queen to e2, and the knight retreats to somewhere.  White then gets his/her pawn back.  From here, white has many ways to play.  They all include developing, and tactics.  If you have any questions on how to play from here, feel free to post on this topic.

Not always, Get_Lost.  Mostly for people with a chess rating under 1500, 1.e4 e5 is more popular.

yes, not many people have a chess.com rating over 1500, and this forum is ment for them.

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And why does that matter.  The f pawn isn't a main part of the openning

That Vienna line above is bogus. Why would anyone play 2. ... Nc6 when Nf6 is more dynamic and counterpunchy. Then if white plays f4 you sock him with d5, break a bottle on the bar and go after him!

Besides, if you don't play 2. Nf3, you can't play the Evans Gambit ever!

At least this Vienna line is more likely (and fun). Though the Vienna is not likely to be played by most amateurs/beginners. 2. Nc3 doesn't directly attack anything. It does stop d5 and holds out the prospect of f4 or a Qh5 run. But this is a bit subtle.

2.Nf3 has the appeal of attacking Black's e-pawn and developing a piece. White is one move closer to castling and being a good little boy, getting his development completed and the King in safety before stomping into the center to clobber Black. 

1. e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 !

3. f4 d5 !

3. Bc4 N:e4 !

Look people, I dont see how f4 is a good openning move.  It exposes the king to the outside more!!!!

The best move after 1.e4 e5 is 2.Ke2!, illustrated perfectly with this game I played not too long ago.

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Well, to put it in a nutshell, one of the things 2.f4 does it exposes the White's King somewhat, but the White is hoping that his increased center control, faster development and attacking chances on the f file will prevent the Black from ever making any use of that. The White is often wrong there though.

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Thank you so much ... still trying to clear the Sprite out of my nose :).

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 i dont think sub-1300s or even sub-1500s should be posting nonsense about openig theory, especially when the first thing you said was wrong, c5 is almost 3 times as popular as e5, and Nc3 is better than you! u insult the vienna, and u will die a horrible death, because a redneck will throw his queen at you after crushing you with the frankenstein dracula attack. ( there actually is a line in the vienna called that :D)

its a trap Rainbow i think u usually play 6.Nd5

6. Nb5 is usual, I think.

thats what i meant atos thnakn yuo

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You must  be joking! 2.Ke2 exposes the king to the outside world, and if you're black, you can create a skewer easily that way.  Also, not everyone copies their opponent's move.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 I like the Petroff. At least it is frequently a surprise to my opponents.

But on Saturdays at the square I play, I have been beaten  at this variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4  5 Nc3 Nxc3 etc. White will castle quenside and attack at the kings wing. Nakamura used this line recently against Kramnik, fought a lot but drew the game.

I agree that noobs shouldn't be posting nonsense opening theory, but I must disagree about the Vienna being a good opening. Black has several routes to equality.

The danish is definitely something to look into also...but going on which is played more often as a response to e4,  e5 is definitely more popular amongst the lower levels, but as they get better, they will start to lose and then they will switch to the sicilian for counterplay, which really isn't obtainable after the ruy lopez occurs, for example.

Going on the danish, I think it would be good if someone were to post some games the show some fantastic wins with white. 

Yes- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3

No-1.e4 e5 2. Ke2