Build an e4 opening repertoire!

Hello,

I'd like to try a project using the whole community. In this thread I will try to build a consistent opening repertoire for white with e4. I understand it is likely the single hardest thing in opening preparation, but I will do it step by step. Ideally I will consistantly add to the repertoire according to the holes other members may point out. If this project is successful (probably it'll take at least a month IF there are knowledgable active members involved) I will make a blog post on chess.com with a chessbase database file including the whole opening repertoire so that everyone can share it.

Now, it is supposed to be a tournament based repertoire for both rapid/blitz and classical time controls events, so we will have to get at least 2 lines so that we are not as predictable.

Here is the basis for the repertoire, later I'll provide specific variations:

1. ... e5 2. Nf3

Here we will have to provide go to lines in weird opening like 2. ... d5 or 2. ... f5.

For main lines:

2. ... Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 with later O-O-O

2. ... Nc6 we will have to prepare 2 lines:

Main opening will be ruy lopez based on closed variations and non-exchange marshall gambit, surprise line (mostly for blitz/rapid) will be 3. Bc4 with either Evans gambit or fried liver attack depending on black's move.

1. ... c5

Our sideline will be the Alapin sicilian, a very solid line if you are playing against someone rated a lot higher than you, also it'll help with the line 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6. Main opening will be based around mainline agressive lines, yugoslav attack in dragon and accelerated dragon, keres attack in scheveningen variation, Bg5 line in classical Najdorf with a follow up of f4 or Qf3, so poisoned pawn variation must be prepared. I have relatively least knowledge about paulsen sicilian especially pin variation, sveshnikow/kalashnikow.

1. ... c6 will be followed by 2. Nc3 and 3. Nf3, which most of the time transposes into main line, but has some sting if black does not play the right move order.

1. ... e6 will be answered by 2. d4 and 3. Nc3

In Winawer we will build a repertoire around Qg4 poisoned pawn lines, if black does not play Winawer I am open to suggestions.

The 2nd surprise line (mostly for blitz/rapid) will be 2. Nd2 Tarrasch with intention of playing Kortschnoi gambit (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ngf3?! Qb6 8. O-O cxd4 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Nf3).

1. ... Nf6

Here I will need help with the main line of the opening repertoire since I do not know much about Alekhine defence so I am open to suggesting agressive mainlines, the surprise sideline here will be 2. e5 with 3. b3 which is very easy to handle with white in shorter time controls.

1. ... Nc6 2. Nf3 with possible transposition to 1. e4 e5, but here we need to analyse a bit of weaker sidelines like 2. ... f5

1. ... g6 and 1. ... d6

We should treat them with austrian attack as mainline and a surprise sideline will be the structure d4, Nc3, Be3, f3, Qd2

with quick O-O-O if possible.

1. ... b6 

Again, here I am waiting for suggestions for a decent structure.

1. ... d5

Playing the main line and playing Ne5 as fast as possible if black does not play Bg4 line. Those structures are very good for white.

Anyway I will be updating the thread regularily, this time with visual aids, I hope more people will try to help me with this project. As I said before, once I finish the repertoire, I will put it in a pgn or chessbase file so that the whole community can benefit. If this is successful, repertoire for black is next :)

Thanks for all the help and suggestions in advance.

2 weeks old post and I just noticed it ._.

There should be another notification system for these kinda things :p

Considering no one responded I decided to drop the thread, I am building an e4 opening myself, but I don't think I have enough time to build it and post it at the same time by myself.

It would be alot easier to let the computer build an opening tree for you and then build an opening repertoire.  Doing it by hand will take you years.  It took me 8 years to build an opening tree and repertoire by hand.

I have a similar repertoire, but I don't do the Fried Liver Attack - black has a lot of counter-attacking options. I just play 4.d3 and annoy him.

The Fried Liver is a loser for Black. The big problem is when Black is up on the main-line 2 Knights defense after Ng5 and White gets into a weird undeveloped middlegame while up a pawn.

I question the dubious punctuation for the Korchnoi Gambit.

3.Nc3 is a simple way to play against the Latvian. You can try the "refutation" if you want but seeing as you're not a titled player and that you'll only see it maybe less than twice a year, the simple solution seems more economical. 

The Elephant gambit is tricky but I don't know what Black is doing after 3.exd5 Bd6 4.d4 e4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Bg5 when White is threatening to grab another pawn. 7...Re8 8.Bb5 denies Black play on the e-file so I'm not sure what Black is getting out of this. Nigel Short played 4.Nc3 here in a simul and it's the less crazy move. http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.thechessdrum.net/palview3/short-corbin.htm&sa=U&ei=ZfJeU46BDI7gsATlnoKQCQ&ved=0CBsQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNHarHuah7ExqKdEK1iT8BottAeqpw

3...e4 4.Qe2 is unnatural but other moves give Black too much activity. 4...Nf6 (4...f5 5.d3 and Black can't hold it together) 5.d3 Qxd5 6.Nfd2! White gets the knight out of the way and plans Nc3 without ...Bb4 being a problem. 

If you don't care about any of this (Who could blame you?) 3.Nxe5 is an endgame lol.

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 f5 is a dud imo. Basically Black is creating weaknesses everywhere in the hopes that White won't do anything about them and allow some kind of attack. The hole on e5 is just not fun to deal with. Maybe there is some kind of compensation there but I don't see it.

Against 1...b6 rule number one is to watch out for your light-squared bishop. I like 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bd3 Bb4 5.Nge2. There are other ways for Black to play but they all resemble some other pawn structure anyway. 

Against 1...Nf6 practically everything works as long as you don't lose a pawn by accident or something.

That's all the "weird" stuff I know. For everything else I think you can just follow principles and stuff

Kind of depressed that this thread isnt going. I play e4 usually and was interested in seeing what everyone says on here.

Anyway I understand Im a ton lower than what youre looking for input, but Ive played the black side to Alekhines Defense for awhile there. Stopped when I ran into a line like this and got smashed all over the place.

1. e4 Nf6.. 2. e5 Nd5.. 3. d4 d6.. 4. Nf3 g6. 5. Bc4 Nb6.. 6. Bb3 Bg7.. 7. Ng5

Hope I got that right. Anyway you delay the four pawn attack to get your bishop pointing over at the kingside instead. There's a lot of ways black can screw themselves just by playing normally.

Figured I'd toss my 2 cents in here if youd like. I get im low rated but I have played Alekhines for fun for awhile

Yeah. White can either play natural moves and force Black to find some difficult play or he can play outrageously and force Black to find some difficult play.  

I still play it sometimes but I'm pretty sure it's risky for me to play anything that Jaan Ehlvest plays.

Imo, the biggest advantage of playing 1.e4 is the low potential of move-order tricks and transpositions which allow you to switch one line easily, if you happen to not like it, without getting your repertoire messed up (like if you play 3.Nc3 vs the QGD but later find that hate to play against the Nimzo). If you don't like your line against the Caro anymore, you can simply swap to another without interfering with, say, your repertoire against the Sicilian.

As a French player myself, I'd recommend to have a look at the Tarrasch. It is quite safe for White but still has some bite, while allowing the Winawer you will have to learn lots and lots of theory in many, many sharp lines. Black has plenty of setups which will most likely get you in trouble, if you don't know the theory well.

In the line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 f6, I think it's worth to study 9.Nf4 where White (despite Black being equal objectively) has a nice initiative and attacking prospects

I like building an repertoire by hand (as opposed to letting any engine create one for you). I believe any years spent working through it, agonizing, tweeking is far more worth it. Shortcutting it in other aspirations ("work smarter, not harder") is one way to get ahead. But not in chess, methinks. When they say, "easy to learn, but an lifetime to master" they weren't kidding. Taking shortcuts, or worse, letting the computer do most of the work in your preparation never contributes to anyone's self-improvement.

To be honest, not all of us will have the talent, will or resources our current GM's do.

A forum like this is helpful. Even if arduous and 2D. That's all I wanted to say. I will be contributing in the near future (though I'm an queen's pawn player)

Everything you have written tells me you speak from experience.  I built my opening tree and opening repertoire by hand. It took me 8 years. There is no doubt that understanding the why behind the opening tree that the computer assembled is invaluable.  However, most people that come to this site want to see results in a relatively short period of time.  With computers that relatively short time translates to 2-3 years to become a strong player.  You can keep alot of  the people that come to this website on board with a time frame of 2-3 yrs.  But, you are going to lose a majority if the time frame is 8-10 years.

Why not 4.d4?  it seems quite dynamic and opens up some lines.  Plus black may fall for 4...Nxe4 5.dxe5. 

the line you play against Caro kann isnt leading to anything! I play this with black and there are some forced lines which equalize immediatly. Much better is to go for the Advanced Variation and as a surprise Weapon the panov attack. Cheers

"1. ... g6 and 1. ... d6

We should treat them with austrian attack as mainline and a surprise sideline will be the structure d4, Nc3, Be3, f3, Qd2

with quick O-O-O if possible."

Uhm - Speaking as a Modern specialist, this is only White's most popular line of all - It's not a sideline, and there is zero surprise value!

I don't know that the Two Knights doesn't lead to anything. I wouldn't play the Advance though without some knowledge of topical developments. The Panov is a good recommendation. But the Two Knights, especially if you're not looking to spend a lot of time initially on the Caro (instead spending time on e5 & Sicilian), it's a good recommendation.

or you can just buy ...Chess Opening Essentials: The Ideas & Plans Behind ALL Chess Openings, The Complete 1. e4 (Volume 1)

Djuric, Stefan, Komarov, Dimitry, Pantaleoni, Claudio

ISBN: 9789056912031
Publisher: New In Chess,Csi
Published date: May 1 2007

Paperback

Thanks for your opinion NM ozzie!

Ok, now that actually some people are involved I'll start posting this Sunday. I'll start with the Petrov (or is it Petroff?) defence and the caro since they should be relatively easiest to handle. I'll post 2 pgn files with opening trees and then I'll be looking for input, both theoretical (suggesting better lines) and practical (suggesting overall plans in a given position or pointing out missed sidelines for black).