King's Pawn 1.e4
White's aggressive opening move opens lines for the queen and king's bishop and fights for control of the squares d5 and f5. 1. e4 is the most traditional of White's first moves, is popular at all levels of the game and is the favoured opening move of world champions Bobby Fischer and Anatoly Karpov, Fischer calling it 'best by test'. Openings with 1. e4 tend to emphasize violent tactics over slow maneuvering.
At this point Black must decide how to face White's aggression. With a pawn on e4 White's simplest plan is to play d4 on the next move, giving himself a strong 'classical' centre, so the most aggressive replies by Black challenge White's control of d4.
1...e5 challenges it directly, establishing an equal share of the centre though allowing White to maintain for longer the initiative conferred by having the first move. 1...c5 creates an unbalanced position of attack and counter-attack and is the more popular move. 1...Nc6 is playable but does not prevent d4 since the knight cannot take the pawn without the queen recapturing.Alternatively, Black may challenge White's central control by targeting the newly arrived e4 pawn, either with
1...d5, with a likely exchange of central pawns leading to a wide-open game in which minor piece placement is crucial, or with 1...Nf6 inviting White to build a large centre that may later be attacked. 1...f5 Fred defence, is a very poor move since the attacking pawn is left en prise.Other first moves by Black allow White to place pawns on e4 and d4, with Black giving up a spatial disadvantage in order to prepare a counterattack.
1...e6, French defence, a popular move. Black follows up with d5. The main disadvantage of this opening is that Black's light-squared bishop becomes blocked behind his pawns 1...c6 also prepares d5, but without blocking the bishop. 1...d6 and 1...g6 are related moves - where one is played, the other usually follows soon. The aim is to set up a solid but dynamic formation with Bg7 and usually Nf6 before deciding how to fight for the center. 1...b6 is occasionally played but allows White to attack quickly.While the late English GM Tony Miles beat the then world champion Anatoly Karpov in a famous game with
1...a6 neglects the centre and is not recommended to anyone less skilled than Tony Miles.Rarely played moves by Black include
1...a5, is also not recommended, as it weakens Black's position. 1...Na6, Lemming Defence, which is too passive. 1...Nh6, Adams Defence, which is also too passive. 1...h6, Carr Defence, which wastes time and weakens Black's kingside. 1...h5, Pickering Defence, which does not help development. 1...g5, Borg Defence 1...f6, Barnes Defence, weakens the Black king. 1...b5, Polish Gambit, unsound because 2. Bxb5 gives White a free pawn.Approximately chances: White win 39%, Draw 29%, Black win 32%
Estimated next move popularity: c5 41%, e5 25%, e6 13%, c6 7%, d6 4%, d5 4%, g6 3%, Nf6 2%, Nc6 0.5%, other moves less than 0.5%
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While the late English GM Tony Miles beat the then world champion Anatoly Karpov in a famous game with
- 1...a6 neglects the centre and is not recommended to anyone less skilled than Tony Miles. "
I am a scholar and great fan of the late Tony Miles and Micheal Basman. Reading comments like this makes me feel someone should be educated before making loose comments.
Last season I have studied and played the St George defence with black OTB and got great results. for both main variations and they move order difference of each. Understanding such an opening is key and both chess players , Miles and Basman have that understanding.
there are times when the best you get is an equal position, but in my experience , I would still have 20 to 30 minutes on my opponent because it is such a dangerous position. Then going in an endgame you have a big plus.
Yes, you give up the center , as in no pawns and flank white, however, white cannot press-on without giving away dangerous attacking lines, and that is where the strength lies. if white goes into defence mode and tries to save the center, that is where you can get some development speed back and get some pressure on that center that white so vigorously tries to save . ( the center is NOT the target)
in light of the subject of this thread, I would say 1... a6
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Over the board psychology plays a part, and by playing a half-open defense you are telling your opponent we will play my opening.
Nonsense. Both players play an equal role in deciding the opening. White can take black into his pet lines just as easily in the sicilian or french as in double king pawn openings. White can play "half open" positions after 1...e5, and he can also pry the position open against the sicilian and french. Oh, and the sicilian usually takes more work than 1...e5 to play successfully because the moves are less natural, meaning that they are tougher to find over the board and because of that, a greater number of them should be memorized. Also, one slip in the open sicilian by black often leads to a lost position, whereas after 1...e5 there is more room for forgiveness.