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1...Nf6

1...Nf6

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Is Nf6 a viable response to 1.e4? Another reminder that I'm still very new and am reading a lot on the basics, openings, center control and end game.

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Originally posted by Tiderius
Is Nf6 a viable response to 1.e4? Another reminder that I'm still very new and am reading a lot on the basics, openings, center control and end game.
no

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Umm.. yes? =)
It is the Alekhine defense.

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An explanation would be nice, if you'd be so kind.

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Originally posted by Tiderius
An explanation would be nice, if you'd be so kind.
The Alekhine Defense is an old standard, one of the hypermodern openings. It lacks the solid reputation of the Sicilian, French, and Caro-Kann defenses, or even the reliability of openings following after 1...e5.

In short, no. It is a terrible choice for beginners.

Nevertheless, it can be dangerous in the hands of a strong tactician that also understands positional play.

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The post that was quoted here has been removed
Thank you. Now that I see its probably a more advanced strategy, I'll probably focus on a more "beginner friendly" opening. However, it seems like a natural move to me, so I may play it every so often.

Thanks for letting me know about this player as well, I'll watch some of his games.

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Against 1...Nf6, I'll often choose the second most popular move, 2.Nf3.



Here black most often plays 2...e5, and now were transposing into lines quite different from Alekhine's defense. Good reason to learn those first before venturing into the main line Alekhine.

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Originally posted by Tiderius
Is Nf6 a viable response to 1.e4? Another reminder that I'm still very new and am reading a lot on the basics, openings, center control and end game.
www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer

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Not only did 5 muppets play Qf3, but 3 of them won!

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yes it is. 1...Nf6 is playable choice against any white first move (except 1.g4, thou im not sure)

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Originally posted by Wulebgr
Against 1...Nf6, I'll often choose the second most popular move, 2.Nf3.

[fen]rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/5n2/8/4P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - 0 2[/fen]

Here black most often plays 2...e5, and now were transposing into lines quite different from Alekhine's defense. Good reason to learn those first before venturing into the main line Alekhine.
I can't believe your first response was no! But I do understand why...

I think the Alekhine is an excellent "backup" opening and I use it as that. Against Wulebgr's somewhat annoying 2.Nc3 I play 2...d5 and transpose into Scandinavian lines which don't tend to be theoretical and give black pretty good chances to win, as opposed to going into potential 4 Knight Defense lines.

It is good to have a more solid first choice, but I can tell you from experience that the Sicilian is best suited for 1600+ because you simply won't see book lines often under that (So much 2.Bc4 crap) so you may want to practice the Alekhine, Scandi, French, Caro-Kann, or 1...e5.

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Just for grins: 1 e4 Nf6 2 Bc4 Ne4 3 Bf7 Kf7 4 Qh5. White eventually corrals the knight and an interesting game results.

(n.b. 2...e5 is the Bishop's Opening by transposition.)

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Originally posted by gaychessplayer
Just for grins: 1 e4 Nf6 2 Bc4 Ne4 3 Bf7 Kf7 4 Qh5. White eventually corrals the knight and an interesting game results.

(n.b. 2...e5 is the Bishop's Opening by transposition.)
Not necessarily though, 2...e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 is the 4 Knights.

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Originally posted by cmsMaster
Not necessarily though, 2...e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 is the 4 Knights.
Good point.