1.e4 ... 2.Nf3

I've been playing through the decisive games of the current US Chess Championship, and this seems to be a very common opening for White in those games.

Is that because it's the most flexible / transposable / maybe unpredictable?

Hi Kevin,

After playing 1.e4 e5 you are 99% sure where the g1 Knight is going.
Not all the time, you can play 2.Bc4, 2.f4, 2.d4 2.Nc3 etc...
So flexibility is the reason. It's on a good square to react to anything.

Also 2.Nf3 after 1.e4 e5 has been top choice since the1880's when the game was starting
to be looked at seriously by Steinitz then Lasker and Tarrasch. so it has a long pedigree.

Occasionally you see other second moves after 1.e4 e5 but it's been 2.Nf3 in every
world championship match since 1910. That was when we saw the last Kings Gambit
(1.e4 e5 2. f4) In a world championship match. Lasker v Janowski 1910.
Lasker was leading 7-0 when he played it..

@kevin-eleven said
I've been playing through the decisive games of the current US Chess Championship, and this seems to be a very common opening for White in those games.

Is that because it's the most flexible / transposable / maybe unpredictable?

Hello Kevin. I think greenpawn is correct, flexibility is the reason. It's on a good square to react to anything. The move order however is a matter of taste, since white has a number of 2nd moves that are at least as good such as 2. Nc3 and 2. Bc4. As the Beatles once said "It's been going in and out of style, but it's guaranteed to raise a smile"

@greenpawn34 and @mchill: Thank you both for your replies! 🙂

@kevin-eleven said
I've been playing through the decisive games of the current US Chess Championship, and this seems to be a very common opening for White in those games.

Is that because it's the most flexible / transposable / maybe unpredictable?

Against a comparably strong opponent, White's moves in the opening are ordinarily chosen so as to provide the best chance of eventually outplaying the opponent. This could be due to an opening's requiring more accurate play from Black than from White, White's being exceptionally knowledgeable about that opening, or White's having discovered a weakness in the opponent's repertoire.

One's psychological or physical state can also be a factor. For example, after a series of exhausting games, one might want a fairly straightforward draw in order to recoup one's energy or motivation.

@FMDavidHLevin: Thank you!

@greenpawn34 said
Also 2.Nf3 after 1.e4 e5 has been top choice since the1880's when the game was starting
to be looked at seriously by Steinitz then Lasker and Tarrasch. so it has a long pedigree.

Longer than that - it was recommended by writers as far back as Damiano and Ruy Lopez. Even back then, not everybody trusted the king's gambit, and AFAIK only Philidor preferred the bishop's game.

Some good players having been reading this forum. I was emailed today about it,
(not PM's - emailed!) and reminded that 2.Nc3 was played in;

Alekhine - Euwe World Championship Match 1935.