1e4!

It opens the diagonals for your bishop and queen!

So does 1.e3

***Continue with the rest of your day***

Originally posted by Eladar
It opens the diagonals for your bishop and queen!

So does 1.e3

***Continue with the rest of your day***

Not if you're black it doesn't. It's an impossible move! 😛

Originally posted by mikelom
Not if you're black it doesn't. It's an impossible move! 😛

So is 1.e4!

It also supplies an escape square for your King.

(1.e3 kind of stubs the toe of the Queen's Bishop and stops the King
from running to e3. 1.e4!)

Originally posted by greenpawn34
It also supplies an escape square for your King.

(1.e3 kind of stubs the toe of the Queen's Bishop and stops the King
from running to e3. 1.e4!)

The queen's bishop can either be played to the right, in which case e3 would cut down on its mobility, or it can be played to the left in which case e3 wouldn't.

In any case, I've never seen the "helping to free the queen's bishop" as a reason to play 1.e4. Thanks for pointing it out.

1. b3 hands the iniative over to the Black pieces... joy.

Originally posted by nimzo5
1. b3 hands the iniative over to the Black pieces... joy.

Hey now, why are you trying to change the subject of the thread?

This thread is supposed to be about the merits of 1.e4 and how it can open the diagonals for the queen and king's bishop on the very first move!

I simply pointed out that 1.e3 would do the same.

1.e3 attacks just as many central squares as 1.e4.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
It also supplies an escape square for your King.

(1.e3 kind of stubs the toe of the Queen's Bishop and stops the King
from running to e3. 1.e4!)

Could you give me an example of how 1.e4 allows the king to run to e3 in certain openings?

http://www.beginnersgame.com/

1.e3!! 1.e3! 1.e3!? 1.e3?! 1.e3? 1.e3?? 😕

Originally posted by Eladar
Could you give me an example of how 1.e4 allows the king to run to e3 in certain openings?

The Hoogan-Hoogan Variation

http://www.youtube.com/user/superrampant#p/a/u/2/vlbhxWeAYfc

The square e2 must be free in the Hoogan-Hoogan.

The move Ke3 is the Advanced Hoogen-Hoogen.

e3 actually doesn't "attack" any central squares it defends squares as they are still on your side of the board.

Originally posted by nimzo5
e3 actually doesn't "attack" any central squares it defends squares as they are still on your side of the board.

neither does 1...e6 but try telling that to Frenchies!

1....d5, and the position is equal.

Originally posted by Eladar
Could you give me an example of how 1.e4 allows the king to run to e3 in certain openings?

And in the Traxler:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2ch 6. Kxf2 Nxe4ch 7. Ke3

Man, it's a slow day in the "Only Chess" forum...