Originally posted by Oddjob291The important thing to remember here is that often people play what is in vogue with the grandmasters. Fischer relied heavily on the kings indian defense, yet lately the queens gambit declined has been popular. Then again, Kasparov was more likely to set trends than follow him. Maybe he studied Fischer while devloping and later didn't like his style, or just wanted a new weapon for his repitoire.
Total agree. There is no such thing, otherwise, everyone will be playing it!
For example, Kasparov when he was actively playing, against 1. d4, he used to play the King's Indian Defence, however, in recent times (before retiring), he has responded with 1... d5!
It's just a matter of style and taste! ... just like food.
Originally posted by thechessguyDepends on the player who is playing a particular opening. For the grandmaster, I'd say Ruy Lopez has taken the most scalps for White. And, the Sicilian Najdorf or Queen's Indian Defense for Black in Grandmaster player. As for you - rated 900s - I'd say the best opening is the Giuoco Piano. Openings are not as important as "opening principles," and tactics and endgame should rule the study of the class player much more than "opening theory." When a player hits 1800+, then he can study opening theory somewhat. When he hits 2000+ then it is a must to know the traps and zaps of his repertroire I presume. But tactics, good opening principles and endgame technique build strength in a player. Tactics are 99% of chess.
Common, but im glad someone accually read my thread, anyways, have you heard or the Finnchetto(I have no idea if that is how you spell it) Bishop?
Originally posted by Saint NickIts an interesting question. Not which is best, but which is most common.
I think Ruy Lopez would come up as the most common.
Though some may argue that because it is most common, it must also be the best.
If you take main lines down to 5 moves, the most common on my database (of just over 4 million games) is the Sicilian Najdorf (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6.) with 104,784 games.
The Ruy Lopez (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7) is the next most common with 65,684 games.
Originally posted by FabianFnasI have to take issue with this. That may seem the case upon inspection but in actuality it is not. Ultimately every opening will have a move set that will equalize for black. It is this concept of equality that stops there from ever being a "best" opening. SInce any good opening can lead to equality, and all equalities must be equal, there can be no best.
I think actually there is an opening that could be considered the strongest.
With enough computing power to calculate it we will know - until then we have to guess.
But this is just my opinion...