Originally posted by ShonkytonkThis can be really dangerous (as black anyway...)
My opening move is almost always e4, usually followed by f3.
What, in your opinion, is the best opening move.
e4 ..e5
Nf3 ..f6?
Nxe5 ..fxe5
Qh5+ ..g6
Qxe5+
Obviously the same idea can be used if white plays this position reversed...
e4 ..e5
f3? ..Nf6
Now white must play Ne2 (to provide cover down the h4-e1 diagonal), as any other move leads to..
eg.
3.Bc4 ..Nxe4!
4.fxe4 ..Qh4+
5.g3 ..Qxe4 winning rook and pawns...
However, after ...
1.e4 ..e5
2.f3 ..Nf6
3.Nf2
...whites white bishop is blocked in, his kings knight is tied down to defending the Queen check. All this while black can simply bring out his queens knight to threaten an imediate attack on whites defending knight. In other words white's piece's are far from ideally placed and you loose the initiative of going first from the second move. Why let black call the shots?
There is of course another alternative to 3.Nf2. White could try 3.g3 instead. ie..
e4 ..e5
f3 ..Nf6
g3
This prevents the tactical trap described above but why waste time moving pawns around and weakening your kingside pawn structure (not to mention denying your kings knight it's best square) when you could be developing your pieces and causing black problems. In this position black is free to move where ever he want's as there are no threats being made on his position.
You really should probably stick with the established opening moves like e4 and d4. moves like a3 are obscure for a good reason, they dont do anything to improve your position and give your opponent an advantage right off the start. Don't ignore the center and don't do things like f3 and make 4 or 5 pawn moves in the opening. The normal openings are normal for a reason, they are generally some of the best moves for each side. So e4, Nf3 is a good starting point.
Originally posted by marinakatomb1.e4 e5
This can be really dangerous (as black anyway...)
e4 ..e5
Nf3 ..f6?
Nxe5 ..fxe5
Qh5+ ..g6
Qxe5+
Obviously the same idea can be used if white plays this position reversed...
e4 ..e5
f3? ..Nf6
Now white must play Ne2 (to provide cover down the h4-e1 diagonal), as any other move leads to..
eg.
3.Bc4 ..Nxe4!
4.fxe4 ..Qh4+
5.g3 ..Qxe4 w ...[text shortened]... black is free to move where ever he want's as there are no threats being made on his position.
2. Nf3 f6
3. Nxe5 Qe7 is alot better than what you suggested. Black gets the pawn back, but white gets an (almost) decisive advantage in development.
With 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 f6
3. Nxe5 fxe5?
4. Qh5 is the right way to continue as you mentioned, but I think it's clear that 4. ...g6? is a blunder.
4. ...Ke7
5. Qxe5+ Kf7
6. Bc4+ d5 (or Kg6? 7. Qf5+ Kh6 8. h4! (to prevent g5) and 9. d4/d3+ wins.)
7. Bxd5+ Kg6
8. h4 h6
9. Bxb7! wins.
Originally posted by marinakatomb
Obviously the same idea can be used if white plays this position reversed...
Well no, because white has a tempo more, so he can as well cover e4 a second time as make extra room for his king. so:
1. e4 e5
2. f3 Nf6
3. Bc4 is fine.
3. ...Nxe4?
4. fxe4 Qh4+
5. Kf1! and black can only get 2 pawns for his knight. therefore white has decisive advantage.
But I think white should move 3. Nc3 or 3. d3 and simply avoid any of it.
I'm not saying 2. f3 is a good move; only that it's perfectly playable.
1. e4 is the best move for white because it does the most things in one move ie. it attacks two sqaures in the enemy camp & frees play for queen and bishop.
best 2nd move for white depends on what blacks plays, but in general e4 & d4 are preferred if the chance arises.
And I let you into little secret I heard.. some GM's believe an early f3/f4 is the way to defeating these modern opening systems.