Favorite Opening

As white, I love to play the English
Against d4 I play the King's Indian
Against e4 I like the Caro-Kann
Actually, all three of these are quite different, but they keep me interested and don't get boring because of that. Plus I get to see all kinds of different positions.

Queen's Gambit for white.

King's Indian defense for black.

Originally posted by basso
OK, the Stonewall Attack definitely lost the popularity contest. (I'm glad to hear it wasn't just me.) So just what opening IS your favorite -- as White? Personally, I like the Queen's Gambit.

I have a few favorites. I enjoy the Max Lange attack, because of its tactical intricasies usually favoring white. Queens gambit is pretty good, Giuoco Piano is a nice one, and maybe the Barza opening.

Everybody seems to like the Ruy Lopez. Everytime I use it I lose. I like playing the Queen's Bishop Attack/ Queen's Gambit as white and the Sicilian Najdorf Polugaevsky as Black I guess.

I usually play 1.e4
with blacks Sicilian, Pirc, and Petrov if 1.e4 ; and KID, Nimzoindia, or Benoni if 1.d4 ....
but I try to see what is the opponent's style first ! 😉

Originally posted by GalaxyShield
For white, the only opening I'm solid in is the Italian. I like to use the English in blitz, but need to learn it more thuroughly before I try to apply it in any important game. Nf3 is fun to play too, lots of options.

For black, I don't for one. I don't have any specific lines. Just play what's there and what I'm comfortable with.

What is the Italian?

Originally posted by Red Night
What is the Italian?

1.e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5

White plays for central dominance and in the long run pressure on f7. He wants to achieve the advance d2-d4 to gain central space, while Black wishes to play d7-d5 to gain equality.

Originally posted by Red Night
What is the Italian?

aka The Guico piano.

Originally posted by zebano
aka The Guico piano.

Thanks Zebano.

I've heard of the Guicco Piano.

And now that you say it, I guess that I dimly recall it also being called the Italian Game.

Sort of the like the Ruy being called the spanish game.

You know, their really should be something called the Russian Game.

Does anybody call the Najdorf the Argentine Game? It should probably be named after Fischer anyway!

Theirs a French, an English, a Dutch, a Sicilian, an Italian, a Spanish, a Scotch, but no Russian and no American.

The Russians deserve it more than any country.

I like to play 1Nf3 or 1e4

Originally posted by Red Night
Thanks Zebano.

I've heard of the Guicco Piano.

And now that you say it, I guess that I dimly recall it also being called the Italian Game.

Sort of the like the Ruy being called the spanish game.

You know, their really should be something called the Russian Game.

Does anybody call the Najdorf the Argentine Game? It should probably be named ...[text shortened]... sh, a Scotch, but no Russian and no American.

The Russians deserve it more than any country.

The Russian Game is Petrov's Defence.

As white, I always play the Vienna Game, it's just the best. As black, I go for the center-counter (scandinavian defense). I never lose, unless I'm durnk.

Originally posted by Sicilian Smaug
In what way is that wise?

dont agree ? its better to know the style or your opponents or not ?