Go back
Only response to 1.e4 with plus score at WC level?

Only response to 1.e4 with plus score at WC level?

Only Chess

1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

There is only one defense with a plus score against 1. e4 at the World Championship level. Any guesses?

I'll provide the answer tomorrow evening (US eastern time) unless someone guesses it ahead of time.

Vote Up
Vote Down

1...a6!

3 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
There is only one defense with a plus score against 1. e4 at the World Championship level. Any guesses?
1...Nc3

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
1...Nc3
Nice trick, but even if you could pull it off, all you'd be doing is giving away your knight.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
1...Nc3
Tricky but pointless 😛

Vote Up
Vote Down

like... an opening move, or a defense system?

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
There is only one defense with a plus score against 1. e4 at the World Championship level. Any guesses?

I'll provide the answer tomorrow evening (US eastern time) unless someone guesses it ahead of time.
Is this tomorrow our time? Or Greenpawn time?

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Maxime Ferlatte
like... an opening move, or a defense system?
I suppose this is a hint, but the very first move immediately identifies the system essayed, and then White has to make a decision about how to approach it.

It does narrow the field, but still leaves an open question.

Paul

Vote Up
Vote Down

I should also clarify that I am referring to the men's world championship matches- I did not specify that, but it was the intention.

Paul

Vote Up
Vote Down

My guess is the French: 1.e4 e6

Vote Up
Vote Down

Alekhine's defense

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Ajuin
Alekhine's defense
And we have a winner! According to GM John Emms, "The four Alekhine world championship games were Alekhine-Euwe, 1935 (ironic!), Spassky-Fischer, 13th and 19th games, 1972, and Ponomariov-Ivanchuk, 2002. All were drawn except the first Spassky-Fischer game.

Apparently, White has never won against it, and only lost or drawn, at the WC level.

Congratulations Ajuin!

Paul

Vote Up
Vote Down

Maybe I'm only having an episode of the ''I Knew it'' syndrome, but that's what I was gonna answer!

Vote Up
Vote Down

I am dreaming, white did not finished form discovering trick in the Alekhine, but Nf6... it is inviting e5....... but let's not do it..

I do not ask why it has good score...

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Eladar
Is this tomorrow our time? Or Greenpawn time?
That's funny enough for partial credit!

Funny to anyone but our aggrieved Heinzkat, that is!

Paul