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

Paul Leggett

Chess Librarian

Only Chess

01 Nov 09

Paul Leggett

Chess Librarian

The Stacks

Joined: 21 Aug 09
Moves: 114051

01 Nov 09

1 edit

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.

RabbitCold

Joined: 10 Dec 06
Moves: 10467

01 Nov 09

1...a6!

~~robbie carrobie~~

Joined: 26 Aug 07
Moves: 38239

01 Nov 09

3 edits

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

Eladar

Joined: 12 Jul 08
Moves: 13814

01 Nov 09

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.

Jasen777

Joined: 03 Nov 08
Moves: 15420

01 Nov 09

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
1...Nc3

Tricky but pointless 😛

Maxacre42

Joined: 16 Oct 09
Moves: 2448

01 Nov 09

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

Eladar

Joined: 12 Jul 08
Moves: 13814

01 Nov 09

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?

Paul Leggett

Chess Librarian

The Stacks

Joined: 21 Aug 09
Moves: 114051

01 Nov 09

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

Paul Leggett

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Joined: 21 Aug 09
Moves: 114051

01 Nov 09

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

Eladar

Joined: 12 Jul 08
Moves: 13814

01 Nov 09

My guess is the French: 1.e4 e6

Ajuin

Joined: 10 Oct 09
Moves: 3027

01 Nov 09

Alekhine's defense

Paul Leggett

Chess Librarian

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Joined: 21 Aug 09
Moves: 114051

01 Nov 09

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

Maxacre42

Joined: 16 Oct 09
Moves: 2448

01 Nov 09

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

AudreyxSophie

Joined: 11 Jul 09
Moves: 43994

01 Nov 09

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...

Paul Leggett

Chess Librarian

The Stacks

Joined: 21 Aug 09
Moves: 114051

01 Nov 09

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