How to Play for a Win By Bo Bredenhof When I look into CC databases and search strong players (rating 2400+) the first move is almost always 1.e4 or 1.d4. I see a few openings with 1.c4 and 1.Nf3, but they almost always transposes to some 1.d4 variation. Why is this? I believe it has to do with initiative and the strong chess engines of today. Most long forced lines where White can keep the initiative begin with these moves. The one who deviates takes a risk and that is of course what the first player wants. In my December chronicle I recommended a few alternative ways of opening a game. It was 1.f4, 1.Nf3+g3 and 1.c4+Nc3. All of these are defensive in character. With 1.f4 you play … [Read more...]