Dear Chess Friends!
What’s your primary opening for White? Do you play 1.e4 or 1.d4? Or maybe you prefer some closed systems such as 1.c4 or 1.Nf3 which can transpose to already known and well-studied openings or lead to rare variations with a complicated play?
I think nobody would argue if I say that the opening should reflect your playing style? If you prefer playing open positions with tactics and tempo play, you are likely to choose 1.e4. So, if you are a tactical player who prefers sharp play, I’m sure you enjoy playing 1.e4 and you are happy to get into any Sicilian or French Defense lines. Same as me)
However, how to deal if your opponent reacts with 1…e5 and plays for a draw. What should you play then? Rui Lopez? It requires a lot of knowledge. You should also somehow deal with Berlin Defense to avoid a draw.
King’s Gambit? No, it’s a common knowledge Black is better there. Vienna Game? Black can easily equalize. Evans Gambit? Good choice for club players, but can’t be a primary opening for players over 2000, it’s easy to prepare for Black if they know that you are going to play Evans Gambit.
What else is left? Scotch game? According to my experience, Black almost always equalize the position there. However, if you have some research there you may play Scotch. For example, Garry Kasparov plays it!
This is how I came up to the conclusion that I (being an 1.e4 player) should choose Giuoco Piano (Italian Game). I know there are tons of draws in this opening, but if you learn the lines, analyze possible plans and do some research you may get positions where you can play for a win. This is what I based my research on the 112th webinar “How to Play Italian Game for White”.
Please, watch my webinar recording below
I also publish the PGNs below:
Giuoco Piano Variations
The game you can base your analysis in case if Black prefers d5-plan.
Nepomniachtchi Ian - Grischuk Alexander
The game that illustrates typical plans in Italian Game with d5.
Yudin Sergei – Shirov Alexei
A famous game where Anand got an advantage in the opening, but made a few mistakes and lost the game to Caruana. A proper plan for White is also shown there.
Viswanathan Anand – Fabiano Caruana