1.e4 or 1.d4?! Grandmaster on openings in chess.

[@tomaszskrzyczek4641]

Thank You, for sharing your knowledge :) Keep growing on YT

[@gm_rakhmanov]

Thanks!

[@abotaha5482]

Hello Aleksandr 1.e4 best by test = maybe said by Fischer . As black what you recommended for amateurs against 1.e4 & 1.d4 1.e4 : Sicilian , Caro-Kan , Petrov aka Russian , Pirc , ....... etc. 1.d4 : 1... d5 , King's Indian , .... etc. An idea : you can make video(s) talking about pros and cons of each defense as main idea of it then which more suitable for which many rating levels . My little info symmetrical position most of it goes to draws . Many thanks .

[@Mike-cp1tj]

excited to tell you, GM Rakhmanov that I have started training with BOTH of your GM Training Courses, I enjoy the way you explains! Kruto, let's go! For opening suggestions, I would love to learn how to handle Rossolimo variation on the black side after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6

[@gm_rakhmanov]

Thank you! Good luck with your improvement!

[@DhrjMakj]

This video is truly outstanding

[@hata6290]

Thank you for the advice rakhmanov :)

[@sleepy4x]

The only thing I disagree is with the French. With 1...e5 you invite white to play his pet opening. With a semi open defense you play your pet opening. And the French has much counter potential and you can choose wilder positions like the Winaver or more solid like Classical or Rubinstein. Or you go with Sicilian, Scandi, Caro Kann. But I never trusted 1...e5.

[@ninjaamara8053]

Thank you sir for great advice. I was always confused to choose opening. I am 1650fide rating 2250 online blitz.

[@ConstantinKoehler]

Great Video. Enjoyed your perspective and subbed!

[@gm_rakhmanov]

Thanks!

[@SkullEZClap]

Didn’t mention Sicilian 😢

[@AndyJMacLeod]

Been playing the Jobava London and the Caro Kann. Currently plateaued around 850. Not sure whether to persevere with those openings or to try learning some others…

[@arildopaes]

thank you , nice video.

[@MjUniahahbe]

keep going on your informative channel sir

[@gm_rakhmanov]

Thanks!

[@ArranVid]

Thank you, very good video :-)

[@Five-Star-General]

Thank you sir

[@gossedejong9248]

thank you!!

[@mcronrn]

Bet interesting, thx!

[@noahz]

Fantastic video... I needed this information 3 years ago when I was playing French and Russian as Black... What do you think of the Budapest as Black? d4 Nf3 c4 e5!? For U1500 players

[@gm_rakhmanov]

@noahz It might be a good tricky line and it teaches you to play with initiative. If it gives you points, why not, but for further improvement would be good to add something solid.

[@SuhbanIo]

Assalamu Alaykum brother, how do you play if your opponent is playing passively?

[@Killersam776]

I think the advantage to playing d4 or c4 as a more inexperienced chess player is that you’ll win a lot of games just based on the fact that your inexperienced opponents won’t know how to respond

[@noahz]

Correct, he addresses this very early in the video. You will have some success and wins, but in the long run your chess growth will be stunted.

[@AbhishekCherayaramal]

Do u recommend Ruy Lopez for 1. e4? I’m a beginner and want long term improvement

[@turbonarsu]

just watch the video

[@punmije]

Is scandinavian good reply to 1.e4 for beginner to 2000 level? I play it a lot, and I mostly get good, solid positions, and i find often that opponent tries to punish early queen out but ends up in worse position.

[@gm_rakhmanov]

As far as it works for you it's a good reply to 1.e4!

[@vishnukirupakaran1402]

Opinion on the Leningrad/ Classical Dutch for black?

[@gm_rakhmanov]

@vishnukirupakaran1402 If it works for you then it's fine. Weakening the king on move 1 is not great idea and teaches you a bad pattern.

[@lukastux3024]

Why do you consider the Caro-Kann suboptimal (only slightly better than the French)? Isn't it OK to play the Caro-Kann if I play 1.e4 as White? I think the Caro-Kann is very good for chess improvment for the following reasons: 1. it's an asymmetric, unbalanced position teaching strategy, 2. it is actually somewhat aggressive, taking some risk for counter chances (and is the best performing good opening of Black on amateur level according to lichess DB 2000+) 3. Most importantly, it leads to very typical pawn structures. Black needs to play against a lot of space in a closed center, against the IQP, *with* the IQP, against hanging pawns, with doubled f-pawns, ... Compare that to 1. ..e5! And if one plays 1.e4, it is very unlikely that one sees hanging pawns or other important pawn structures frequently. It's not uncommon to have symmetric pawn structures in these lines.

[@gm_rakhmanov]

"1. it's an asymmetric, unbalanced position teaching strategy", "Black needs to play against a lot of space in a closed center...", "with doubled f-pawns" Have you watched the video?😀 First one needs to learn how to play right then they can do (play) whatever. It depends what your level is, but I mainly talking about good openings to start with and play till some level like ≈2000 online, so getting a solid basis and being able to improve that later by adding other openings. If you start to play chess with worse openings you limit your potential and learn some wrong things like playing with less space is something ok.

[@Filipios35376]

Did you really call the Caro Kann somewhat aggressive? Yes, some lines are interesting (look up Karpov's Bongcloud in his Karpov Variation) but if you want to have aggressive and double edged positions you might aswell play The Sicilian or Winawer French (although The Exchange can be boring and The Advanced can be more positional, but can sometimes become somewhat double edged).

[@lukastux3024]

@@Filipios35376 yes, depending on your definition of "aggressive". Aggressive is not the same as sharp/tactical and that is not the same as attacking. The Caro-Kann is usually not very tactical and not an attacking opening, but it is somewhat aggressive. The Sicilian is often all of these three.