I studied up on the Bg5 and Be3 lines of the Najdorf and I'm pretty irked. There are several forced draws and Black can't avoid them without sacrificing too much. I guess it's unlikely that my opponents would want a draw as White, but the very idea that they can force me into it is annoying to say the least. Does the French have any forced draws I should know about?
While I like the Najdorf too, I decided to play the French at least untl the end of the year. It is an interesting and complex opening that I think is completely sound. (definitely more so than my previous Sicilian)
It will teach me a different kind of chess and I think it's more appropriate for my level. The Najdorf is also a bit over-analyzed. However, I will also play the Najdorf(and other Sicilians), e5 and even the Caro-Kann once in a while to see other sides of chess.
Originally posted by exigentskyAnything is more exciting than the Accelerated Dragon. I told you so. It's less exciting than drying paint.
While I like the Najdorf too, I decided to play the French at least untl the end of the year. It is an interesting and complex opening that I think is completely sound. (definitely more so than my previous Sicilian)
It will teach me a different kind of chess and I think it's more appropriate for my level. The Najdorf is also a bit over-analyzed. Howeve ...[text shortened]... rf(and other Sicilians), e5 and even the Caro-Kann once in a while to see other sides of chess.
Originally posted by !~TONY~!You really must not be playing it very well if you feel that way. 😀 I have no problem with the excitement of the Accelerated Dragon, my problems occur after Bc4 in the main line. It isn't even so much a practical problem as it is theoretical. Most of my opponents don't play the lines I fear, but the fact that they exist have swayed me from the opening.
Anything is more exciting than the Accelerated Dragon. I told you so. It's less exciting than drying paint.
Originally posted by exigentskyYou can't know which move is objectively best until the chess game is solved.
I know this has been covered many times, but theory has changed since then. :p I'm ditching my Accelerated Dragon and I am searching for a good replacement. I don't just want an opening I like, I want an opening I consider to be absolutely the best. It's true that no one REALLY know what response is best, but as long as I'm convinced, that's all that matt ...[text shortened]... st liking it, but actually thinking that it is the theoretically most challenging move.
And playing things you think are "best" rather than those which fit you, might be mistake.
If there is a "best" response to 1 e4, it is 1...c5 if you go by the results of master games. 1...c5 scores better than any other frequently played defnese to 1 e4.
Back in the early 1970's a book came out called "The Blue Book of Charts to Winning Chess." It showed the winning percentage for every opening at every turn. I think 1 g4 or 1 b4 had the highest winning percentage! Of course, the sample size for 1 g4 and 1 b4 is pretty small. If there was a GM tournament in which White had to play 1 g4 every game, I don't think White's winning percentage would even be as high as 50%.