Name of the following chess opening?

4 Comments

1. Alper Tunga K says:

   July 29, 2010 at 5:16 am

   This is called King’s Pawn Opening the ECO code is C20. The same position can arise from these other move orders as well. 1. d4 d6 2.e4 e5 3.c3; or 1.d4 d6 2. c3 e5 3. e4.This final position with these particular move orders is called Queen’s Pawn Game (with…d6) as the first move is 1. d4 not 1. e4, and the ECO code then becomes A41. Here’re 3 games played with this particular opening for you.

   http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1132667

   http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1339546

   http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1021992

   EDIT: @non_cre8tive.name

   I don’t agree with you that d5 is better than d6. The resultant positions both after d5 and d6 are equal. It’s true that with d5 black gets some initiative but then again it’s just a matter of taste to play with or against initiative in equal positions. Some people (especially the ones who have attacking styles) play better with initiative (such as Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Efim Geller) and some other chess players (the ones who have very good defensive qualities) are more comfortable when they leave initiative to their opponents (such as Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian, Vassily Smyslov, Anatoly Karpov, Viktor Korchnoi) in equal positions.

   IMO d6 is as viable as d5.

   EDIT: @non_cre8tive.name
   You say that you can’t see this opening in top level. This game below is pretty top level.

   http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1021992

   Both Azmaiparashvili and Chernin are above 2600 players. If your position is solid you can choose to leave the initiative to your opponent if you know that he doesn’t play so well in equal positions when he’s the initiative.
2. MDG says:

   July 29, 2010 at 5:16 am

   It is called the Lopez Opening because it was prominently analyzed by Ruy Lopez (who also analyzed the "Ruy Lopez" or "Spanish Game" 1 e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb4). Lopez focused on Black’s response 2 … Nf6 and 2 … d5 is also an aggressive reaction. You will not find 2 … d6 a common move, but perhaps it could transpose into a Ponziani’s Opening (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 c3) or Philidor’s Defense (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6).

   (It baffles me that someone would give this answer a thumb’s down. Everyone’s an expert, I guess. It’s true that I could mention it’s also called the "Macleod Attack" as noted in the reference I cited, and that may help distinguish it from the Spanish Game in your research. Historically, it’s hard to ignore that 2 c3 is Lopez’s very first game of analysis.)
3. non_cre8tive.name says:

   July 29, 2010 at 5:16 am

   The first two moves that white makes would indicate the Lopez opening. Speaking as an experienced chess player though, I believe the only reason you have had much success with the moves you’ve mentioned is that your opponents are not making the strongest move on move #2. A much stronger response for black is 2…d5. After 1.e4 e5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 there is no 4.Nc3 to chase the queen away and gain a tempo.

   So, I wouldn’t expect to see 2…d6 from black based on your first two moves as your competition gets tougher. I would study the Ruy Lopez (Steinitz variation) or the Philidor defense as those moves are common in those openings with others interpolated between.

   Hope that helps!

   Edit: @ Alper Tunga K. I don’t agree with your analysis and neither does Fritz. It is not considered equal. While I didn’t mean to imply it was a clear win for black, it shows a small plus for black with that move order. There’s a reason you don’t see that move order in top level competition and there is no named ‘sound’ line with that exact move order the questioner gave.

   Edit: @ Alper, the game you showed and the analysis you keep referring to begins w/ 1.d4. If you are going to analyze the moves as the questioner asked, it must be in the EXACT move order. Move order can be critical in some lines. My analysis is based on the moves he gave. It’s not based on transpositions. I respectfully disagree and stand by my analysis.