Hi Chess friends! Yes, the e4 are considered the more open games which invites more sharper positions. For Swayne - I recently learned that "sharper" means that there is very little room for inprecise moves. If you sway just a little from the right path is a sharp variation you are doomed whereas in "quiet" variations you have greater choice of moves that will give you similar results. I try to learn e4 and d4 variations equally since both are played very frequently. 1...Nf6 for Black is good against 1.d4 since is offers some flexibility witht the continuation. 1.Nf3 for White?! Sure, one can play anything but f4 after that (which is not a good opening move in early stages anyway). On the other hand it invites Black to reply with 1...d5 and sway the game into Caro Kann (after 2.e4) or one of the Queen pawn's openings (after 2.d4) so with that White has given Black some freedom. On the other hand it might lure Black into Caro Kann if White is strong there and wants that opening. I have exhausted my "poetic license" here . Cya!
I don't see what 1. Nf3 d5 2. e4? (2...dxe4 =/+) has to do with the Caro-Kann. Besides, the best 2nd move from White IMO is 2. c4, which gives more flexibility.
If Black captures with 2...dxc4 then 3. Na3!? restores material equality, posts a knight on the good c4 square where he can't easily be kicked out since Black's d-pawn is no more and, most importantly, White has not yet locked his central pawns in place which means anything can still happen.
If Black doesn't capture but instead secures the pawn with say 2...e6 then White will play g3, Bg2, O-O and d4 to control the e5 square.
You are right azaris. I must have hit my head before I wrote the above on the Caro-Kann. After 1.Nf3 d5 then 2.e4 is not good of course since the knight has to move again (loss of tempo). On e4 vs d4 in chess - salt and pepper of chess. Winclick.
. Cya!
After 1.Nf3 d5 then 2.e4 is not good of course since the knight has to move again (loss of tempo).