Chess Opening Tutorial : Introduction to 1.e4

Black has a second strategy to counter 1.e4 and 2.d4. This is to allow White the d4-e4 center Pawns, and then to challenge their authority.

Responses to 1.e4 which allow an immediate 2.d4

The most popular response to 1.e4 using the alternate strategy is 1...e6. This is usually followed by 2.d4 d5, producing the position in the diagram.

Black has a firm foothold in the center, and even threatens 3...dxe4, which White must counter. The price is that the Queen's Bishop has been shut in behind its own Pawns by the move ...e6. White often emphasizes this disadvantage by pushing the Pawn on e4 to e5, creating a Pawn chain in the center. Like 1...c5, this opening leads to dynamic, double-edged play, where the subsequent plans revolve around Pawn breaks on the c- and f-files.

Another response to 1.e4, somewhat less popular, is 1...c6. Once again, this is almost always followed by 2.d4 d5.

Here the Black Queen's Bishop is not shut in, but 1...c6 has developed nothing and has even blocked the Queen's Knight from moving to its best square. This opening is a favorite for players who want to avoid giving too many active possibilities to White.