If you would like to play something that is not too theoretical I would recommend the Kalashnikov variation. Of course you can get 3.Bb5,3.c3 and 3.Nc3 but its not difficult to prepare something against the anti-sicilians. If you want to play for a win with black here just check out  "beating the anti sicilians" by Gallagher.

when I started out chess, I used to play the french defense. i still play the french and get decent results with it.recently, i started playing philidor after studying the philidor files by christian bauer. it's a good opening. 

the best way to reach it is through the 1...d6 move order. most people don't know what to play against the philidor. the positions are usually strategical,but there is some scope for tactical play also.

up and comer wrote on 10/25/08 at 00:23:00:

Yes that may make that approach a little useless

up and comer wrote on 10/23/08 at 01:25:12:


Fortunately I am not foolish enough to argue against the Sicilian. In fact I was about to recommend it after your first post. The big difference between the Open Sicilian and the Open Games is that Black in the first sacrifices a tempo (and sometimes two) to create a dormant pawn majority in the centre. So Black's play is initially more strategically orientated. White's play though quite often aims at punishing Black for his lack of development, so play can become highly tactical indeed - and very quickly. At the other hand a variation like the Closed Ruy Lopez can require a lot of patient manoeuvring.
Against ELO 1600-1800 it's another matter though. You hardly will get topical lines and then the Open Games are more tactical than the Sicilian. I mean, how are you going to create a slugfest after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 and 3.b3 ? At the other hand play can become pretty wild after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5/4.d4 and stuff like this is what you are going to meet on that level.
The approach recommended by Willempie also makes a lot of sense.

one more thing to consider, according to Dan Heisman who writes the Novice Nook at chesscafe.com.  he recommends students who are learning to learn the KID and French defense for few months; because of pawn breaks, and the pawn structure themes keep recurring, no matter what the other opponent is trying to do.  eventually he says most of his students go to other openings but they learn a lot about pawn structures and pawn breaks.

i might do that myself, i am learning the KID (easy to play, hard to master), the french i am kinda weary of; however if Bobby Fischer has a hard time with it, it can't be that bad.   

of course e5 is always good, whether you like strategy or tactics, it depends on what white is trying to do.  you can try petroff defense to limit his options, unless he like king's gambit, bishop opening, or vienna game.  of course if you can't decide which one to play, learn them all.   

I've noticed quite a few people recommending this Caro variation. Off-topic I know, but could someone give just a very quick summary of the current state of it? I'd assumed it wasn't great, but I may be out of date ...

katar wrote on 10/22/08 at 23:38:34:


I am actually looking into that currently  . It has definitely piqued my interest. However I would still like to learn a new opening, besides the kann for three reasons. 
One I want to try something new and expand on my knowledge about chess; two, white can completely avoid this line by playing the advance variation; three, I want to have some variety to my play. I don't want people who know me to be able to prepare to play against me by just studying one opening, and forcing me into a variation of it they have studied extensively. I want to be able to keep them on their toes, so to speak.

belgian wrote on 10/22/08 at 20:38:55:


Really? What are some of the benefits I would receive by playing 1. e4 e5 I wouldn't get playing something else?