Smyslov_Fan wrote on 02/03/09 at 06:10:00:


I think that if White must draw and doesn't care about the win, he might well be advised meet the Benoni with e3 rather than d5.

I was going to post this in the Corus 2009 thread but saw this thread and decided to post here. I thought Corus 2009 threw up an interesting test of this thread's question. Going into the final round, we had 6 co-leaders. Assuming all wanted to win, what openings would they play?

Round 13 (February 1, 2009) 
Radjabov, Teimour - Stellwagen, Daniël ½-½ 24 B83 Sicilian Scheveningen 
Dominguez Perez, Leinier - Karjakin, Sergey 0-1 41 B90 Sicilian Najdorf Variation 
Kamsky, Gata - Movsesian, Sergei ½-½ 47 B83 Sicilian Scheveningen 
Wang Yue - Carlsen, Magnus 1-0 67 D45 Anti-Meran Variations 
Smeets, Jan - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 22 B42 Sicilian Paulsen 
Adams, Michael - Van Wely, Loek ½-½ 35 B84 Sicilian Scheveningen 
Morozevich, Alexander - Ivanchuk, Vassily 1-0 45 D10 Slav Defence 

Radjabov played 1 e4 and was taken into a sicilian.
Dominguez played 1 e4 and Karjakin played a Najdorf.
Movsesian played Schevy.
Aronian played a Paulsen.
Carlsen played a Slav/semi-Slav?

Interesting?

In Corus B,

Round 13 (February 1, 2009) 
Caruana, Fabiano - Short, Nigel D 1-0 67 E06 Catalan 
Motylev, Alexander - Kasimdzhanov, Rustam 1-0 75 B07 Pirc Defence 
Efimenko, Zahar - Volokitin, Andrei 1-0 40 B42 Sicilian Paulsen 

Caruana played the flavour opening of the month, the Catalan which Short had to defend
Kazimzhanov played the Pirc.
Volokitin played the Paulsen.

Of course these only applied at >2600 GM level and not to mere mortals like us

Depending on the time control, strength of opposition (relative and absolute), and any number of other circumstances....

As Black, if I absolutely had to win against a player who I had never faced before but was similarly rated, I would play my best line.  For me, that's probably the French, but could be a Sicilian or even a Caro-Kann (as long as White also needs the win).  If White only wants a draw, I probably would not play the Sicilian!

Against 1.d4, I would play... my best line, which is probably the Slav.  If my opponent needed only a draw, I might be tempted to play something not quite main-line such as the QGD Chigorin.  

TN wrote on 01/31/09 at 07:38:51:


I wouldn't think that the line with 2...d5 and 5...Bg4 is a good way for Black in this sense, because of White playing Be2, 0-0, h3, Be3 and retaking on d4 with the Knight.  (Incidentally, there was a time around the mid-90s when that line was considered by the Informant folks to be slightly better for White, but not surprisingly they later changed their view to "=".)  Black can take on d4 earlier, but that gives White some added possibilities and far as I know should be slightly better for him, as well as probably not good at generating winning chances for Black if White knows what he's doing.

I don't know what Kolev says, but I would think that perhaps 2...Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 (4. Nf3 could well transpose to one of the lines I'm talking about) cd 5. Nf3 e6 6. cd d6 is the way to go (for one thing, 7. a3 used to be considered good for White there, but times have changed) ...despite the fact that it can transpose to an old main line with which a Dutch IM lost in 18 moves as Black today    

when the top players need a draw with white vs sicilian they seem to just play their normal game rather than use alapin c3, I am thinking of Short v Karpov or Anand v Kramnik


I dont think c3 dries up the game that much and there are linesin open sicilian  e.g. in poson pawn where white can force a draw which would restrict black's choice of variation..

Perhaps, but I'm not sure what Black should do after 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bd3.  I recall an old main line there which results in a symmetrical sort of position with an edge for White.  Maybe Judit didn't have a much better idea recently against Godena ...

I always found it intersting that Kasparov opted for a slow build-up in order to keep pieces on the board, while Kramnik, when faced with the same situation, played 1.e4 and a sharp line against Leko's Caro-Kann.  Perhaps these approaches were based on familiarity and knowledge of the opponent and what would be most uncomfortable for him?  In any event, those both as White.  As Black in a must win, I'd go Benoni or Sicilian. 

Interesting question.   
I too would agree on the Dutch and answer 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 with 1...f5 too.
Against 1.e4 I think the Sicilian and against 2.Nf3 either 2...e6 or 2...Nc6 avoiding 2...d6 3.Bb5+.
As White I think one could go with the non-forcing openings but there is also the serve and volley method if one is well booked up.
As others have pointed out there are many considerations to take into account so of course there is no sure fire formula.  I would add, however obvious it may be, that being a good endgame player greatly increases one's chances of scoring the whole point (or for saving the half point if you've pushed too hard trying to win!).