Ranking The Best To The Worst Opening Chess Moves To Play Against e4

Your opponent just played their FIRST move against you and it’s 1.e4. What is the best way to counter it? James Canty is back and he’s put together a tier list of the BEST to WORST opening chess moves to play vs. e4 so that you never get caught unprepared again!

0:00 – Intro
0:27 – O’Neill Gambit
0:39 – Duras Gambit
1:16 – Barnes Defense
2:07 – Ware Defense
3:02 – Goldsmith Defense
4:07 – Carr Defense
4:48 – Adams Defense
6:08 – Lemming Defense
6:41 – Borg Defense
7:44 – St. George Defense
8:54 – Owen’s Defense
10:39 – Nimzowitsch Defense
11:59 – Alekhine’s Defense
13:24 – Scandinavian Defense
13:39 – Modern Defense
14:59 – Pirc Defense
16:34 – French Defense
17:59 – Caro-Kann Defense
19:44 – King’s Gambit
20:39 – Sicilian Defense
23:14 – Full List
23:19 – Outro

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30 Comments

  1. this is really great video for e4 players, very informative for both colours

  2. I will stick to the Barnes defense I like the concept of it

  3. Black plays f5
    "Don't play f6 or f3, as Finegold says"

    He didnt tho

  4. it really doesn't matter what you play just be hikaru

  5. This was a really good video plz do d4 next

  6. Can you make a video for D4?

  7. 1e4, Nc6. Nf3, f5!? Colorado gambit .

  8. 16:35 perc defense is my go2 i love that shit get me geëky FR NAHH but srs i always play pirc

  9. Can you show us how the theory behind the weird openings like goldsmith defence or something like that

  10. I do really like caro kann the the only reason I don't play Sicilian or e4 e5 is because there are too many variation of Sicilian and e4 e5 i loved playing nijdorf Sicilian but many low elo players didn't knew how to play it so i was very frustrated and i was thinking why did even i learned the main line? Obviously later i was thankful for the expiration with many other opening because when you learn opening you can use some of their opening theories to play better.

  11. maybe you should include some more detailed explanation, lines or variations of the openings (if you're doing a d4 video or sth next)
    no offense but this video was kinda boring and really repetitive; you defined all of the first responses to e4 and that's basically the jist of it

  12. Deep “analysis” after 1. e4 b6…0 ply.

  13. I ONLY PLAY 2 LEGAL INITIAL FIRST MOVE FOR BLACK AGAINST E4, MY FAVORITE IS 1.NC6 NIMZOWITSCH I PLAY IT AS BLACK, MY SECOND FAVORITE IS THE CARR DEFENSE WHICH IS 1.H6 ……..I AM THE BIGGEST NIMZO FAN, AND I LIKE 1….H6 WHICH SEEMS LOOKS BEAUTIFUL TO ME………..

  14. I ONLY PLAY 2 LEGAL INITIAL FIRST MOVE FOR BLACK AGAINST E4, MY FAVORITE IS 1.NC6 NIMZOWITSCH I PLAY IT AS BLACK, MY SECOND FAVORITE IS THE CARR DEFENSE WHICH IS 1.H6 ……..I AM THE BIGGEST NIMZO FAN, AND I LIKE 1….H6 WHICH SEEMS LOOKS BEAUTIFUL TO ME………..

  15. I'd switch Owen's and Alekhine's places but otherwise a great list! 🎉

  16. Lmao, I still to this day cannot believe the timeline we're living in, where internet memes and rankings styles is intergrated into century old game. So fun, and the author is amazing

  17. pls make 1.d4 ty😊😊

  18. I'd rate the St. George and the Borg at least tier C. Very under-rated openings.

  19. Nahh But Doggin On the scandi is crazyy

  20. Isn't it called King's pawn? King's gambit is a white opening

  21. This list is in reverse for having fun.

  22. Nooo caro is better than Sicilian all day 😢

  23. I like playing mordern if just ruins the e4 for white lol if they dont attack with h4 im fine

  24. Will this beocme a 20 part series? And then we get season two for how to continue after e4 e5 all 18 options?

  25. This was great! Down here at 800 it’s great to get some comfort to not blunder on move 2.

  26. this is actually very helpful since I dont know any openings

  27. thank fk nobody takes this seriously

Comments are closed.