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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132 Comments

  1. Awesome video. Thanks. Please make a video against d4 also

  2. Caro Kann is S and Sicilian is A, but none the less good video

  3. 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕤 𝟜𝟚𝟘 says:

    a6 is legit

  4. Bro, as an Alekhine's Def player from way back, you forgot to mention the whole theme behind the admittedly edgy opening. Black WANTS to over extend White in the center and create counter play on the flanks.

  5. Make a video about the anderssen opening please

  6. I actually like french better than caro prolly because it was the first opening i ever learnt as black

  7. No kid is going to understand seeing static when you pause a video, they think vhs is a k-pop band.

  8. ОМАРИЕВ НЕ ОДОБРЯЕТ!!! В СМЫСЛЕ ГРОБ ПЛОХОЙ ДЕБЮТ???
    ПС. Русскоязычные, поставьте пожалуйста лайк, чтобы иностранцы подумали что туту что-то интересное)

  9. I'm actually terrified upon encountering the Scandi, because I know I'm staring across the board at a madman.

  10. I need this video for responses to d4!!!!

  11. you really rate Alekhine higher than Nimzo?! wtf

  12. 0:44 As a Duras gambit enjoyer, he underestimated the power of Duras Gambit too much.

  13. Glad to see the Karpov vs Miles game was included. One of my favorites!

  14. I once beat a 2100 on lichess by playing the ware defence, a lot of players struggle in unique pawn structures

  15. I’m named after the worst 1. E4 reply. Great! Cheers Canty.

  16. James had too much fun with these puns I love it

  17. Please make one for d4!! This is such a great video format!!!

  18. I'm a e6 b6 dude. I love this type of slightly passive but ultra solid structures, especially when it can lead to a close position.

  19. 3:05 Goldsmith is a great guy (who played 1…h5 against Spassky in a simul and against Benko in a blitz game) and a great opening. It's main idea is basically just a weird delayed Scandi with 3…c6. It is embarrasing that it has classified as a bottom tier opening.

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