Ruy Lopez as white & QGD as black.
The Jaenisch Gambit (1 c4 b5).
It can almost always turn into a Benko, and if it's a forced draw for Black (it hovers around -1.25, at the border), it requires very little homework and ties in with the Benko, Pirc, and KID, plus it can also be played as White. It's the basis of the Philadelphia System (free if you hunt for it I don't post links) that got me to 2276 here (studying middlegames now hoping to get to 2500-2900).
Other favorites:
Muzio Gambit (development vs. material)
My gambit (1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 Nc3 Qxd4 5 Be3 Qxd1+ 6 Rxd1 (three tempi for the piece should be equal but engines like the material)
Classical French Defense: Great for understanding pawn structure, getting suffocated, and then demolished by a Bxh7+ sacrifice.
Emory Tate Alekhine: 1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 c4 Nb6 4 a4 (provokes 4...a5 which weakens Nb6 and ties the Qd8 to its defense), basically a main line with a4-a5 added. Tate's approach was to aim for a rook lift with Ra3 and shake things up.
Dancing Queens Center Counter: 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Qf3 Qa5 4 Qc3! (4...Nf6?? 5 Qxa5! has occured against premovers) Qe6 5 Qe3! etc.
I like a nice Open Sicilian
Evans gambit!
sweet
Englund if the opponent plays as I want them to, then it’s very good
I'm sicilian and I love to play Sicilian Defence, both White and Black.
The Catalan for white or the caro for black
Kings Indian Attack for white and the french for black
This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.