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Openings Other answers to 1.e4

Rare Defenses to 1.e4: 1...f5, 1...g5, 1...a5, 1...f6 and More

These first replies do little for Black’s development or the center, which is why they are rare. None of them is lost, but each gives White an easy game: develop, take the center with d4, and look for checks against the loosened king.

For Black1.e4 f5Seen in 0.1% of rated games

Lichess rating

B00Duras Gambit

Games from this position (1600–1999): 7,390

  1. 1.
MovePlayedGamesWhite · Draw · Black
60%4,40553%44%
17%1,25354%43%
8%61353%44%
4%29547%48%
3%23045%49%
2%17745%52%
2%14353%45%
2%11647%49%
0.9%6943%55%
0.6%4749%49%
0.2%1258%42%
Practice as WhitePractice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

  • 2.d4 is the best answer to almost all of them: take the whole center while Black does nothing for it.
  • Against 1...f5 and 1...f6, look for Qh5+ and Bc4 aimed at the loosened e8–h5 and a2–g8 diagonals.
  • Against 1...g5, hit the pawn with h4, or develop the c1 bishop toward it.

Black

  • If you play one of these, know the one plan it serves, such as ...Bg7 after 1...g5.
  • Many of them turn into a Modern Defense or a Pirc with a move less.
  • They work best in fast games against an unprepared opponent.

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Rare Defenses to 1.e4 at each rating

How often the position after 1.e4 f5 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

RatingGames (Share of games)White · Draw · BlackTop next move
<12003,3750.1%57%39%2.exf550%
1200–15996,4010.1%52%45%2.exf554%
1600–19997,3900.1%52%45%2.exf560%
2000+947<0.1%55%41%2.exf569%
All18k0.1%53%44%2.exf556%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

2.exf556%2...Nf657%2...Kf717%2...d59%2.e516%2...d636%2...e626%2...Nc612%2.Nc39%2...fxe450%2...Nf616%2...e510%2.Nf35%2...fxe484%2...Nf610%1...f5

Main variations

  • Black gives the f-pawn; after 2.exf5 White scores about 56%, and Qh5+ ideas are in the air.

    5,701 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 3% were drawn, Black won 45%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 f5 2.exf5 Nf6

  • A Grob with colors reversed: ...Bg7 hits d4, but the g5 pawn is loose. At 2000+ about three in four answer 2.d4.

    1,469 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 3% were drawn, Black won 45%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 g5 2.d4 Bg7

  • The rook can come out via a6, but White scores about 58% after it.

    11k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 56%, 4% were drawn, Black won 39%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 a5

  • Below 1200 White scores about 57% against it; at 2000+ about 50%.

    9,937 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 54%, 4% were drawn, Black won 42%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 h5

  • The f-pawn takes the knight’s best square and opens the king’s diagonal. White scores about 59%.

    8,644 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 57%, 4% were drawn, Black won 39%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 f6

  • The king walks to f7 on move two. White scores about 58% after it.

    451 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 56%, 4% were drawn, Black won 40%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 f6 2.d4 Kf7

  • A waiting move that often turns into a Modern; below 1200 White scores about 59%, at 2000+ about 48%.

    7,346 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 53%, 4% were drawn, Black won 43%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 h6

  • The knight goes to the rim. White scores about 65% overall and about 72% below 1200, the worst result on this page.

    1,281 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 62%, 7% were drawn, Black won 32%.

    Show on the board: 1.e4 Na6

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At club level

Below 1200 every reply on this page scores at least 53% for White, and the Lemming 1...Na6 scores about 72%. At 2000+ some come close to even: White scores about 48% against 1...h6 and about 50% against 1...h5. The most played is the Duras Gambit 1...f5, with about 18,000 games.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

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