Cool video. Thanks!

Good points in your video - especially that if one feels that a given line is 'intuitively' better he will be more inclined to understand what is going on when the start to give it some serious study - VERY GOOD POINT!!

I also played the Scotch as White many years ago and can find White not getting more than a very slight edge with correct play. White's okay, but so is Black.

I really enjoyed this and look forward to future videos.

Nice. I might start playing this against the scotch. For a while it was always bc5 for me, and if takes, Qf6. But if white knows what they are doing, i just don't really like my position anymore. I'll definitely try this out, seems logical and intuitive.

Excellent video! I look forward to the next installments.

I completely agree with your "rant"/ideas. I switched to e5 myself earlier this year for many of the same reasons.

I find the Pirc defence very easy to understand intuitively.

But I still have to admit that e4 e5 is a different level of soundness and it's well worth learning.

Fantastic video. I really like your alternative to the Ne4 lines. I find myself in a similar spot. I've been playing the main line and Nf6 Scandinavians since I joined USCF about a year ago. I don't mind it against stronger opponents, but I've become tired of the easy positions it affords weaker players. I looked at e5--I was actually inspired to do so by your blog post. I believe in the logic of e5, but the number of very particular positions which can arise from it are overwhelming. Black does not want for a good response in any of these positions, but I wasn't getting enough repetitions to entrench any particular thematic idea. To me, the knights on f6 and c6 are a superficial "theme".

Nice. I spent some time learning the scotch gambit as white, but i still don't know the regular scotch, this was interesting and straightforward.

e5 is the best move. End of story.

Thanks for the comments. I got a bit sick but i'll make more when i get better. Thx.

Yep, it is the season...

Get well soon, Katar!

Nice video. A very healthy view towards the opening you present in this video. #1 goal of course is that we feel comfortable with our positions and feel like we understand them. Good luck with 1.e4 e5 and looking forward to seeing more videos like that and your intended response to some other lines.

Excellent!

By the way, the Najdorf "a6" has an extremely clear idea: keep the knights and bishop off of b5! Furthermore, when you play e5, what are you going to do against the King's Gambit, Bishop's Opening, Danish Gambit, and Evans Gambit... all of these are DANGEROUS (and also sound!) weapons that White can throw at you, and you must be prepared for. If you play the two knights defence, what are you going to do against 4. Ng5!? I'm assuming you play the 'Morphy Defence' which is a pawn sacrifice with Na5... but wouldn't this break your own stated rule? The most logical moves that you could play will end up like this:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5!? d5?! 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7! Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3 Nb4 and White has all sorts of attacking ideas he can try out (in fact, I've analysed 9. d4!? very deeply myself!

In short, something like that is a nightmare to defend, and so if I were you, I wouldn't play the Two Knight's Defence with that mindset. Or maybe you play the Traxler counterattack with 4. ...Bc5!? that's awesome then; maybe that's your 'logical' continuation, but it will end up in a huge tactical melee.

Me, I don't pretend that every position can be played with the mind... sometimes you have to listen to your heart!

I play the Latvian Gambit!

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5!? 3. Nxe5 Bc5!? 4. Qh5+ g6 5. Nxg6 Nf6 6. Qxf5?! d6!! 7. Qg5 Bxf2+! 8. Kxf2 Ne4+ 0-1

Greco

Well he said he'd play d5 when appropriate and he did not say he'd avoid tactics. The Latvian is hardly the way to go if you want a sound position.