What to do against 1.e4Sicilian, French and Caro-Kann: three ways to answer the most played move in the world.

1.e4 is the most played move in the world, so you will face it constantly. Answering 1...e5 is excellent, and you have seen where that leads. The three marked squares are the other popular answers — c5, e6 and c6 — and each solves the problem differently. Pick ONE to start with: playing all three badly is worse than playing one well.

The Sicilian, the most played defence against 1.e4 anywhere in the world. It does not copy White: instead of e5, it plays c5.

The French Defence. Solid, a little cramped, and with a known problem worth understanding from day one.

The Caro-Kann. Same idea as the French — support d5 before playing it — but with the other pawn. And that changes everything for the better.

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