1. e4: Simplified | Chessable

1.e4 made sensational, sound, and simple

1.e4 - the move which is "best by test" as famously proclaimed by Bobby Fischer.

And this has largely remained true… though the approach to studying 1.e4 has changed dramatically.

Engine study and modern play have shown that White can't really get an advantage from the opening anymore. Instead, White should try for fresh positions they know better than their opponent. Lines that are objectively sound, original, and lead to exciting-to-play positions.

1.e4: Simplified by GM Alex Colovic is a full king's pawn repertoire for the modern chess player. The recommendations feature intuitive responses, but also innovations your opponent will not expect.

Inside, Colovic shows you lines that are largely free from masses of theory and that lend themselves to conceptual explanations - you'll get useful guidelines and rules of thumb that will help you remember and navigate the plans and the moves.

Colovic starts off with an introduction to each of Black's main replies and his recommended line — all his recommendations are reputable and challenging, yet with clear-cut ideas and explanations suitable for modern play- and then goes into further detail of what Black may come up with.

What are the ideas we're talking about?

👑 Learn White's most dynamic and direct reply to 1.e5 - the Scotch - it's also practical, as Black only has 2 main replies against it

👑 Streamlined Sicilian responses - get strategic advantages with the Rossolimo (3.Bb5) after 2…Nc6, play the positionally and tactically intuitive 3.Bc4 after 2…d6, or prepare a kingside fianchetto after 2…e6 with 3.g3

👑 Get lively and playable positions in the Petroff - you'll get free piece play as you do in the mainlines, but you'll swerve the heavy theory with 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.c4!?

👑 Advance in the French, exchange in the Caro-Kann - all lines inside are rich and principled… with innovations Black may not expect!

👑 Prep against all other replies by Black - creative, sound, and easy-to-understand responses for both popular and offbeat lines - the Scandinavian, the Pirc, the Philidor, the Alekhine, the Modern, and everything in between.

Crafted by a Chessable Legend truly dedicated to the game

GM Alex Colovic is no stranger to creating content for Chessable.

He was the very first Grandmaster on the platform, and he's released a slew of hits, from opening courses to endgame courses.

He's constantly searching for novelties and the best approaches to openings - so you know that this one should be another gem.

Modernize your approach to 1.e4 - get 1.e4 Simplified, today!

Course Options

Add to my wishlist

Course stats

For: white pieces

Recommended for: Intermediate players Advanced players

Language: English

Instruction: 79,184 words

Paid video: 21 hours and 32 minutes

Free video: 2 hours and 5 minutes

Quickstart variations: 20

Trainable variations: 109

Alternative variations: 1

Informational variations: 30

Avg. line depth: 16.19

Released on: Apr 07, 2023

Support level: High

Section: 🎓 Titled player

1. e4: Simplified

has 4.9 out of 5 stars, based on 21 user ratings.

Variation Details

1 x Introduction (1.00 avg depth)

20 x Quickstarter (10.25 avg depth)

1 x The Sicilian Defence: Introduction (3.00 avg depth)

20 x 1) Sicilian: Black Plays 2...Nc6 (15.15 avg depth)

7 x 2) Sicilian: Black Plays 2...d6 (18.14 avg depth)

5 x 3) Sicilian: Black Plays 2...e6 (18.60 avg depth)

5 x 4) Sicilian: Black Plays 2...Various (14.80 avg depth)

1 x The Sicilian Defence: Summary (6.00 avg depth)

1 x The Scotch: Introduction (6.00 avg depth)

18 x 5) The Scotch (16.89 avg depth)

1 x The Scotch: Summary (10.00 avg depth)

1 x The Petroff: Introduction (5.00 avg depth)

9 x 6) The Petroff (14.00 avg depth)

1 x The Petroff: Summary (13.00 avg depth)

3 x 7) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Various (10.33 avg depth)

1 x The Caro-Kann: Introduction (4.00 avg depth)

7 x 8) The Caro-Kann (15.86 avg depth)

1 x The Caro-Kann: Summary (14.00 avg depth)

1 x The French: Introduction (9.00 avg depth)

11 x 9) The French Defence (17.36 avg depth)

1 x The French: Summary (11.00 avg depth)

1 x The Pirc, Philidor and Modern: Introduction (3.00 avg depth)

5 x 10) The Pirc and Philidor Defence (13.60 avg depth)

3 x 11) The Modern (14.67 avg depth)

1 x The Pirc, Philidor and Modern: Summary (13.00 avg depth)

1 x The Scandinavian: Introduction (6.00 avg depth)

10 x 12) The Scandinavian (14.50 avg depth)

1 x The Scandinavian: Summary (11.00 avg depth)

1 x The Alekhine Defence: Introduction (9.00 avg depth)

2 x 13) The Alekhine Defence (19.00 avg depth)

5 x 14) Various First Moves (15.20 avg depth)

14 x Model Games (37.93 avg depth)

Reviews Review Standards

And improve your chess online

Join now!