Popularity of openings over time at master level and super-GM level
PolyhedralPig
9,764,990
I calculated the frequencies of openings in top level classical games from 1990-2020. I made this calculation for master games (both players rated at least 2300) and for super-GM games (both players rated at least 2600). I considered questions such as: which Open Sicilian variations have been most popular over time? How have openings like the Queen's Indian changed in popularity? Are there differences in the opening choices of super-GMs compared to other masters?
For these questions and more, my report is available at:
https://github.com/PolyhedralPig/chess-openings/blob/master/README.pdf
20 votes
5 years ago
give rubies
5 Comments
[-][+] plf515 5 years ago(children)
Fascinating. Have some rubies.
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[-][+] BaxAttacks 5 years ago(children)
Very cool! Queen's Indian was expected. Level of increase in QGD wasn't. And I was surprised to see the Nimzo not used nearly as often as I thought!
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[-][+] blobux 5 years ago(children)
White players are struggling to break the Nimzo, so they often avoid it with 3.Nf3. Black in response often transposes to a QGD with 3. .. d5.
That's why there's a shift from Nimzo to QGD ;)
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[-][+] gregfam88 5 years ago(children)
Interesting
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[-][+] plf515 5 years ago(children)
One interesting thing you could add, for the super GMs, is number of players. Some players are known for always playing a particular variation.
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