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Favorite Chess openings?

Posted on 11/7/20 at 12:15 pm
Posted by Gatorbait2008
Member since Aug 2015
22953 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 12:15 pm
I'm trying to play more and learn more about the game. Trying to learn a few openings and defenses right now to improve the start of games and get to the midgame where I'm much more comfortable.

What do you guys use? I'm playing French defense and Center game comfortably but what to expand out. What are good recommendations for beginner players?
Posted by The Quiet One
Former United States
Member since Oct 2013
11599 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 12:44 pm to
Is this one of XBox’s exclusives?
Posted by sgallo3
Dorne
Member since Sep 2008
24747 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 1:00 pm to
i always preferred the Réti Opening. 1.Nf3
Posted by PEEPO
Member since Sep 2020
1820 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 1:29 pm to
For a beginner you can't go wrong with the Italian as white. It's completely rock solid with almost no weaknesses or traps. It adheres to all the opening principles perfectly.

The disadvantage you have is that it's one of the most famous and studied lines in history and as such black usually knows how to play against it perfectly very deeply and isn't caught off guard or pressured very much.

The "must know" openings as both white and black for beginners are the

With 1. e4
Spanish (Ruy Lopez)
Italian
Sicilian Defense
French Defense

With 1. d4
Queen's Gambit Declined

There's obviously a lot more but I would consider these the foundational "Chess 101" openings.

Walk before you can run. Study the above lines deeply but be aware of other openings/defenses that can arise, there's no guarantee one of the above comes up.

Your opponent could play the Alekhine or Petrov against your e4, not one of the more common lines. And that's fine, you can't expect to know them as deeply but it's probably worth knowing what they are and what the next move or two are in them, but don't worry about trying to learn them as deep as the ones I listed above, because they come up less frequently.
This post was edited on 11/7/20 at 1:35 pm
Posted by Drewbie
tFlagship
Member since Jun 2012
57882 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 4:09 pm to
The London is a super solid opening for white starting out. Very safe and structurally sound and most decisions that come out of it are fairly straightforward.
Posted by SouthBendBob
Rockland County, NY
Member since Mar 2013
852 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 4:31 pm to
I win consistently with h3 or g4 white.
Posted by SEC. 593
Chicago
Member since Aug 2012
4043 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 6:06 pm to
I seem to work better being black and starting with the Sicilian Defense and than improvising as White tries to keep the center.

Castle early to the Kings side to really limit their options.
Posted by PEEPO
Member since Sep 2020
1820 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 6:38 pm to
I think it's pretty much been proven as fact at this point, both by human play and computers, that the Sicilian definitely black's best response to e4

I have always absolutely hated to play against it as white.

In fact I now play something called the Smith-Morra gambit against it as white, which is a slightly dubious gambit but has the big advantage of black usually not being familiar with it and at lower levels that's compensation enough.

I mostly play bullet games these days and playing irregular openings is actually a very common strategy in bullet games at all levels.
This post was edited on 11/7/20 at 7:12 pm
Posted by bbrownso
Member since Mar 2008
8985 posts
Posted on 11/7/20 at 7:16 pm to
I don't play much chess anymore so I'll just drop a very old reference that I doubt anyone will get without googling (and even then without something else, the answer isn't on the 1st page).

quote:

King's Knight to King's Bishop three.


I have tried playing it before but I was never good enough to really win with it.
This post was edited on 11/7/20 at 7:17 pm
Posted by Gatorbait2008
Member since Aug 2015
22953 posts
Posted on 11/8/20 at 5:44 pm to
Appreciate the help guys
Posted by Master of Sinanju
Member since Feb 2012
11326 posts
Posted on 11/8/20 at 5:44 pm to
1. c4
2. g3
3. Bg2

Posted by Gatorbait2008
Member since Aug 2015
22953 posts
Posted on 11/8/20 at 5:46 pm to
Why H3? Are you pushing pawn to attack king side castle or getting the rook out early?
Posted by Gatorbait2008
Member since Aug 2015
22953 posts
Posted on 11/8/20 at 5:52 pm to
I tried one bullet game. Failed miserably. I'd assume it's because the moves are not automatic for me yet. I have won quite a bit lately after studying for a week and doing chess.com puzzles and lessons. Went from 600 and realizing I had no clue what I'm doing to 830 now and won 13 of the last 15 games. Goal is to get over 1k by December if I can. I wish I had gotten into chess earlier in life though.
Posted by Yellerhammer5
Member since Oct 2012
10851 posts
Posted on 11/8/20 at 6:04 pm to
White: London or Catalan

Black: Scandinavian
Posted by Drewbie
tFlagship
Member since Jun 2012
57882 posts
Posted on 11/8/20 at 6:54 pm to
quote:

I wish I had gotten into chess earlier in life though.
You and me both.
Posted by PEEPO
Member since Sep 2020
1820 posts
Posted on 11/8/20 at 6:55 pm to
Bullet games are impossible to play without a ton of regular chess experience. You need to develop pattern recognition which takes tons of practice. Your playing without even really thinking or analyzing. You have to quickly be able to see basic patterns and tactics at a superficial level (1-2 moves deep) immediately. You have to play many real games with analysis to develop those mental muscles. There's alot of meta considerations as well. Bullet games are hyper aggressive, terrible pointless attacks are better than playing passively. In other words bullet games are not good for learning how to play or good chess practices in general.

For a noob bullet games are not going to be productive at all IMO, outside of maybe just having fun.
Posted by PEEPO
Member since Sep 2020
1820 posts
Posted on 11/8/20 at 7:01 pm to
If you're that low rated don't try to memorize openings outside of a few moves. One mistake beginners make is trying to memorize opening lines but that's not really how to improve.

Understand what the opening principles are and why they exist and with that knowledge alone you'll play most openings at least OK.

At the very, very low levels chess is about blunders and simple tactics.

Low level games are filled with gigantic gaping blunders, if you cut those out you'll beat the people who don't.

After that you win a lot of games off basic tactics, simple pins, forks, discovered attacks, etc.

You should also learn the basic check mating patterns. You should know how to easily checkmate with say 2 rooks (rook roll), a lone queen, or a lone rook. Many extreme beginners achieve simple won endgames but then have no idea how to deliver checkmate.
Posted by Decisions
Member since Mar 2015
1477 posts
Posted on 11/9/20 at 8:26 am to
This is great advice.

If I had to recommend an opener I would probably second the London system/accelerated London, but I’m by no means an expert.

I found that just brute force crushing out puzzles helped me increase my expertise more quickly than anything. If you find yourself struggling with a particular scenario/pattern maybe do a targeted study of it to help get you over the jump.
Posted by Gatorbait2008
Member since Aug 2015
22953 posts
Posted on 11/9/20 at 7:58 pm to
True. I just lost 4 of 5 with the English because I was confused on what I was trying to accomplish with it.

So I watch a ton more videos and will give it another shot.
Posted by Gatorbait2008
Member since Aug 2015
22953 posts
Posted on 11/10/20 at 1:58 pm to
I seem to be able to work Knights very effectively. I have found ways to get the Queen in the last three games with forks on the King. I'm probably finding smart pawn play the most challenging to be honest. I forget they exist in a lot of games or let the other guy get more advantageous positions with their pawns. I'm trying to force myself to play pawns more and use them more.

One big question I have..I see analysis of games scoring me for not using a knight or bishop to attack a center pawn at times and it confuses the shite out of me as to why I should lose 3 points to 1 and how to spot when that is actually worth doing?! It's crazy.
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