I think, that there are no best opening. When I used to play chess, I liked playing some openings like Italian and, mentioned in this article, Leningrad variant of Dutch Defense. I never liked gambits, because I HATED being down in terms of material. I sacrificed some pieces maybe 2 times during my 5 year carrer. In both cases, it was a discovered check, after that I won the queen. Maybe it was, because I was a chess player, who loved endgames, who knows?
Thanks for this insightful post, it resonates strongly with me. I for sure have spent way too much time studying openings in the past.
Concerning the "trick openings" I feel this also applies to some extent to so-called system openings (e.g. Colle, King's Indian Attack etc.): I know that contrary to pure trick openings they do have some merit and lead to playable positions, but there are so many players who always try to use the same limited set oft plans that I'm afraid this is a similar obstacle to their development. Would you agree?
Concerning the "trick openings" I feel this also applies to some extent to so-called system openings (e.g. Colle, King's Indian Attack etc.): I know that contrary to pure trick openings they do have some merit and lead to playable positions, but there are so many players who always try to use the same limited set oft plans that I'm afraid this is a similar obstacle to their development. Would you agree?
Yes, I agree with the main point, you have to find your own style of playing (and the choice of the opening
system is a consequence of this style). I've never played the Leningrad system, but I occasionally apply the
Dutch defense in rapid games when my opponent already knows my main variations. I usually played e6 and something
in the style of the Ilyin-Genevsky variation or similar stuff (b6, Bb7).
system is a consequence of this style). I've never played the Leningrad system, but I occasionally apply the
Dutch defense in rapid games when my opponent already knows my main variations. I usually played e6 and something
in the style of the Ilyin-Genevsky variation or similar stuff (b6, Bb7).
i think that kings pawn game is best opening .
Same
The crab opening is the best!
Hi, I need a tip, I'm 2000+ fide player, I'm positional player (positional squeezer, I like to limit the opponent and I'm good in endgames and openings, but I m bad at calculation which I'm trying to improving at). I tried tons of openings. I play as white d4 and against fianchetto lines (grunfeld benoni, kid) i dont have any problem. I allow nimzo ( I used to play catalan before but now I play Nc3) with Qc2 aggressive with e4 immediatly and its kinda good. I also succed against all d5 openings (QGD and Slav) I'm very good. But now as Black, I play QGD as black ( I used to play Nimzo but Idk why I was losing since nimzo is a lot positional). The problem is e4! I played everything and played sicilians for 15 years (all lines except sveshnikov, which will never fit my style). I played Paulsen for years and got amazing games (won against John Nunn in a simul and won against an IM in classical chess) but now it seems people prepare it against me and get a worse position. Changed to taimanov but got crushed by some 1900+, tried najdorf and won 2 games out of 2 but too much theory and too aggressive. Tried HyperDragon but maroczy kills it even if I played good games. Now tried Classical sicilian and seems good but I often lose. Which line can fit my style? I tried caro-kan all lines but it seems I get worse positions most of the times
Hmm... for a positional player, the French defense comes to mind. I've always had trouble playing against the French, and although white might have a slight theoretical edge in the beginning, endgames are often good for Black in the French. Even Fischer lost once against Uhlmann in the French defense.