Studying openings for white seems straight forward, pick an opening and learn the lines and theory but when it comes to black it seems like your openings all require white to play along so there's not an easy way to get repetitive practice in real games.
Most of the time, one faces a position with no knowledge of a specific move indicated in a book. One has to think of opening knowledge as a sometimes-helpful aid. It is tempting to try to learn everything in advance, but opening mistakes are a part of chess and one has to accept the necessity to experience them and gradually improve. I once wasted a lot of time, reading about the position after 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 a4 Bf5 6 e3 e6 7 Bxc4 Bb4 8 O-O O-O 9 Qe2, only to realize (eventually) that the position never arose in any of my games.
"... Overall, I would advise most players to stick to a fairly limited range of openings, and not to worry about learning too much by heart. ... the average player only needs to know a limited amount about the openings he plays. Providing he understands the main aims of the opening, a few typical plans and a handful of basic variations, that is enough. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
I think that this quote gives the basic idea for learning about a specific opening:
"... The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)
In a nutshell, one picks up what one can from quickly looking over some instructive games (skipping a lot of the details). Then one uses one's own games as a guide for where to learn more. Many opening books contain a lot of reference material, included with the idea that one mostly skips it on a first reading, and looks at an individual item when it applies to a game that one has just played.
"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ... It is especially critical not to continually fall into opening traps – or even lines that result in difficult positions ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
"... teachers all over the world suggest that inexperienced players begin with 1 e4. ..." - IM John Watson (2010)
Consequently, one is likely to get the most practice reacting to 1 e4.
"... Overall, I would advise most players to stick to a fairly limited range of openings, and not to worry about learning too much by heart. ... the average player only needs to know a limited amount about the openings he plays. Providing he understands the main aims of the opening, a few typical plans and a handful of basic variations, that is enough. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
I think that this quote gives the basic idea for learning about a specific opening:
"... The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)
In a nutshell, one picks up what one can from quickly looking over some instructive games (skipping a lot of the details). Then one uses one's own games as a guide for where to learn more. Many opening books contain a lot of reference material, included with the idea that one mostly skips it on a first reading, and looks at an individual item when it applies to a game that one has just played.
"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ... It is especially critical not to continually fall into opening traps – or even lines that result in difficult positions ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
"... teachers all over the world suggest that inexperienced players begin with 1 e4. ..." - IM John Watson (2010)
Consequently, one is likely to get the most practice reacting to 1 e4.
Thank you, I'll focus on e4 responses.
For many, a good starting point (for openings) would be:
"... For beginning players, [the book, Discovering Chess Openings by GM Emms,] will offer an opportunity to start out on the right foot and really get a feel for what is happening on the board. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2006)
web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
www.amazon.com/Discovering-Chess-Openings-Building-Principles/dp/1857444191?asin=1857444191&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1
Some of us think that it can be useful to use books like First Steps: 1 e4 e5 and Logical Chess as sources of games with explanations intended for those just starting to learn about an opening.
“... [First Steps: 1 e4 e5] is a fun and informative book. ...” (2018)
chesscafe.com/book-reviews/first-steps-1-e4-e5-by-john-emms/
www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7790.pdf
"... Logical Chess [(Batsford edition by Chernev)] ... a collection of 33 games ... is definitely for beginners and players who are just starting to learn about development, weak squares, the centre, standard attacking ideas, and the like. In many ways, it would [be] a wonderful 'first' book (or first 'serious' book, after the ones which teach the rules and elementary mates, for example), and a nice gift for a young player just taking up chess. ..." - IM John Watson (1999)
theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/assorted-recent-books
www.amazon.com/Logical-Chess-Every-Explained-Algebraic/dp/0713484640?asin=0713484640&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1
www.google.com/books/edition/Logical_Chess/Q5ZdDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA2&printsec=frontcover
www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1004861
"... For beginning players, [the book, Discovering Chess Openings by GM Emms,] will offer an opportunity to start out on the right foot and really get a feel for what is happening on the board. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2006)
web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
www.amazon.com/Discovering-Chess-Openings-Building-Principles/dp/1857444191?asin=1857444191&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1
Some of us think that it can be useful to use books like First Steps: 1 e4 e5 and Logical Chess as sources of games with explanations intended for those just starting to learn about an opening.
“... [First Steps: 1 e4 e5] is a fun and informative book. ...” (2018)
chesscafe.com/book-reviews/first-steps-1-e4-e5-by-john-emms/
www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7790.pdf
"... Logical Chess [(Batsford edition by Chernev)] ... a collection of 33 games ... is definitely for beginners and players who are just starting to learn about development, weak squares, the centre, standard attacking ideas, and the like. In many ways, it would [be] a wonderful 'first' book (or first 'serious' book, after the ones which teach the rules and elementary mates, for example), and a nice gift for a young player just taking up chess. ..." - IM John Watson (1999)
theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/assorted-recent-books
www.amazon.com/Logical-Chess-Every-Explained-Algebraic/dp/0713484640?asin=0713484640&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1
www.google.com/books/edition/Logical_Chess/Q5ZdDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA2&printsec=frontcover
www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1004861
@Laughnchill said in #1:
> Studying openings for white seems straight forward, pick an opening and learn the lines and theory but when it comes to black it seems like your openings all require white to play along so there's not an easy way to get repetitive practice in real games.
I don't think there's much difference, to be honest. My "opening" as white is the Scotch, but in 120+ e4 games I've got to play it 28 times and seen one of the two "main line" fourth moves - the ones for which you might normally learn theory - 8 times. I've seen the Sicilian, Scandi, French, Philidor and Scotch sidelines more often than I've seen the "normal" Scotch lines.
Whichever colour you're playing, I think you have to build a repertoire gradually, taking account of what replies you're actually seeing in practice and how well you're able to cope with them based on what you already know.
> Studying openings for white seems straight forward, pick an opening and learn the lines and theory but when it comes to black it seems like your openings all require white to play along so there's not an easy way to get repetitive practice in real games.
I don't think there's much difference, to be honest. My "opening" as white is the Scotch, but in 120+ e4 games I've got to play it 28 times and seen one of the two "main line" fourth moves - the ones for which you might normally learn theory - 8 times. I've seen the Sicilian, Scandi, French, Philidor and Scotch sidelines more often than I've seen the "normal" Scotch lines.
Whichever colour you're playing, I think you have to build a repertoire gradually, taking account of what replies you're actually seeing in practice and how well you're able to cope with them based on what you already know.
The best openings book for anyone under 1700 is Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul Sterrin. The book explains all of the main ideas behind the opening.
An FCO sample can be seen at
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/FCO_Fundamental_Chess_Openings.pdf .
"... [Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul van der Sterren] is not particularly suited for players who are just starting out. I would imagine players rated at least 1400-1500 would get the most benefit from this volume. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2009)
web.archive.org/web/20140626173432/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen128.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/FCO_Fundamental_Chess_Openings.pdf .
"... [Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul van der Sterren] is not particularly suited for players who are just starting out. I would imagine players rated at least 1400-1500 would get the most benefit from this volume. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2009)
web.archive.org/web/20140626173432/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen128.pdf
Essentially what you're getting at is the tree of possible moves in chess. There's no getting around it, there are a lot of openings! This goes for white and black, as black can also steer openings down different branches.
All masters of chess know all the openings to a decent level of depth. I think it can be a bit overwhelming, but I think it's good to pick a defense against d4 and e4, and learn that to begin with. Then learn the sidelines/branches that your opponent can choose.
All masters of chess know all the openings to a decent level of depth. I think it can be a bit overwhelming, but I think it's good to pick a defense against d4 and e4, and learn that to begin with. Then learn the sidelines/branches that your opponent can choose.
> "... teachers all over the world suggest that inexperienced players begin with 1 e4. ..." - IM John Watson (2010)
> Consequently, one is likely to get the most practice reacting to 1 e4.
Excuse me, but the players who begin with 1 e4 are not 'inexperienced'
> Consequently, one is likely to get the most practice reacting to 1 e4.
Excuse me, but the players who begin with 1 e4 are not 'inexperienced'
@Orciety said in #6:
> The best openings book for anyone under 1700 is Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul Sterrin. The book explains all of the main ideas behind the opening.
I own this one and am reading through it.
> The best openings book for anyone under 1700 is Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul Sterrin. The book explains all of the main ideas behind the opening.
I own this one and am reading through it.
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