#10: There's no rule which states that people must play a specific opening. Some people—like me—play subpar openings because they prefer them to the best ones.
Play
1.Nf3
2.e3 or b3
If e3 then 3.c4 Reti, Reti-Larsen.
These positions are not the strongest but solid and 99 out of 100 players practically never prepare for them.
For black play Kalashnikov and Nimzo/Ragozin.
Sharp openings are best for learning tactics and go for quick checkmate from the beginning, like Kings Gambit, danish Gambit, Goering Gambit as White, and latvian as black.
1.Nf3 with 2.c4 next is a good choice. (2.c4 almost on every black response)
Why 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 - because if you play c4 now, you are still in book and the amount to learn is greatly reduced.
1.Nf3 helps you to be in book while at intermediate level you opponents will not know so much about it. 1.Nf3 is statistically one of the best openings. 1.c4 is also good but more to learn, so I do not recommend 1.c4 - unless you play that already anyway.
For black, I recommend 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6(!) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5(!) and now the move ...a6 prevents white from jumping to Nd4-b5.
so: 6.Nb3 (or 6.Nf3) and now 6...Bb4 - this gets the "bad" bishop outside the black placed pawn-chain, and the pin and BxNc3 exchange reduces the pressure on the d5 square.
The so called O'Kelly sicilian is statistically one of the strongest openings for black. It is in fact so strong that nowadays the "open sicilian" (3.d4?!) is concidered an inaccuracy after 2...a6, but at intermediate level your opponents will not know that.
against 1.d4 you can try 1...c5 or the Nimzo/Ragozin.
This thread has just popped up again I'm still laughing and delving deeper you say you're a rapid and classical play and haven't played either really , you say you're an intermediate level , I'm sorry to burst your bubble , you're not an intermediate , which leads me to the conclusion , youre having a laugh ain't ya ? Ha ha ha ha
@SimonBirch said in #25:
> ... you say you're an intermediate level , I'm sorry to burst your bubble , you're not an intermediate , ...
15+10 1500-->1623 2025.04.27 https://lichess.org/AfjQJrHA
15+10 1623-->1735 2025.05.01 https://lichess.org/wvTUhcIA
15+10 1735-->1551 2025.05.31 https://lichess.org/l1MZ7KpK
15+10 1551-->1467 2025.05.31 https://lichess.org/Dsj0QRKP
15+10 1467-->1567 2025.06.01 https://lichess.org/41Ct6swV
15+10 1567-->1563 2025.06.02 https://lichess.org/Xg3oIqYj
15+10 1563-->1510 2025.06.04 https://lichess.org/f54KtxK8
@kindaspongey said in #26:
> 15+10 1500-->1623 2025.04.27 lichess.org/AfjQJrHA
> 15+10 1623-->1735 2025.05.01 lichess.org/wvTUhcIA
> 15+10 1735-->1551 2025.05.31 lichess.org/l1MZ7KpK
> 15+10 1551-->1467 2025.05.31 lichess.org/Dsj0QRKP
> 15+10 1467-->1567 2025.06.01 lichess.org/41Ct6swV
> 15+10 1567-->1563 2025.06.02 lichess.org/Xg3oIqYj
> 15+10 1563-->1510 2025.06.04 lichess.org/f54KtxK8
And your point being @kindaspongey ?
@kindaspongey , how about a list of ratings and levels of which you think a 1500 in glicko 2 is an intermediate player , if that's what you think ,I'd be interested xxx
This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.