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What's more important? Mid-game fundamentals vs openings.

#1

I have a hard time deciding what is more important to focus on. I enjoy chess and lately, I've been trying to learn better openings. however, I've noticed that there are so many variations and exchange variations that learning the openings by memorizing is impossible. This is coming from an average Joe player. I understand that those playing to become master's of varied levels may feel different. For me, what improved my game immensely was learning basic end-games first , daily studying/improving chess fundamentals and then trying to learn some basic openings. However I do Love to play queen pawns game, london system, caro-khan and sicilian.

what do you all do to improve your game?

I have a hard time deciding what is more important to focus on. I enjoy chess and lately, I've been trying to learn better openings. however, I've noticed that there are so many variations and exchange variations that learning the openings by memorizing is impossible. This is coming from an average Joe player. I understand that those playing to become master's of varied levels may feel different. For me, what improved my game immensely was learning basic end-games first , daily studying/improving chess fundamentals and then trying to learn some basic openings. However I do Love to play queen pawns game, london system, caro-khan and sicilian. what do you all do to improve your game?
#2

Do more puzzles until your puzzle rating is higher than your game play. Besides a plan, tactics is what will win games.

Do more puzzles until your puzzle rating is higher than your game play. Besides a plan, tactics is what will win games.
#3

To answer the title, middlegame obviously. Unfortunately, being very intelligent, when I first started studying chess, I focused on openings, because it was fun.

Practically speaking, though, it's much easier to improve in the opening than the middlegame or endgame.

I don't do much to improve anymore.

To answer the title, middlegame obviously. Unfortunately, being very intelligent, when I first started studying chess, I focused on openings, because it was fun. Practically speaking, though, it's much easier to improve in the opening than the middlegame or endgame. I don't do much to improve anymore.
#4

@JA10306 said in #1:

I have a hard time deciding what is more important to focus on. I enjoy chess and lately, I've been trying to learn better openings. however, I've noticed that there are so many variations and exchange variations that learning the openings by memorizing is impossible. This is coming from an average Joe player. I understand that those playing to become master's of varied levels may feel different. For me, what improved my game immensely was learning basic end-games first , daily studying/improving chess fundamentals and then trying to learn some basic openings. However I do Love to play queen pawns game, london system, caro-khan and sicilian.

what do you all do to improve your game?
People can say whatever they want, but it doesnt depends on the opening to win...It depends on the player.
Example London and Caro Kann are very solid as an statepoint, but you can't expect to win with this if your'e opponent consolide well in the opening, and your'e middlegame and endgame are not so good, with innacuracies and mistakes. In general the player who have less mistakes wins the game.
Hypotetically i can win with bad openings because my opponent cant punish me, because they dondt know the lines.
To be better player in general openings and principles are important...Example castle early, dondt bring the queen out early, and so on. That is very important on lower level. If you dondt castle early or bring the queen out early you can be punished, and because of that you will lose the game.
I dondt have count how many times i have won against London and Caro Kann. It doesnt depends on the variation or something, but the strategies between me and my opponent decides the game in general.
You need a plan, looking for tactics, and trying to find good moves with your'e pieces (positional play, and harmony).
People in general are to obsessed in openings...they think theory in the opening(s) decides every game, well it dondt.
Practical play also can decide the game. Example you can saq a piece or pieces to get counterplay who leads to deadly attack.
But of course at beginners level - openings are important to example not getting mated in couple of moves, og getting the queen or a minor piece trapped.
But if you playing Ruy Lopez or Italian (castling in 4 moves) then it only depends the positional play, tactics and strategies in rest of the game. You are atleast safe with your'e king. This openings are one of the most common and can be played at any level. I played this before alot before i played other openings.
Maby it also helps to play otb a lot so you have more feelings with your'e pieces...also when you analysis.
Start in small groups...dondt expect to progress or be good in no time...It takes years to progress.
You will with time catch up some tip here and there, like me and everyone.
Chess is life long educational...
But first, do the right things theoretical in the opening. Opening are most important for you with principle devopment-moves. Example move a pawn and minor piece every second time. First pawn- then minor piece - a pawn - minor piece...and maby then castle. Dondt bring your'e queen out early in example move 4. Your'e queen will be chased, and with that you losing tempi, are underdeveloped. All this causes that you maby will lose the game.

@JA10306 said in #1: > I have a hard time deciding what is more important to focus on. I enjoy chess and lately, I've been trying to learn better openings. however, I've noticed that there are so many variations and exchange variations that learning the openings by memorizing is impossible. This is coming from an average Joe player. I understand that those playing to become master's of varied levels may feel different. For me, what improved my game immensely was learning basic end-games first , daily studying/improving chess fundamentals and then trying to learn some basic openings. However I do Love to play queen pawns game, london system, caro-khan and sicilian. > > what do you all do to improve your game? People can say whatever they want, but it doesnt depends on the opening to win...It depends on the player. Example London and Caro Kann are very solid as an statepoint, but you can't expect to win with this if your'e opponent consolide well in the opening, and your'e middlegame and endgame are not so good, with innacuracies and mistakes. In general the player who have less mistakes wins the game. Hypotetically i can win with bad openings because my opponent cant punish me, because they dondt know the lines. To be better player in general openings and principles are important...Example castle early, dondt bring the queen out early, and so on. That is very important on lower level. If you dondt castle early or bring the queen out early you can be punished, and because of that you will lose the game. I dondt have count how many times i have won against London and Caro Kann. It doesnt depends on the variation or something, but the strategies between me and my opponent decides the game in general. You need a plan, looking for tactics, and trying to find good moves with your'e pieces (positional play, and harmony). People in general are to obsessed in openings...they think theory in the opening(s) decides every game, well it dondt. Practical play also can decide the game. Example you can saq a piece or pieces to get counterplay who leads to deadly attack. But of course at beginners level - openings are important to example not getting mated in couple of moves, og getting the queen or a minor piece trapped. But if you playing Ruy Lopez or Italian (castling in 4 moves) then it only depends the positional play, tactics and strategies in rest of the game. You are atleast safe with your'e king. This openings are one of the most common and can be played at any level. I played this before alot before i played other openings. Maby it also helps to play otb a lot so you have more feelings with your'e pieces...also when you analysis. Start in small groups...dondt expect to progress or be good in no time...It takes years to progress. You will with time catch up some tip here and there, like me and everyone. Chess is life long educational... But first, do the right things theoretical in the opening. Opening are most important for you with principle devopment-moves. Example move a pawn and minor piece every second time. First pawn- then minor piece - a pawn - minor piece...and maby then castle. Dondt bring your'e queen out early in example move 4. Your'e queen will be chased, and with that you losing tempi, are underdeveloped. All this causes that you maby will lose the game.
#5

whats more important a chair or a table, birth or mid-age, an egg or the hen

whats more important a chair or a table, birth or mid-age, an egg or the hen
#7

"... By looking at entire games, the aspiring player learns about openings, middlegames, and endgames all at one fell swoop. Playing through annotated games spurs improvement as the reader learns how good players consistently handle common positions and problems. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf

"... By looking at entire games, the aspiring player learns about openings, middlegames, and endgames all at one fell swoop. Playing through annotated games spurs improvement as the reader learns how good players consistently handle common positions and problems. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007) https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf
#8

@kindaspongey said in #7:

"... By looking at entire games, the aspiring player learns about openings, middlegames, and endgames all at one fell swoop. Playing through annotated games spurs improvement as the reader learns how good players consistently handle common positions and problems. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf

100% agree-- especially if the annotations are explanations. Playing over annotated games carefully from the opening I play is how I learned put the pieces together (to the extent I have at least).
bill
ps-
The current trend in annotated game collections is to essentially give a chess base file of computer analysis. I find this nearly useless. I want to know what the GM was looking at to make their decision in words.

@kindaspongey said in #7: > "... By looking at entire games, the aspiring player learns about openings, middlegames, and endgames all at one fell swoop. Playing through annotated games spurs improvement as the reader learns how good players consistently handle common positions and problems. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007) > web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf 100% agree-- especially if the annotations are explanations. Playing over annotated games carefully from the opening I play is how I learned put the pieces together (to the extent I have at least). bill ps- The current trend in annotated game collections is to essentially give a chess base file of computer analysis. I find this nearly useless. I want to know what the GM was looking at to make their decision in words.
#9

Looking at your games, you are not being beaten in the opening, rather the opposite. When you lose, I guess it is mainly because of some middle game tactics missed.

@JA10306 said in #1:

what do you all do to improve your game?

I try to address my most evident weaknesses, it was openings until I learned the basics, built some decent repertoire against the usual choices and learned to avoid some mistakes when facing unknown openings.

Lately I focus on endgames, it seems there are lots of games where this knowledge is the deciding factor.

Looking at your games, you are not being beaten in the opening, rather the opposite. When you lose, I guess it is mainly because of some middle game tactics missed. @JA10306 said in #1: > what do you all do to improve your game? I try to address my most evident weaknesses, it was openings until I learned the basics, built some decent repertoire against the usual choices and learned to avoid some mistakes when facing unknown openings. Lately I focus on endgames, it seems there are lots of games where this knowledge is the deciding factor.
#10

Learning opening is the last thing one should do. You should learn opening by making mistakes and falling in opening traps. Then, analyze them and memorize them. Make sure you don't fall for the same trap. Learning middlegame is important. However, learning endgame gives you a certain form understanding about chess positions. You will know the importance of pawn structure and the shifts in structures. You will also be not afraid of converting to endgame. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, tactics is important.

Learning opening is the last thing one should do. You should learn opening by making mistakes and falling in opening traps. Then, analyze them and memorize them. Make sure you don't fall for the same trap. Learning middlegame is important. However, learning endgame gives you a certain form understanding about chess positions. You will know the importance of pawn structure and the shifts in structures. You will also be not afraid of converting to endgame. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, tactics is important.

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