“... I am not a big fan of weaker players memorizing lots of opening lines they will never play. However, it is quite a different issue to spend a small amount of time learning how to play your openings a little better each time they occur. A long journey begins with a single step. ...” - NM Dan Heisman (2005)
web.archive.org/web/20140627023809/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman50.pdfWhat I'm doing is I look at what phase I'm losing games the most and focus on that. If you are often coming out of the opening with a disadvantage then learning more about that makes sense.
"... 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)
web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdfI would recommend learning a simpler opening at beginner level (~1000 otb), such as Italian 4.d3, where you don't need to learn a lot of lines, but you still get a decent position. Once you are at intermediate level (~1600 otb), you can start learning more complex openings. I would recommend learning main lines of openings. For example, instead of playing the Alapin Sicilian, you can start to learn the Open Sicilian. once you are at advanced level (~2k otb), you will want to start learning more complex openings. For example, you can learn the Najdorf or the Ruy Lopez. You will also want to have a more in depth preparation for these openings.
I would say get a collection of Chess games that are annotated & go through it in a Chess video form or a Chess book ... The best sources in my opinion are World Chess Champions . I would say go through many games from Alexander Alekhine's book My Best Games as he was very dynamic energetic but also was able to play Endgames like all the Chess Champions did
@cauffybeen@ThunderClap said in #15:
> I would say get a collection of Chess games that are annotated & go through it in a Chess video form or a Chess book ... The best sources in my opinion are World Chess Champions . I would say go through many games from Alexander Alekhine's book My Best Games as he was very dynamic energetic but also was able to play Endgames like all the Chess Champions did
@cauffybeenWhat does that have to do with openings
@dd219 said in #16:
> What does that have to do with openings
A collection of a players games will not only show the openings that player used often, thus helping them understand those specific openings, it will also show the middlegame ideas and plans and even endgames that can arise too.
Learn the chess openings that follow sound chess opening principles. The rest can wait for later.
My perspective is the very opposite.
You should learn openings, endgames, strategy and tactics, ideally... before you ever play.
Go to a chess class, get. coach, study chessable courses, find a partner and start analysing your games, read as much as you can.
This old-fashioned approach where you shouldn't bother yourself with openings until you reach a certain level is so antiquated and disconnected from reality I can barely even think of anything more disconnected.
You can learn many general things from openings. Weak squares, tactical motifs etc.
