If ye wants t' know the best openings, look at master game statistics. Opinions be meaningless when we 'ave definitive answers.
@xcoutso said in #1:
> I mostly play blitz but in my earlier post people suggested me to play Rapid and my points are not given yet. I find it difficult which opening is best and most effective. So any suggestions?
There is no 'best opening' in chess. However, different openings are better for different players, and some openings are better, yet more complicated than others. The 'best' opening repertoire is almost certainly: Catalan, Najdorf, Nimzo-Indian. These are the most solid openings that give the highest fighting chance. However, they aren't the most practical (the Najdorf could take 1-2 years just to learn all the lines!). As for the Ruy Lopez, which someone mentioned earlier... sure, it is one of the best openings as White, but learning all the lines is so impractical and just sucks. It may take 1 or 2 months of pure study to finally master it. If you are okay with that kinda thing and have the time to devote... go for it!
More practical openings, especially if you are comparatively new to chess, and need to focus more on the middlegame (suggestions):
The Queen's Gambit (White, if you prefer strategic games. Also has lesser theory. Beware of 'trap openings' such as the Albin Counter-Gambit or the Budapest Gambit)
The Giucco Piano (White, if you prefer fast games, BUT, if your opponent plays the Sicilian, try the Alapin. As a Sicilian player, I hate the Alapin with a vengeance. As for other openings, you have to do your own research and experimentation.)
The Queen's Gambit Declined or the Slav, if White plays 1.d4 2.c4 (although, I haven't played either, so don't take my word that these are the best options. They are just less-theory filled than than the Indian opening family)
Against 1.e4, honestly, I have no idea. The Sicilians are a bit theory heavy, but the Kan Sicilian might be an exception that steers White from all their preparation. Try it out!
Against moves like 1.c4 or 1.Nf3, just develop normally.
In fact, that should have been my first advice! ;)
Don't focus on opening preparation TOO much if your tactical skills require improvement (I haven't seen your games, so I have no idea. You know best what is best for you!). If you are confused about what to play, try developing your pieces logically, and avoid traps. Focus on your Middlegame and Endgame. That is the simplest, most effective route, atleast until you learn some proper lines. :)
Good luck!
> I mostly play blitz but in my earlier post people suggested me to play Rapid and my points are not given yet. I find it difficult which opening is best and most effective. So any suggestions?
There is no 'best opening' in chess. However, different openings are better for different players, and some openings are better, yet more complicated than others. The 'best' opening repertoire is almost certainly: Catalan, Najdorf, Nimzo-Indian. These are the most solid openings that give the highest fighting chance. However, they aren't the most practical (the Najdorf could take 1-2 years just to learn all the lines!). As for the Ruy Lopez, which someone mentioned earlier... sure, it is one of the best openings as White, but learning all the lines is so impractical and just sucks. It may take 1 or 2 months of pure study to finally master it. If you are okay with that kinda thing and have the time to devote... go for it!
More practical openings, especially if you are comparatively new to chess, and need to focus more on the middlegame (suggestions):
The Queen's Gambit (White, if you prefer strategic games. Also has lesser theory. Beware of 'trap openings' such as the Albin Counter-Gambit or the Budapest Gambit)
The Giucco Piano (White, if you prefer fast games, BUT, if your opponent plays the Sicilian, try the Alapin. As a Sicilian player, I hate the Alapin with a vengeance. As for other openings, you have to do your own research and experimentation.)
The Queen's Gambit Declined or the Slav, if White plays 1.d4 2.c4 (although, I haven't played either, so don't take my word that these are the best options. They are just less-theory filled than than the Indian opening family)
Against 1.e4, honestly, I have no idea. The Sicilians are a bit theory heavy, but the Kan Sicilian might be an exception that steers White from all their preparation. Try it out!
Against moves like 1.c4 or 1.Nf3, just develop normally.
In fact, that should have been my first advice! ;)
Don't focus on opening preparation TOO much if your tactical skills require improvement (I haven't seen your games, so I have no idea. You know best what is best for you!). If you are confused about what to play, try developing your pieces logically, and avoid traps. Focus on your Middlegame and Endgame. That is the simplest, most effective route, atleast until you learn some proper lines. :)
Good luck!
really just depends on your style, if you like attacking, but not theory then London, if you like theory, but simplicity, then scotch, if you are agressive try gambits. you see? there is no best openings, but only prefered openings
@Shadow1414 said in #11:
> ... look at master game statistics. ... definitive answers.
"... Let me give an example from a recent U.S. Chess School session, with a group of 2200-2450 players. ... we were looking at the Sveshnikov 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 and I asked the players who played the Sveshnikov with Black 'What’s the main line here?'.
Every single one that I asked said 11. c3, which is completely absurd. Strong chessplayers know that 11. c4 is the main line now. ... if these kids are going to be facing 2400+ players and holding their own, they need to focus just as much energy on combating 11. c4 as 11. c3. Meanwhile 10 years ago an opening book on the Sveshnikov will probably just devote a minor footnote to the move that is currently the main line! The only way you can find out what openings are actually being played now and are in reality the main line, is to have an up to date database, and find a way to cull the games that are played by lower rated players and that are over a few years old. ..." - IM Greg Shahade (February 9, 2012)
www.uschess.org/index.php/February-/Greg-on-Chess-Opening-Books.html
If main lines evolve, wouldn't one expect evolution of the statistics for any one opening?
> ... look at master game statistics. ... definitive answers.
"... Let me give an example from a recent U.S. Chess School session, with a group of 2200-2450 players. ... we were looking at the Sveshnikov 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 and I asked the players who played the Sveshnikov with Black 'What’s the main line here?'.
Every single one that I asked said 11. c3, which is completely absurd. Strong chessplayers know that 11. c4 is the main line now. ... if these kids are going to be facing 2400+ players and holding their own, they need to focus just as much energy on combating 11. c4 as 11. c3. Meanwhile 10 years ago an opening book on the Sveshnikov will probably just devote a minor footnote to the move that is currently the main line! The only way you can find out what openings are actually being played now and are in reality the main line, is to have an up to date database, and find a way to cull the games that are played by lower rated players and that are over a few years old. ..." - IM Greg Shahade (February 9, 2012)
www.uschess.org/index.php/February-/Greg-on-Chess-Opening-Books.html
If main lines evolve, wouldn't one expect evolution of the statistics for any one opening?
@xcoutso said in #3:
> Can you tell me where can I learn them?
A good way to learn the basics of an opening for free is the Youtube channel "Hanging Pawns". Here is an example link
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMy65JeSShw&list=PLssNbVBYrGcBfDsANalbRg2L7tL5L93Gk&index=1
Regarding the "best opening": You can answer this question using different criteria: Best =
- highest score: This would be against e.g. 1. e4 the Sicilian
- easiest to learn: That may be against e.g. 1. e4 the Scandinavian
- fitting to the way I want to play
- you wanna go sharp against e.g. 1. d4: Go for Benoni or Kings Indian
- you wanna go positional against 1. d4: Select queens gambit or Nimzo+Queens Indian
- limit the types of positions which can occur so that you often land in familiar structures. Options would be e.g.
- play with black Pirc and Kings Indian and with white a setup with Nf3+g3+Bg2+d3
- play with black Caro-Kann and Slav and with white London system
> Can you tell me where can I learn them?
A good way to learn the basics of an opening for free is the Youtube channel "Hanging Pawns". Here is an example link
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMy65JeSShw&list=PLssNbVBYrGcBfDsANalbRg2L7tL5L93Gk&index=1
Regarding the "best opening": You can answer this question using different criteria: Best =
- highest score: This would be against e.g. 1. e4 the Sicilian
- easiest to learn: That may be against e.g. 1. e4 the Scandinavian
- fitting to the way I want to play
- you wanna go sharp against e.g. 1. d4: Go for Benoni or Kings Indian
- you wanna go positional against 1. d4: Select queens gambit or Nimzo+Queens Indian
- limit the types of positions which can occur so that you often land in familiar structures. Options would be e.g.
- play with black Pirc and Kings Indian and with white a setup with Nf3+g3+Bg2+d3
- play with black Caro-Kann and Slav and with white London system
Hmm, indentations did not work as intended. Last lines should be
- fitting to the way I want to play
- - you wanna go sharp against e.g. 1. d4: Go for Benoni or Kings Indian
- - you wanna go positional against 1. d4: Select queens gambit or Nimzo+Queens Indian
- limit the types of positions which can occur so that you often land in familiar structures. Options would be e.g.
- - play with black Pirc and Kings Indian and with white a setup with Nf3+g3+Bg2+d3
- - play with black Caro-Kann and Slav and with white London system
- fitting to the way I want to play
- - you wanna go sharp against e.g. 1. d4: Go for Benoni or Kings Indian
- - you wanna go positional against 1. d4: Select queens gambit or Nimzo+Queens Indian
- limit the types of positions which can occur so that you often land in familiar structures. Options would be e.g.
- - play with black Pirc and Kings Indian and with white a setup with Nf3+g3+Bg2+d3
- - play with black Caro-Kann and Slav and with white London system
@FourtyTwoFields said in #15:
> A good way to learn the basics of an opening for free is the Youtube channel "Hanging Pawns". Here is an example link
>
>
>
> Regarding the "best opening": You can answer this question using different criteria: Best =
> - highest score: This would be against e.g. 1. e4 the Sicilian
> - easiest to learn: That may be against e.g. 1. e4 the Scandinavian
> - fitting to the way I want to play
> - you wanna go sharp against e.g. 1. d4: Go for Benoni or Kings Indian
> - you wanna go positional against 1. d4: Select queens gambit or Nimzo+Queens Indian
> - limit the types of positions which can occur so that you often land in familiar structures. Options would be e.g.
> - play with black Pirc and Kings Indian and with white a setup with Nf3+g3+Bg2+d3
> - play with black Caro-Kann and Slav and with white London system
Thank you very much!
> A good way to learn the basics of an opening for free is the Youtube channel "Hanging Pawns". Here is an example link
>
>
>
> Regarding the "best opening": You can answer this question using different criteria: Best =
> - highest score: This would be against e.g. 1. e4 the Sicilian
> - easiest to learn: That may be against e.g. 1. e4 the Scandinavian
> - fitting to the way I want to play
> - you wanna go sharp against e.g. 1. d4: Go for Benoni or Kings Indian
> - you wanna go positional against 1. d4: Select queens gambit or Nimzo+Queens Indian
> - limit the types of positions which can occur so that you often land in familiar structures. Options would be e.g.
> - play with black Pirc and Kings Indian and with white a setup with Nf3+g3+Bg2+d3
> - play with black Caro-Kann and Slav and with white London system
Thank you very much!
Ruy Lopez or london system
CICILAN
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