Throughout my entire time in chess, I've gotten away with playing system openings like the colle/london or a simple reverse-colle (semi-slav like formation) system with black, without ever memorizing any known theory. The caro-kann is pretty much the only proper opening I play. I focused on tactics the most since that was what every single person told me starting out.
But now since I've gotten a lot better, I find myself getting in really unfavorable positions out of the opening and I was wondering if it was really time for me to start learning more critical theoretical lines of reputed openings. If so, how do I go about learning them and where do I even start?
Thanks for the input!
start out with reading books on your openings. Once you´ve done that, you can deepen your knowledge by using databases. Good luck
I hope you don't mind some input from a lower-rated player...I have found that help from a teacher (doesn't have to be a grandmaster) combined with openings books written by reputable instructors (many of whom might be grandmasters) is a good place to start. Many people use chess databases as well. I don't know what the going rate is for instructors in your country, but my teacher, who is a national master in the U.S., charges me about $20 for a full-hour lesson if I purchase 10 lessons at a time. He is very good about finishing each lesson, so if I am slow to understand, he will allow for 10 minutes or so overtime. He is from a different state, but he teaches me over the phone. We both use the same books for lessons.
If books are too expensive, try looking on YouTube. Or play some new people here on Lichess...you can always make new friends and compare notes. And you might not need a teacher. I happen to need one...my rating in real life is below 1100...it was once 1328, but I kept making bad mistakes and losing games (often against lower-rated players). And pick an opening you enjoy playing. It doesn't have to be one that comes up very often, though it is good to learn some more common openings as well. I am trying to learn The Najdorf Sicilian. I have also been studying a little bit of The Italian Game...well, good luck. :)
"When is it correct to start learning opening theory? "
- When you become a grandmaster - Garry Kasparov.
Playing Caro-Kann, Slav Defence and London is all right.
You do not need to learn any opening theory.
Your accumulated experience from playing the same system over again amply makes up for any deficit in theoretical knowledge.
You should study endgames however, particularly rook endings.
What do you mean about theory ?
learning by heart or knowing the real purpose of this particular 4th move with white (whatever opening you are thinking of), and the three possible answer with the black ?
I'm always surprised seeing guys of my level playing 2. ... f7 in the italian game for example or 2. Cf3 in the scandinavian
@tpr but surely, saying that no one needs to learn any opening theory before they become a grandmaster is a huge stretch. No matter how much experience I have in system openings like the colle, it still stands that black has a way easier time equalizing (or even gaining an advantage) in those type of openings rather than something like the Ruy Lopez, or the Scotch.
Open games are the heart of the Classic Chess.
Play and learn Open games at least with black pieces.
And play main variations such as Breyer or Marshal vs. Ruy Lopez and 2 Knights or Giuco Piano vs. the Italian.
Caro-Kann will be a pain vs good opponents in the long term as the advance variation has ultra-solid variations for white with good winning chances.
Colle is good vs. Nf6/e6 systems for Black or Slav players, but even here in the best case scenario, variety of play is limited.
#7
@batmanbinsuparman I disagree: Caro-Kann and Slav are very solid and have been played in world championship matches. Carlsen also has played the London. You play good reputable openings and by playing those you haven gained experience. If you start playing else, you will invest time and your results will get worse, not better. If you invest the same time studying endgames then that will improve your results. It is your choice.
from(fide)rating:1800
