I guess e5, Ng4
Bxf7 then pick up that N couple moves later?
Bxf7 then pick up that N couple moves later?
Do you win more often because of your opening knowledge, @DavyKOTWF ? Or the other way around: Would you have a lower rating if you would only play "boring" stuff like the Spanish, the Italian, Sicilian and stuff? Just wonder.
@teerdurchzogen Having very good success with these attacking openings. They keep me interested and excited about chess and to me they're more fun. I'm about 25W 12L with the one opening and still learning things with it. I strive to be a 1700 with that opening, even though I may still be 1500 everywhere else, for now.
Don't know where I'd be with the positional openings, though I know a fair amount of the Italian and some of the Ruy L. But I probably would have quit by now, only playing those.
To each his own. Did you watch that vid by BattleDressing? He says he moved from about 1200 to 1900, just working on openings.
Don't know where I'd be with the positional openings, though I know a fair amount of the Italian and some of the Ruy L. But I probably would have quit by now, only playing those.
To each his own. Did you watch that vid by BattleDressing? He says he moved from about 1200 to 1900, just working on openings.
I have watched a few minutes, yes. And I do think it's helpful to learn opening for your overall chess improvement, because you learn different positional ideas out of them plus you get to know many different situations I do not face if I play Ruy Lopez all the time; I also get your point about keeping the interest in the game by playing different openings and get different positions out of them.
Regarding your proverb: I want to become a better chess player, to me that's more important than to get a dirty win now and then against an unprepared opponent. Maybe it's fun, but I appreciate a win out of a solid opening due to my positional and tactical understanding and ideas more. I don't want to learn "garbage" as the guy in the video states, I want to survive the opening against such an opponent via thinking and eventually crush him in the middle- or endgame :) At least that's the goal, my approach (and I am playing just for a few months now, I see thousands of things in any direction I could improve, openings become a part of them gradually.)
Regarding your proverb: I want to become a better chess player, to me that's more important than to get a dirty win now and then against an unprepared opponent. Maybe it's fun, but I appreciate a win out of a solid opening due to my positional and tactical understanding and ideas more. I don't want to learn "garbage" as the guy in the video states, I want to survive the opening against such an opponent via thinking and eventually crush him in the middle- or endgame :) At least that's the goal, my approach (and I am playing just for a few months now, I see thousands of things in any direction I could improve, openings become a part of them gradually.)
@teerdurchzogen To get better, study of openings is not the way. Study of endgames yes, replay annotated grandmaster games yes, tactics puzzles yes, but openings no. However, if it is fun to study openings then why not. Study of openings also brings some "dirty" wins against unprepared opponents, so it brings some results but no strength.
Sicilian surely is not boring. Ruy Lopez, Giuoco Pianissimo Italian are not to everybody's taste. Also to learn the game sharp lines are better because it makes mistakes clear right away. In the Ruy Lopez or the Giuoco Pianissimo Italian you can make positional mistakes and not be aware of it.
Sicilian surely is not boring. Ruy Lopez, Giuoco Pianissimo Italian are not to everybody's taste. Also to learn the game sharp lines are better because it makes mistakes clear right away. In the Ruy Lopez or the Giuoco Pianissimo Italian you can make positional mistakes and not be aware of it.
@tpr I do not really think the Sicilian is in any way boring, but if you can say you are able to play the Molotov-Lollipop-opening everyone is going to be like: Whoah, what does it look like, how exciting!
Currently I am aiming to improve my endgame technique, but I enjoy watching the videos of GM Akobian on youtube as well where I met some openings I don't usually play or face, like d-pawn-openings or the Dutch defense. Once I hear why one wants to play his bishop out first before playing e3 I improve my understanding of chess, yes. It's just a petite mosaique, but yes, I think it helps even if I maybe play some other openings or play completely out of theory (for example it should help if you play chess960).
Currently I am aiming to improve my endgame technique, but I enjoy watching the videos of GM Akobian on youtube as well where I met some openings I don't usually play or face, like d-pawn-openings or the Dutch defense. Once I hear why one wants to play his bishop out first before playing e3 I improve my understanding of chess, yes. It's just a petite mosaique, but yes, I think it helps even if I maybe play some other openings or play completely out of theory (for example it should help if you play chess960).
#55 "In the Ruy Lopez or the Giuoco Pianissimo Italian you can make positional mistakes and not be aware of it."
On the other hand, if you are aware of those kind of mistakes, that's a chance to improve your positional understanding. A chance you might not get if you only play wild gambits all day.
On the other hand, if you are aware of those kind of mistakes, that's a chance to improve your positional understanding. A chance you might not get if you only play wild gambits all day.
Yeah, Qxd4 isn't the normal move, you're supposed to go 4. Nf3. In my opinion, the only moves you have to fear here for White are Bb4+ and Nxe4 which is the main line. Against 4...Nc6 just play 0-0.
I play the Ruy Lopez, by the way. I know a lot about it.
@tpr How can you expect to pass 2000 USCF or FIDE if you don't know how to beat crappy sidelines like the Grob's opening?
I play the Ruy Lopez, by the way. I know a lot about it.
@tpr How can you expect to pass 2000 USCF or FIDE if you don't know how to beat crappy sidelines like the Grob's opening?
@Battledressing Grob is not crappy at all, it is way better than you think. You do not have to know how to beat it. You have to think over the board and find good moves for yourself. You can achieve 2300 FIDE without any opening knowledge at all, just know and apply general principles: the centre, develop pieces. Variations are transient only method stays.
On the other hand you cannot reach 2000 FIDE without knowledge of endgames particularly rook endings.
On the other hand you cannot reach 2000 FIDE without knowledge of endgames particularly rook endings.
@tpr I agree with both points..
Yes, you can't reach 2000 FIDE without rook endgames and pawn endgames.
Still, you have to know openings to some extent; how to refute tricky openings like the Latvian Gambit and Elephant Gambit, etc. Also knowing mainlines that you play, are all good to know.
Yes, you can't reach 2000 FIDE without rook endgames and pawn endgames.
Still, you have to know openings to some extent; how to refute tricky openings like the Latvian Gambit and Elephant Gambit, etc. Also knowing mainlines that you play, are all good to know.
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