good beginner openings? ideas?

Originally posted by Dierks
i dont know if im asking this question in the right way, but could anyone suggest a few basic openings that dont have to many variations that a beginner could learn the basic ins and outs? Maybe an opening that has good beginner strategy that someone could learn easy enough without having to the know a broad array of variations. Im not looking for a "perfec ed, but does anyone have a favorite they started out with when they first began to play chess?

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Control the centre and open lines for your Bishops by playing c4, d4 or e4 early in the game, develop Bishops on d2, e3, f4 or g5 (opposite side for other Bishop), develop Knights on d2, c3, e2 and f3, castle and bring Rooks into centre behind pawns you have pushed.

You may need to parry counter attacks with defenses by playing a pawn to c3, d3 or e3 ...[text shortened]... be about the sharp sacrifical lines as beginners aren't ready for things like the Evans Gambit.

Originally posted by Bedlam
Beginners should play gambit lines. Easiest way to get a tactical work out quickly.

Originally posted by cmsMaster
I agree. By learning how to play gambit lines you are learning how to compensate for a material disadvantage.

Originally posted by cmsMaster
I agree. By learning how to play gambit lines you are learning how to compensate for a material disadvantage.

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
So click on CMSMaster and join his Kings Gambit Clan.

In case you don't know that is e4 .. e5, f4 .. eXf (accepted)

You will probably be slaughtered quickly but, hey, thats the only way to learn and it sure is more exciting than my boring suggestion.

The Beginners Game Rules! No real memorization. 8 simple moves that get you into a structure that is passive, but playable at the beginner level. I am just starting to play it because I am too lazy to study openings and want to get to the fun part (middlegame) without getting into too much trouble. Flame away everyone! Once you know that, you can focus on the tactical part of the game without having to struggle to remember exactly where your dark square bishop goes when he puts his knight on d7 after you've fianchettoed your light squared bishop and he's already castled. It won't get you to master level, but you will be able to get to the middle game easily.

The most important thing is probably to understand why you move like you do.

It's better to have a plan that you understand and play according to, than just playing "correct" moves which you don't understand. If you learn openings, then you must understand why they are played like that. It's too often you see players playing an opening and then when his opening knowledge runs out, he plays a move which is counter-intuitive to the original idea of the opening.

Learning openings is heavy though, so you have to consider if you want to put in all that effort. People usually say you shouldn't do it as a beginner as there are more important things to learn. It's also quite likely that a beginner is not able to assess the position in the opening anyway to understand the theory. Anyway, whatever you do, understand what you play.

chernevs book "logical chess: move by move" caters to the beginner and is excelent for learning opening principals among other things as it comments on the ideas behind every move.

"Originally posted by Bedlam
Beginners should play gambit lines. Easiest way to get a tactical work out quickly"

What are "gambit lines"...?

Yup, one of the best pieces of advice I had when I was first starting out was to controll the center and to take your time on your moves. Always be aware of the entire board, if the play is focused in one part of the board, don't forget about the pieces away from the action as they can often exert influence quickly.

At first I played 1.e4 as white and 1...e5 as black against it, I think this is the best way to learn the ropes and you must know how to see where you made mistakes and learn from them - you will make mistakes.

I also played d4 as white for a bit and it helped me understand closed positions and playing the queens gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4) helped me understand what they are good for.

Against d4 I have stayed away from playing 1... d5 as I didn't have much success with it, instead I started playing the french defence (1...e6) and used it against both 1.d4 and 1.e4 ... If played against 1.d4 it can transpose into the queens indian.

I also had great help from internet sites such as the following:

For openings and general tutorials:
http://chess.about.com/library/openings/bloa0000.htm

http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/ch-list.htm - A full list and analysis of all openings

Also, www.wikipedia.com - has many chess articles you can search "Chess" and read through the results.

For tactics and positioning:
http://www.chesstactics.org/
http://chess.emrald.net/index.php


If I ever ran into something I didn't understand or know I could always search the position on google. "1.e4 g6" for example could be searched and presto we have the first result saying it is called the "Robatsch Defense".

Originally posted by ChessJester
Yup, one of the best pieces of advice I had when I was first starting out was to controll the center and to take your time on your moves. Always be aware of the entire board, if the play is focused in one part of the board, don't forget about the pieces away from the action as they can often exert influence quickly.

At first I played 1.e4 as white and earched and presto we have the first result saying it is called the "Robatsch Defense".

Originally posted by Treasure
"Originally posted by Bedlam
Beginners should play gambit lines. Easiest way to get a tactical work out quickly"

What are "gambit lines"...?

Originally posted by Bedlam
A gambit is a pawn sac (material) for dynamic compensation, like extra tempi, better central control, better squares for the pieces, easier development etc

Originally posted by cmsMaster
If you want examples of this you can easily google something like "King's Gambit" or "Queen's Gambit". And if that doesn't work out then check out www.chessgames.com

From here you can choose the opening you want, the player you want, and the year you want to get solid examples.