For all of you that change your repertoire regularly, what is the most efficient way to do it. I have Chessbase, but I rarely use it except after OTB games when I'm looking for alternatives.
My approach is this:
Get an idea of the variation I wish to play without worrying about variations
i.e. Schivishnikov sicillian
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6
From there I will try to play at least 10 blitz games with the variation (I won't count gran prix attacks, closed sicillians or other early deviations). if I still like it, I will try and play a practice game at club at a G/30+10 time control. I will then analyze that game using db and Hiarcs.
At this point, I usually move on to a new opening, but if I keep it, I will try to play more (moderately) slow games to get in some practice and analyse my play against engines and gm's (thus learning some common variations). If I really like it, I will buy a book, skim it then play it in a tournament.
Does anyone have suggestions to improve this, in particular, does anyone create/use reference databases or keys from chessbase?
Originally posted by zebanoI spend about a year on a theme for each side of the board. For instance: When I learned Alekhine Defense, I tried to learn all of White's most popular responses and then played NOTHING ELSE against e4 for about 2 years. At this same time, I played nothing but the English as White. NOTHING; until I became versed enough in all the transpositions that it almost seemed instinctual. Over a course of about 15 years you can accumulate a fairly comprehensive knowledge of theory. This isn't to say that I'm an expert an ANY of the openings that I play.
For all of you that change your repertoire regularly, what is the most efficient way to do it. I have Chessbase, but I rarely use it except after OTB games when I'm looking for alternatives.
My approach is this:
Get an idea of the variation I wish to play without worrying about variations
i.e. Schivishnikov sicillian
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. N ...[text shortened]... prove this, in particular, does anyone create/use reference databases or keys from chessbase?
Basically, I suppose you could say my approach to opening theory is hard-core, in-depth, hair-pulling study. I would spend hours upon hours going over a particular variation, before I ever played it against a human.
There is two ways to learn openings.
(1) To learn it by hard. Push your memory to the limit with all variations and dig into the latest theory.
(2) To learn the consepts of strategy of openings in general and play by instinkt and insights.
I think (2) is the best way to survive the 1st phase of the game.
Originally posted by zebanoI change quite often. I'm starting to have a 'system' when I switch. It really depends how serious I take the opening though. For white I learned the KG as my first opening - there isn't really much in the way of new material on the KG, so I just learned it by playing it...a lot. Every chance I got I'd play it, and I did that for nearly a year. As black my main defense is the Sicilian Dragon, there's a good book (that's pretty new) out on it so I bought that and tried to learn as much as I could - that was useful - from it. Now, as white I've started playing 1.d4. I started by playing it in blitz to get a feel for the positions, then I started playing it in CC where I could use books, and now I'm starting to play it in slow games and I've ordered Play the Queen's Gambit on CD (hurry up amazon...) so that I can learn the variations.
For all of you that change your repertoire regularly, what is the most efficient way to do it. I have Chessbase, but I rarely use it except after OTB games when I'm looking for alternatives.
My approach is this:
Get an idea of the variation I wish to play without worrying about variations
i.e. Schivishnikov sicillian
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. N ...[text shortened]... prove this, in particular, does anyone create/use reference databases or keys from chessbase?
On the other hand, I use the Pirc as a backup weapon for the Dragon occassionally. To prepare this I haven't bought any material, but looked up a few critical variations and played it in blitz and a couple of games CC. I don't know it that well, but it's just a backup, so I'm not worried about that.
Originally posted by cmsMaster"Play the Queens Gambit" - I have the book by Chris Ward and recommend it and it's easy to follow. For the Pirc there is a good book that came out a couple of weeks ago: "The Pirc In Black and White" by James Vignus...it's quite dense and covers a lot of ground...has a handy section near the front for people who just want a starter repertoire. I think the Pirc with c5 has many similarities to the dragon so quite easy for a dragon player to get into.
I change quite often. I'm starting to have a 'system' when I switch. It really depends how serious I take the opening though. For white I learned the KG as my first opening - there isn't really much in the way of new material on the KG, so I just learned it by playing it...a lot. Every chance I got I'd play it, and I did that for nearly a year. As bla ...[text shortened]... I don't know it that well, but it's just a backup, so I'm not worried about that.
]At the begining of the year I decided to make my study more focussed and chose the Queens Gambit...and I've allowed a year - but your year for each side is probably more realistic...I still dabble with other openings for general knowledge though.
[b]I spend about a year on a theme for each side of the board.
With the memorising v's understanding debate I've come to the conclusion that if I start memorising some of the lines then the understanding will follow. The principles are essential but I don't think it's best to ignore learning by rote and repetition completely.
Although I've not tried this - I picked up a comment from a DVD somewhere that if you play Fritz without it's opening book it's crap...and this was given as proof that even the calculating power of Fritz isn't enough in the first few moves...and it was presented as an argument for the benefit of learning the key lines.
Get a big book of openings (its kinda like a dictionary). And use this to find your prospect opening (say Sicilian) or main line (Sicilian: Nadjorf or Dragon for example) I then go over a couple of main lines from the book, so that I can see move orders. After I see them and have a decent idea of what it looks like, I will then play through the moves again, trying to understand the purpose, what the player hopes to gain from these genral moves. Keep in mind this isn't about every single line, just the main ones. By now I have used up at most 2hours of study time. At this point I look over some database games, get a book from the local library, and begin playing it on yahoo chess. I only play it there because its the rating I don't care about and all of these games are a max of 3-5min each, remember, its about winning the opening, not necessarily winning the game as a whole. Maybe after a week or two of playing this opening, I will really dig in deep, look at individual lines that suit me, and learn responses, most of which I have already discovered through play. I learn the book reasons behind these moves, I learn how to punish a deviation (or atleast how not to fall victim to it). Now i move into real games, say 15-30min each. I try to play maybe 50-100 games on yahoo, still just learning how to play through variations. At this time I would also start playing on CC sites, preferably without databases, but with if necessary. After about 1-2 months total I consider the opening tournament ready. Just a word of warning, try to play it in a smaller OTB tournament (say a weekly event) rather than one that is a big deal (breaking in your new opening while playing for cash cant be a good idea😛). After that, never look back and play it with confidence, cause if you go back to an old opening when nervous, you playing will suffer.
1) Get some opening book to know the main lines in this opening
2) Check in database how these lines are played by titled players (GM and IM) - you must understand the main ideas of this opening.
3) Analyse database games with engine
4) Play about 10-20 blitz or rapid games in this opening.
5) After these games analyse them using data base and engine.
I think a difficult question is: shoudl you try to go deeper with your current opening(s) or to learn new ones...difficult question.
For example I knew the main line(as white) in Gruenfeld until...let's say, move 10-11. I played a tournament game(as white) against a stronger player, and after I lost he told me that my move 11-12 was not very accurate, can be played but another one is the usually continuation. Next time I remembered, and when I played against a bit weaker player I knew it, but this time I somehow went out of the main line at move 13 (he told me after the game-which I won-that my move 13 is not the main line)...
So by practicing only one opening over and over again I think you will know it better and better...on the other side if you play only one opening your opponent will also prepare against you and he will also know it better(in a real tournament)...
So...for me the difficult question is: should I move to a different opening? or get better in the current one ?
check out the lines so you'll have some superficial knowledge of the move order. then play a bunch of games until you get a feel for what people play against it, and what gets you into trouble. then go back to books, and find out where you and your opponents are going wrong. check with an engine or a db (on how the games continue) when you get questions your source doesn't answer. then play more games, then hit the books again, then play more, study more, etc.
rinse & repeat.
the first round will always give only superficial knowledge, no matter how much effort you put into it, so it's not very efficient to use a lot of energy on that. everything you study will always make more sense, be quicker to learn, and stick better to your memory when you alternate with the hands-on training and theory. it's just a far more efficient way to gather procedural knowledge than simply studying theory, no matter how hard you study.
Thanks all. I think some combination of wormwood and Korchs appoarch will work for me.
I play lost of hypermodern junk (1. b3/KIA/reti) in blitz right now and while it works, I think it's time to change up my OTB repertoire, I just haven't found anything I am truly happy with yet. Long ago, I played KG, roy, scotch, KG. I then quit for about 5 years and I took up the english. 3 years latter, I think it's time to move on from the english but while I have played lots of offbeat lines i.e. the freak attack gets me decent positions Game 3331486 before I get outplayed it's not something I am happy with. I have played a lot of the scotch, but I just don't like that either...
I have tried the Catalan due to some similarities with a few english lines, but I am convinced that is a GM opening and still a bit beyond my understanding it well enough to play it. That essentially leaves me with 1. d4 and 1. f4. I am going to rule out the bird, so if I take up d4 what are suggested lines? I am personally leaning towards a Bg5 line of the Queens gambit. the London System is out, but the Tromp is an option.
Here is my one relevant trial with 1. d4
Game 3286062 Drawn, but I felt I had a definite advantage out of the opening which I simply didn't play well enough to convert it.
Originally posted by zebano1.d4 is what I've been playing recently, I'd support your decision to play it. 🙂
Thanks all. I think some combination of wormwood and Korchs appoarch will work for me.
I play lost of hypermodern junk (1. b3/KIA/reti) in blitz right now and while it works, I think it's time to change up my OTB repertoire, I just haven't found anything I am truly happy with yet. Long ago, I played KG, roy, scotch, KG. I then quit for about 5 years and I ...[text shortened]... efinite advantage out of the opening which I simply didn't play well enough to convert it.