Opening advice please.

Hi guys,

I've been playing for a while now, but have to admit the first thing about openings (reading the thread about 'the Dragon' made me feel embarrasingly ignorant!). Are there any good websites that you know about where it takes you through move by move showing openings, what they are called and the like where I could sit with a board in front of me and learn them?

Thanks in advance

Stephen.

Hi!
Try these:

http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer

http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/chess/ChessTutor/openings.html

Originally posted by Panuka
Hi!
Try these:

http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer

http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/chess/ChessTutor/openings.html

One thing you should know if that it's much more important to spend time on tactics (for non-expert players) although you should have a basic knowledge so that you don't lose in the opening.

Seirawan's book on openings is very good. Teachers often say it's best to first study the endgame and middlegame (even in that order!). I do admit that knowledge of the opening has helped me get early advantages many times...although some players have higher ratings than I do even know I know much more about the opening.

You need to find a repetoire which suits your style and ideally does not have too many variations to memorize..don't pick the sicilian (e.g. the dragon) unless you want to memorize pages of variations.

Originally posted by hypermo2001
One thing you should know if that it's much more important to spend time on tactics (for non-expert players) although you should have a basic knowledge so that you don't lose in the opening.

Seirawan's book on openings is very good. Teachers often say it's best to first study the endgame and middlegame (even in that order!). I do admit that know ...[text shortened]... ize..don't pick the sicilian (e.g. the dragon) unless you want to memorize pages of variations.

Just to add, you need to put a similar amount of effort into learning all disciplines of chess and not to concentrate on one.

Whats the point in mastering openings if you can't finish the game off.

-Robbo

Cheers guys. I'll take your advice re: middle and end game.

I'm speculating here but it seems that learning the opening TRAPs would be very useful so that you can defend against them. From my reading, opening traps that fail then to leave you in bad position. So if you know the traps and how to put a stop to them, you'll show your opponent that you can't be toyed with.

Now I better go study them quick!

Originally posted by Coletti
I'm speculating here but it seems that learning the opening TRAPs would be very useful so that you can defend against them. From my reading, opening traps that fail then to leave you in bad position. So if you know the traps and how to put a stop to them, you'll show your opponent that you can't be toyed with.

Now I better go study them quick!