14 Oct 11
I've played chess on and off for about 6 or 7 years, and in that time there has been one part of the game where I've definitely spent way too much time for such little payoff: The opening. Seriously though, who can disagree that playing around with a whole bunch of different openings isn't fun? Naturally, I have tried my best to keep a somewhat limited repertoire, only looking at other openings when I'm bored or just curious to see what other people are trying. Typically, I play the King's Gambit (Classical 3.Nf3) which is a great opening, particularly for new players. It helped me with tactics, learning how to exploit weak squares (particularly f7), how to play with the initiative, and sometimes how to defend with material disadvantage. Recently though I've been playing some 1.d4 stuff and just using a kingside fianchetto almost regardless of what black plays, which very typically ends up in the Catalan Variation. So far, I'm really enjoying it, I might even stick with it for a while.
The purpose of this thread, however, is to hear what you guys have been playing recently. I want to see interesting opening ideas, strange variations that you're trying, dubious but still interesting opening lines, etc.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by UnderPromoteSide note:
I've played chess on and off for about 6 or 7 years, and in that time there has been one part of the game where I've definitely spent way too much time for such little payoff: The opening. Seriously though, who can disagree that playing around with a whole bunch of different openings isn't fun? Naturally, I have tried my best to keep a somewhat limite ...[text shortened]... strange variations that you're trying, dubious but still interesting opening lines, etc.
If you typically use the KG you should learn the Bishops gambit (2.Bc4) as sometimes you run up against an opponent who knows the classical lines very well but hardly ever will you find an opponent who knows both 2.Nf3 and 2.Bc4 lines equally well.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by UnderPromoteI always play 1. g3 as white and 1. ... g6 as black. Why? I get positions I like and don't have to learn much theory but can get into "proper" openings by the backdoor if I want to.
I've played chess on and off for about 6 or 7 years, and in that time there has been one part of the game where I've definitely spent way too much time for such little payoff: The opening. Seriously though, who can disagree that playing around with a whole bunch of different openings isn't fun? Naturally, I have tried my best to keep a somewhat limite ...[text shortened]... strange variations that you're trying, dubious but still interesting opening lines, etc.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by DiophantusI like you have experimented with everything , now I play 1.b3 as white, and against
I always play 1. g3 as white and 1. ... g6 as black. Why? I get positions I like and don't have to learn much theory but can get into "proper" openings by the backdoor if I want to.
the queen pawn, Nimzo and Queens Indian, and 1....b6 against the king pawn. No
more Sicilian, Frenchies, Caro Khans, Moderns, Pircs or Aleknines.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by tomtom232I am at least somewhat familiar with the 3.Bc4 lines, but I almost always choose 3.Nf3 regardless of how well I think my opponent knows the mainlines. I would welcome any variation of the King's Gambit (3.Nf3) from the white side. There are certainly more challenging lines than others in the KG (3...g5 comes to mind immediately) but I have lines that I am prepared to play against these variations and I am always happy to have black provided challenging opening lines - if nothing else they are usually very instructive.
Side note:
If you typically use the KG you should learn the Bishops gambit (2.Bc4) as sometimes you run up against an opponent who knows the classical lines very well but hardly ever will you find an opponent who knows both 2.Nf3 and 2.Bc4 lines equally well.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by DiophantusGood stuff, I like this idea. I feel like this should be more popular. It would be interesting to see a game transpose into a Dragon, for example, from that move order.
I always play 1. g3 as white and 1. ... g6 as black. Why? I get positions I like and don't have to learn much theory but can get into "proper" openings by the backdoor if I want to.
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 etc.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by UnderPromoteIf I am playing we are likely to end up with something a little different to a Dragon. 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 and now white usually hacks the pawn off. I have no idea why that happens since white could just carry on regardless in Sicilian fashion, but that is the commonest move I get. Then we have 4. dxc5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 and much fun and games around the queenside mess.
Good stuff, I like this idea. I feel like this should be more popular. It would be interesting to see a game transpose into a Dragon, for example, from that move order.
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 etc.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by DiophantusIt probably happens because white is either trying to avoid the Dragon or feels that if you wanted to play it then you should have done so in the first place and taking the pawn is punishment for not doing so.
If I am playing we are likely to end up with something a little different to a Dragon. 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 and now white usually hacks the pawn off. I have no idea why that happens since white could just carry on regardless in Sicilian fashion, but that is the commonest move I get. Then we have 4. dxc5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 and much fun and games around the queenside mess.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by tomtom232Maybe so. I'd think that Nc3 is quite sufficient Dragon avoidance anyway.
It probably happens because white is either trying to avoid the Dragon or feels that if you wanted to play it then you should have done so in the first place and taking the pawn is punishment for not doing so.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by DiophantusI'm not surprised to hear that you don't often reach the Dragon from 1...g6, but I am surprised that white hacks that pawn. Personally, I'd probably go with 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 or 4.c4 looking for Benoni type positions if I were white. You would certainly have to like that big center and all the space.
If I am playing we are likely to end up with something a little different to a Dragon. 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 and now white usually hacks the pawn off. I have no idea why that happens since white could just carry on regardless in Sicilian fashion, but that is the commonest move I get. Then we have 4. dxc5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 and much fun and games around the queenside mess.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by UnderPromoteYes, I do find it strange that white wants to play Nc3 rather than Nf3, but that is what usually happens. Maybe thinking that it will turn into a Pirc or that I am likely to go down the more usual Modern Defence route. And why not d5 even after Nc3?
I'm not surprised to hear that you don't often reach the Dragon from 1...g6, but I am surprised that white hacks that pawn. Personally, I'd probably go with 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 or 4.c4 looking for Benoni type positions if I were white. You would certainly have to like that big center and all the space.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by DiophantusPerhaps players from the white side are wary of those Benoni type positions? Maybe the pawn is just too tempting? I can't really make sense of it. To me it seems that d5 is certainly more testing for black than taking that pawn on c5 is.
Yes, I do find it strange that white wants to play Nc3 rather than Nf3, but that is what usually happens. Maybe thinking that it will turn into a Pirc or that I am likely to go down the more usual Modern Defence route. And why not d5 even after Nc3?
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by UnderPromoteIt may be that they see the only way for black to regain his pawn is with Qa5, which then leaves the queen as a lovely target. However, black doesn't have to recover the pawn immediately, or ever. He can just make a mess of white's queenside and see what happens after that.
Perhaps players from the white side are wary of those Benoni type positions? Maybe the pawn is just too tempting? I can't really make sense of it. To me it seems that d5 is certainly more testing for black than taking that pawn on c5 is.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by DiophantusWouldn't you think that most 1600+ players would be aware that black usually welcomes moves like dxc5 though?
It may be that they see the only way for black to regain his pawn is with Qa5, which then leaves the queen as a lovely target. However, black doesn't have to recover the pawn immediately, or ever. He can just make a mess of white's queenside and see what happens after that.
14 Oct 11
Originally posted by UnderPromoteYes, if they had ever seen it before. It is possible people simply haven't ended up in this position by this move order before. Generally white will have just played d4 and black will be the one to capture, whereas in this position it is white's move, he is apparently a tempo up. Also, after Nc3 we are in Closed Sicilian territory and maybe white feels that d4 likely wouldn't happen under normal circumstances so perhaps he can get away with dxc5.
Wouldn't you think that most 1600+ players would be aware that black usually welcomes moves like dxc5 though?