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Originally posted by robbie carrobiewho thumbed my great post down? why? please someone consider the content and thumb it up, thanks in advance.
me dear tvochess, I meet 1.f5 all the time, my kids smartphone plays it a lot, also I
have met 1...f4 on not a few occasions, but this was not the point of my assertion,
that is, with what frequency i meet these openings, but that one can save a lot of
time and effort by playing similar systems. For example, I play the Colle as white,
proble good chess player, but I understand
them and they are easy to play which is the main thing.
I can relate very well to your questions about openings and your strengths in the end game. I would like to say that while openings are very important it's most important to understand your opponent and his/her strategy. This is very tough without divulging yours. I think that you have natural skills and your approach should be one of more confidence and less emphasis on 'Openings'. Read, learn, but remember the very best have the 'Gut' knowledge to make the right move at the right time. You have it according to your note. Just build the confidence to use it. Road King
Originally posted by Dewi JonesI definitely recommend the CD "Chess Tactics for Beginners" by Convekta. When I was around your level (1100 USCF), I would do 50 puzzles a day (the CD has 1300) and did the whole CD 7 times. Within a year I was 1500 USCF, and I think it was mostly because of better tactics plus a lot of tournament experience. Studying tactics from the CD is far more efficient than studying from a book--no flipping to the back to find the solutions, the CD tests all the main variations, it gives you a rating so you can track your progress, and if you struggle it gives hints that are in themselves instructive.
Do tactics? How do I do that? I mean where do I get the material to study. I do have one book on tactics 'tactics for advanced players' its a tough read for me, but it is an excellent book.
Thanks for all the advice, it seems to have paid off so far. I've settled on an opening as white, and am going to stick with it until the end of next season. I've also got a response to e4 with black, again, i'll stick with that for a season come what may. I'm playing on here as if it's OTB chess, so only thinking for at most 5 minutes per move, and no using the analyse board feature, because I don't want a high rhp rating, I want to be a decent OTB player. I've also been doing 10 of the problems on the chess tactics server every day. The certainly make a difference. I'm still blundering, I had two won games against 1000-1100 players, and blundered away a piece in each, in the endgame and results now back in the balance, and to be honest I should lose against the 1100 rated player - but I think I might just win.
However, I've been concentrating hard against two 1800 rated players, one in a friendly where he helped me through the opening and another in a duel tournament, And I'm holding my own in, In the two that have reached endgames, I'm a pawn behind with a knight vs bad bishop in one, and a pawn up with knight vs bad bishop in the other. I'll post the games into the thread once they're over if I can work out how to do so.
Originally posted by Dewi JonesThose are both easy to "play", but you will never learn about the attack or the initiative like that. The King's Indian Attack is a very slow build up / strategic attack (and that usually only works against a French setup). I can't recall a game where white botched the Scandinavian, and black was able to make him pay for it (except maybe the wild/suicidal lines where white grabs pawn after pawn in the 2. ... Nf6 variations). The open games (1.e4 e5) are truly the best way to learn tactics, and I don't even count the white side of the Ruy Lopez as tactical. The really tactical ones are the King's Gambit, Two Knight's Defense, Danish Gambit (but generally if they know enough theory go get into the fun lines, they know enough to get out), and the Latvian (among others,I know).
Kings Indian Attack and Scandinavian Defence.
Just look at the Two Knight's Defense :
Here is another wild piece sacrifice that has excellent practical chances in blitz and timed games.
All open games aren't about tactical squirmish either. As black, you must find a way to get in d5 and equalize.
Here is a nice example:
Here is tacical means for a strategic goal (d5 push for black):
Let me kind of summarize:
By playing open games you learn to build faster more tactical attacks. You kind of get of feel of where to put the pieces, easily. With black, after 1.e4 e5, you learn to look for mistakes or even slight inaccuracies and exploit them (like the e5 push that was met by d5! above). Every move counts. The importance of time and attack really sinks in and becomes second nature. You are going to have really stick with 1.e4 e5 though and put the work in. You'll be on a learning curve all the time (should I play d6 and get less space or bash it open with d5 .... pick one ... lose the game ... and know next time to try the other one). You will however learn good solid chess.
The problem that I have with the Scandinavian (particularly Qxd5 and Qa5) is that it has little aggression, and you will seldom get/learn to use the iniative. Black just plays Bf5/Bg4, e6, c6, castles and later plays for a c5 pawn break. It's usually very dry (unless white goes out of his way to make it exciting). The same goes for the King's Indian Attack. If black does everything you want, including locking in the queens bishop and allowing white e5 ... or at the very least castles kingside, its still a long buildup to attack.
Even with 1.e4 as white, you will still have problems. You must find a system against every defense. This is a real pain and takes years to refine. Therefore, an easier try to get an open game and not learn a lot of theory is the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. Before I even show it to you, it is unsound but extremely playable (especially below 1800 level).
or
or
(Same as first one)
Yes, again, it's unsound, but with white, you will get attacking chances a huge percent of the time. It is very easy to get into. Black generally has three defenses to 1.d4 d5 (covered) Nf6 (covered) and more rarely f5 (just play e4 on move 2 and go for a similar position). The gambit is just like the open games I explained. You will have to play it and play it but will learn what works and what doesn't.
If this still isn't your cup of tea, here are a few tries for a white repertoire with 1.e4.
These are easy to learn systems for below 1800 level, but they are NOT the absolute best systems (in most cases).
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 (generally closed after h5 but very playable)
or 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 (wide open positions but you must know a little about isolated queen pawns)
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 (White pieces go as follows ... Nf3, Bc4, Qe2, 0-0, Rfd1, Rac1 and attack!)
but 3. ... Nf6 is a different ball game. 4.e5 Nd5 5.cxd4 followed by meeting d6 with exd6 is a less explored but about even game.
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 Pick one:
for space 4.f4 ... or for just common sense, equal approach 4.Nf3
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 and learn a little theory or 2.d4 and play the Blackmar-Diemer.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 (e5 is too closed and Nd2 is too theoretical for such a small advantage) 3. ... Nf6 4.Bg5 (but with a little study) or 3. ... Bb4 with a sideline that doesnt close the center (like 4.Bd3). Also 1.e4 e6 2.d3 with a King's Indian Attack (e6 is best system to play against).
1.e4 e5 2.f4 or 2.Nf3 and 3.Bc4
1.e4 g6 same as d6 (d4,Nc3 and f4 or Nf3)
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 with early exd6 or 3.Nc3 (playable)
So you have some ideas on 1.e4 e5 on both sides. That still leaves a whole that a lot of us have to deal with. How to meet 1.d4 ...
If you want to learn the ebb and flow of a strategic game, kind of like looking for the d5 push in 1.e4 e5, play 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 is approved by theory, but you will give up the center early and have to learn how to correctly play against it, so I don't really recommend it. I'm positive others will disagree.
The problem with 1.d4 is that there is no system that gives black an iniative by force. If white wants to make is a slow dull struggle, or even a drawish game, black doesn't have much control. The King's Indian Defense is the best try to mix it up, but it requires a lot of work.
In all of my blitz games, I have been so fed up with 1.d4 that I just play 1. ...e5 most of the time (followed by Nc6 and d6 or f6). It's playable but too risky.
Everything against d4 is really theoretical, so I go back to the KID. I'd say it does provide the best pracitcal attacking chances against a d4/c4 setup. I know I bashed the KIA for being a slow dull buildup, but in closed games with the black pieces, sometimes that's what you have to do.
I hope this helps a little!
Cheers!
Originally posted by Dewi JonesAvoid playing openings, play endings. 😛
Hello all, I was wondering if some of the stronger players here would give me the benefit of their opinion.
I'm a weak club player, and have just returned to playing after about 10 years off. I reckon my grading is somewhere around the 50 ECF, which would grade me around 1000 ELO. Players who know me at my chess club grade me a bit higher, around 90 EC ...[text shortened]... nt an idea of whether im enarer my own estimate of 1000 or my clubmates estimates of 1300
Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromficsMost of you miss the point. This is not the W/C, he is not a GM. This is about practical OTB Chess vs Limited study time.
Those are both easy to "play", but you will never learn about the attack or the initiative like that. The King's Indian Attack is a very slow build up / strategic attack (and that usually only works against a French setup). I can't recall a game where white botched the Scandinavian, and black was able to make him pay for it (except maybe the wi at's what you have to do.
I hope this helps a little!
Cheers!
He plays the kia with 1.Nf3 giving him a solid practical position with a plan and attacking chances. The scando does lead to a pretty open game with solid pawn structure.
Originally posted by plopzillaI find remembering 1.d4 opening more easy than 1.e4 openings, why is that? I have
Most of you miss the point. This is not the W/C, he is not a GM. This is about practical OTB Chess vs Limited study time.
He plays the kia with 1.Nf3 giving him a solid practical position with a plan and attacking chances. The scando does lead to a pretty open game with solid pawn structure.
only recently started to play 1.d4 where for ages i have played 1.e4, yet i can only
remember about to the sixth move of the Ruy Lopez and even less of the Scotch where
I can remember fifteen to twenty or so moves into 1.d4 openings. Any Ideas?
Originally posted by robbie carrobieIn a word, pawn structures. Positions with fixed or semi-fixed pawn structures that remain relatively coherent for several moves make it easier to recall the position.
I find remembering 1.d4 opening more easy than 1.e4 openings, why is that? I have
only recently started to play 1.d4 where for ages i have played 1.e4, yet i can only
remember about to the sixth move of the Ruy Lopez and even less of the Scotch where
I can remember fifteen to twenty or so moves into 1.d4 openings. Any Ideas?
Even more, static or semi-static pawn positions usually mean that pieces tend to end up on the same squares on a regular basis, which also aids memory.
When there is a basic "skeleton" structures that is easy to recall, it provides the foundation to fill in the rest.
In contrast, open games have less "geography" for the mind to latch onto, so patterns retained in the memory are more tactically-based as opposed to strategic-based. There are still patterns, but they are dynamic, not static ones.
Originally posted by Paul Leggettwow, did you experience this as well Paul? i was really wondering, for although I go on
In a word, pawn structures. Positions with fixed or semi-fixed pawn structures that remain relatively coherent for several moves make it easier to recall the position.
Even more, static or semi-static pawn positions usually mean that pieces tend to end up on the same squares on a regular basis, which also aids memory.
When there is a basic "skele ...[text shortened]... pposed to strategic-based. There are still patterns, but they are dynamic, not static ones.
about the Colle i dont actually play it until about two weeks ago when I decided to learn
it, i was amazed that i was able to recall the tabias without much effort.