Research

When one starts a new game against a new opponent,do any of you look at their games to see how the opponent plays like what the gramdmasters do?
Things like preferred openings, agressive/passive etc?
I feel like I ought to but basically I'm too lazy to bother.
I do sometimes wonder if anyone looks at MY game history though.
I only play about 3 openings regularly and then for only as long as I can remember the book moves!!

Originally posted by venda
When one starts a new game against a new opponent,do any of you look at their games to see how the opponent plays like what the gramdmasters do?
Things like preferred openings, agressive/passive etc?
I feel like I ought to but basically I'm too lazy to bother.
I do sometimes wonder if anyone looks at MY game history though.
I only play about 3 openings regularly and then for only as long as I can remember the book moves!!

Originally posted by venda
When one starts a new game against a new opponent,do any of you look at their games to see how the opponent plays like what the gramdmasters do?
Things like preferred openings, agressive/passive etc?
I feel like I ought to but basically I'm too lazy to bother.
I do sometimes wonder if anyone looks at MY game history though.
I only play about 3 openings regularly and then for only as long as I can remember the book moves!!

Originally posted by Ragwort
I'd say it was only worth bothering if you are going to change what you would do as a result of the research. If you are strong enough to pick holes in what someone has done previously you can probably do it at the board when they play you anyway. Otherwise, if your openings are reasonably secure against the opposition you regularly face and you are enjoying your games why worry.

First I check to see if I've played them before, and if so what is my record. I look at my past games with them particularly any loses in my pet lines. I look for line improvements using note and databases. I then look at his lines in what I assume are his pet lines, and look for any way to throw them a curveball.
If I assume the player is stronger than myself, I steer towards tactics. If I think they are weaker or about even I try to out position them.
Hope this helps.

Ragwort- w1/d0/l1
Won with white with the 4pa, repeat, even though I never play 1.d4 normally, I'd use the previous win and 1.d4 as a psychological blow. Lost with black kid, try counter gambit or better yet budapest.
Venda- no games

I just like to read the profile, the curve of rating, and the stats.
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There is nothing wrong with research of former opponent games. He or she may have a surprise or two to use against you. You may find that your opponent plays repeated lines which you can play an unexpected move against.

Does anyone use Nunn's Chess Openings to learn openings with +/- or even?

I like to look into openings to play at the start. I have used eudesign.com/chessops to play an opening that I may have never played before. It is called Nimzo-Indian Defense. For some reason my opponent did not play properly as white, but in our previous game, I tried the KID against him, and he played fine.

I used to have a look through someone's graph and pick out any games where they have beaten a much higher rated player. I wouldn't bother trying to analyse their openings, but i would try and work out what sort of player they were. Do i want to go into sharp positions against this player or not? That sort of thing..