Originally posted by ChessJesterWhat planet are you from? Without knowing the basics of openings, you will never make it anywhere near the potential most people obviously must have.
Because opening principals do not consist of the majority of chess knowledge. Games are mostly won in the middle and endgame.
Originally posted by anthiasStudying tactics is good, but getting to positions to use tactics is just as important. (like Philidor, Greco etc.)
I only study tactics and know how to manage the chess clock. But I want to improve more. I know chess is not all about that.
The chess clock is... good, but not really essential to the game right now. 🙂
Originally posted by anthiaswhat does the colle zukertort consist of?
I think I wasn't clear enough. When I said similar positions I meant positions that are usually open or closed (I have no preference, I should force myself to as many different positions as possible at my level to improve- and lose quite a lot of them in the process-), not the exact position like systems offer. I've played the Colle Zuckertort and the London ...[text shortened]... I will beat him anyway. If he is stronger, then I will learn a decent lesson after the match.
Originally posted by curseknightit's one thing to be able to recite opening principles, and completely another to understand them. at 1900 it's still a frequent problem to start attacking too soon, and losing steam half way through it because your development was incomplete. opening principles are positional considerations, and it isn't trivial to internalize such things. 'castle early' is a good advice for a beginner, but understanding whether it's a good move in a specific position is totally different.
I am wondering why a "1700-rated" player does not understand opening principles.
Originally posted by curseknightYou don't "get to" positions to use tactics. Tactics are an important part of the game from move 1 onward. Mindlessly memorizing opening lines is the last thing a beginner/intermediate club player should be doing. A player like that is very easy to exploit and will have great difficulty making progress beyond a mediocre rating of say 1800-1900 or so. It's important to UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS. Anyone looking for an "easy" or "simple" way to play chess should not be playing chess. You certainly won't get very far.
Studying tactics is good, but getting to positions to use tactics is just as important. (like Philidor, Greco etc.)
The chess clock is... good, but not really essential to the game right now. 🙂
You're wrong about your comment regarding the chess clock as well. Time management is a HUGE part of the game of chess, at all speeds and levels. New tournament players often play their moves too quickly. This is just as detrimental as getting into time-trouble.
Originally posted by anthiasIf you genuinely don't care about whether you play a closed or open game, and you're looking for an opening that focuses more on concepts but doesn' have an exact set-up, then I would definitely suggest the English Opening (1. c4). There are many different ways to play the English, including a double fianchetto, an early d2-d4 push, a Botvinnik set-up (pawns on c4, d3, and e4), and others still, allowing both variety and playability.
I think I wasn't clear enough. When I said similar positions I meant positions that are usually open or closed (I have no preference, I should force myself to as many different positions as possible at my level to improve- and lose quite a lot of them in the process), not the exact position like systems offer.
Originally posted by anthiasCheck out Reuben Fine's book on the openings, for a smallish book it's got a lot of info.
I've recently hit the national rating of 1700. I don't have any specific openings though. I've experimented a little here but I'm not sure. Can anyone recommend an opening? I don't have the time to memorize pages of moves, but just a few first 5-6 moves that may lead to similar positions?
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Originally posted by HurricaneConway125Here are the basic moves of the Colle-Zukertort Opening:
what does the colle zukertort consist of?
1 d4 2 Nf3 3 e3 4 Bd3 5 O-O 6 b3
The above differs from the Colle-Koltanowski variation in which White often protects his or her d-pawn with c2-c3 and usually develops the QB somewhere on the c1-h6 diagonal after playing e3-e4.