Originally posted by Varenka
[b] “The other aspects of chess, eg middle/end game are equally important”
I’m saying that the other aspects are a lot more important… not “equally important”.
“the recent Kramnik/Topalov games, one can see the power of opening preparations.”
Kramnik and Topalov play chess as full-time professionals, and they have people to assist the ...[text shortened]... iples”; that’s specialised opening preparation in terms of learning lots of specific variations.[/b]
I have no intention to debate with you on this. I admit that I am not a GM. Far from it. I believe even GMs have conflicting opinions on the game. Equally important, a lot more important, I don't know which is which exactly. It's just my opinion, but of course I may be wrong.
Regarding preparations in the Kramnik/Topalov games, I am not saying that I am able to copy 'this model'. I can't. I just don't have the time to do it. But I was just giving that example to show that opening preparations are important, even GMs spend lots of time on it. Whether one is able to devote that much time is another different matter altogether.
On the dragon opening, of course there is an overlapping of opening principles plus some finer ideas behind a particular move(s). Somehow we still obey the 'rules' of rapid development of pieces; make the least possible pawn moves if we can help it; refrain from making early queen sortie; castle early etc. But then we might 'violate' some 'rules' because we might want to 'waste' a pawn move with g6 to allow Bg7. We want to study the pros and cons of d6 & d5, or d5 in a single move etc. In the long run, we get a good idea of a particular opening and the reasons for the moves. But after playing such move orders over and over again, it somehow becomes a memorization for the first few moves. This time-tested first few moves have so much in them that it's hard to find reasons why we shouldn't follow the same move orders. At least until such time that some GMs came up with novelties and new ideas that would refute these well-established opening ideas. Therefore even GMs have the tendency to make the first several moves almost without thinking, because they probably have gone through the same moves thousands of times before.
In spite of the above, in my opinion, one still need to know general opening principles for a start. I have often found myself against a strange opening. What should I do? How should I respond? Well, I play according to opening principles, e.g try to develop with a view of controlling the central squares with a threat against enemy pieces if possible, thus limiting his choices of replies. Even if I don't know the opening, I will somehow try to develop quickly, castle if safe to do so, connect rooks and maybe bring them to open files etc. After all, that's opening principles.