my style of play involves (mind, I'm not very good at my style, but I am really trying to improve it.) closing off the position, playing positionally, and opening it back up again at a time of my choosing. if my opponent insists on staying aggressive, then I play defense until his attack has exhausted itself. then I counter-attack. my threefold question is this:
1.) how can I improve my positional understanding
2.) how can I improve how I defend (there are several pieces of work on how to attack, and mating tactics and such, but how do I build the best defense from any given position?)
3.) what is the most closed response to 1. e4?
I'm thinking Modern, but I'm open to suggestions.
Originally posted by ih8sens Lot of questions.. wow.
Hard to have a genuine 'style' in chess.. it's usually just about chosing the best moves.
When you have significant options your best bet is to stick to general principles about chess.
When there are STILL options available... take the most agressive one 😉.
that's a style, and yours and mine differ.
you take the aggressive approach every time the opportunity presents itself.
That's probably because you enjoy Tal so much.
I, on the other hand, prefer to make the passively aggressive move. the move that makes my aggressive opponent's life difficult. I have zero problem playing defense. I prefer counter-attack to attack.
THAT is style difference.
Originally posted by rubberjaw30 my style of play involves (mind, I'm not very good at my style, but I am really trying to improve it.) closing off the position, playing positionally, and opening it back up again at a time of my choosing. if my opponent insists on staying aggressive, then I play defense until his attack has exhausted itself. then I counter-attack. my threefold question ...[text shortened]... what is the most closed response to 1. e4?
I'm thinking Modern, but I'm open to suggestions.
My thoughts on your questions, by order asked:
1. Read some good books on chess strategy, such as "Best lessons of a chess coach", "Simple Chess" by Stean, or "My System".
2. In order to defend properly you must first know how to attack. Study tactics and read "The Art of the Checkmate".
3. Don't know about "the most closed", but the Accelerated Dragon often leads to very closed positions that feature the Maroczy bind. Lots of quiet positional maneouvering in that line of the Sicilian.
Originally posted by chessisvanity play 1...c6 if you want closed.
If white exchanges on d5...you'll be fine.
I already play the Kann all the time.
and the reason I'm looking for something more, is I have no response for the following line, which is forced.
1. e4 c6
2. d4 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. c4 Nf6
and then most anything white plays, I have trouble with. this position scores astonishingly well for white, considering its a main line.
I can't even ever equalize! if someone can help me out with this line, so that I can at least achieve equality, I'd love to keep playing it.
Sort of agree. At Master level players have both a strong positional and tactical understanding, but tend to lean more toward one or the other, out of preference, and that is their style. At non-Master level (but beyond novice level), the player's understanding in certain facets of the game lags well beyond their understanding of other aspects; maybe they have good endgame technique, or sharp tactical ability but no positional understanding. So at Amateur level they prefer early endings, or sharp tactical melees not purely out of preference, but because this plays more to their strengths. In practice, though, this still pretty strongly resembles style.
Originally posted by rubberjaw30 I already play the Kann all the time.
and the reason I'm looking for something more, is I have no response for the following line, which is forced.
1. e4 c6
2. d4 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. c4 Nf6
and then most anything white plays, I have trouble with. this position scores astonishingly well for white, considering its a main line.
I can't even ever ...[text shortened]... me out with this line, so that I can at least achieve equality, I'd love to keep playing it.
i play the caro-kann as my main e4 response, and the real main line is Game 4302205
the most important thing to do in that c4 line is to take advantage of the IQP
playing against stronger opposition (actually, I recommend GM level engines) puts you on the defense right after the opening, and you really feel you just have to defend properly, and you slowly improve in that area.
I don't think checkmating problems will help defending. of course, they will on a tactical level, but if you play against GM level opponents a lot, you'll feel that move by move, they begin to get to you, and you have to stop getting them closer each time. it's not all about checkmating. that's the worst and the most desperate thing to worry about while you are defending.
Originally posted by rubberjaw30 oh yes, I am very well acquainted with the main line...
but I can't ever survive long enough TO take advantage of the IQP
i know what you mean, i tested a few lines myself and didnt like the black side.. want to practice it with me?
1.) By looking at annotated games of GM like Kramnik and Karpov, and by understanding endgames. When you know what kind of positions you can win in the endgame, it's much easier to understand the position in the middlegame and even in the opening.
2.) By playing against crazy aggressive players ready to sacrifice a piece just for fun 🙂
3.) I played the modern for some time, it's a good opening, too aggressive for me, and it transposes to the King's Indian sometime. Now I play the Caro-Kann and the French against 1.e4. Some lines in the Alekhine's defense are also very positional and closed.
style
14 Dec '07 21:06
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