Originally posted by MetBierOpWho knows. In the old days when I played CC with cards and wrote down the game as it progressed I would set up the board by playing through the game up to point I was at. In the process I would play through the opening many times during the game and the moves would become familiar. On non match nights down the club I will play lots of 10 minute games with other club members and both they and I will try out openings outside our normal repertoire - just to see if we like the feel of them. On a site like this with a mixture of casual players and club players you can try openings quickly or slowly. For example in the 2...Nf6 Centre Counter Gambit books like MCO will show either 3.d4 or Bb5+ with perhaps 3.c4 in the notes - similar in NCO. (are you listening CCNoob) Yet here you will face a fair number of 3.Nc3 which is a perfectly reasonable move and one you might easily face OTB, but for which you might be utterly unprepared were you to rely simply on books.
So, it is wise to blitz a 'new' opening a lot?
How to study the opening. Depending on your level- you will need either a. a good coach b. a good book c. some good understanding of the game and just go to chessgames.com and look at a line that interests you.
sounds like you don't have a coach(they would probably be telling you these sort of things). In a book look over the standard tactics, positional maneuvers etc that pop up. When are they beneficial. When do they fail and why.
You can go briefly over the main lines only stopping when you don't understand something. If you think a move is good but the book does not mention the move then figure it out yourself(even if the book does mention it try to figure it out on your own). Really go over everything-I like to move the pieces when studying openings(you may or may not want to.
But, when learning the opening it makes it a lot harder to figure out why something is wrong). You will find that you will start seeing those standard plans etc. If you can't figure out why it is wrong come on here or another message board online and ask what is wrong with it. If the book doesn't explain it and you can't figure it out on your own after a good effort(and this is a recurring theme. Sometimes it takes me a good hour or so to figure out some of the things in the openings books. But, when I do that is the most beneficial hour I get out of my study. If someone tells you something is so then it doesn't stick as much. But, if you find it yourself it is a lot easier to find) then the book may be above your head.
You could also just go over some sidelines which seem interesting. Once again the idea is to be looking for tactics, maneuvers, positional ideas which seem to come up a lot.
Another idea which I think most people forget about. Study the middle and endgames which come out of the opening. Is there an endgame which is beneficial to one side because of a superior minor piece(classical french whites superior knight to the light squared bishop)Does one side have a superior pawn structure(Exchange variation of the ruy lopez the white pawn structure is beneficial-but the black side has the bishop pair)?. As you start recognizing the beneficial endgames in your opening then you know when you can trade down and how you need to transform your position (or maintain) it to get an edge.
If you are a strong player then just going to chessgames.com and looking at an interesting variation is a valid way of studying openings. But, if you were at that strength you would not be asking this question
Originally posted by Quiet InterludeI used to do exactly the same thing in my old CC games- you really reinforce the opening that way, IMHO.
[b]Who knows. In the old days when I played CC with cards and wrote down the game as it progressed I would set up the board by playing through the game up to point I was at.
I have also learned much by identifying a strong player who plays the opening in question, and studying their games in particular. GM Edvins Kengis practically tutored me on Alekhine's Defense through his games, even though I've never met the guy or read any of this writings. All I've seen is his chess moves.
Paul
!!!!!! ATTENTION PLAYERS WHO WANT TO PROGRESS !!!!!!!
If your looking to improve as a player, you must study the
games of the masters. Watch games in your personal
repetoire, and you'll be watching how the very best play it.
Study games, of the best, and you'll be able to duplicate
their play. We Always study the game this way, to progress.
!!!!!! ATTENTION PLAYERS WHO WANT TO PROGRESS !!!!!!!
-GIN
I recommend thinking.
I mean don`t play ten or 12 moves or however many of the opening then start thinking. I mean start thinking about what you would like to do and try to vary the move order and search for alternate methods of play when the order is changed instead of just transposing back.Sometimes transposing may be best but strive to consider alternatives since chess is a rich game.
This thinking may not be advisable in blitz chess however since you will put yourself in lots of time pressure.
Originally posted by National Master Dalethink throughout a chess game. You are out of your mind!
I recommend thinking.
I mean don`t play ten or 12 moves or however many of the opening then start thinking. I mean start thinking about what you would like to do and try to vary the move order and search for alternate methods of play when the order is changed instead of just transposing back.Sometimes transposing may be best but strive to con ...[text shortened]... ay not be advisable in blitz chess however since you will put yourself in lots of time pressure.