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Everything is important... when I was about rating 1200 or so I studied the openings becuase someone used something weird against me... I then improved with about 150 rating points, seriously if you leave the opening confident you will do great. Study them allot, but tactics are allot more important.
Originally posted by azalin76Your welcome 😵
Thankyou, Zebano.
I like that advice. @.@
Regarding you're first post, yes there is a point where you have to know more, but I would say it is somewhere around 1800. The thing is is that just by playing and talking to your opponents you will learn enough to get by.
Originally posted by azalin76azalin - you have received some mixed advice.
Is it absolutely necessary to learn openings? Is there a point that I will have to learn or roll over and be trampled by people passing me in the ratings?
Openings are clearly critical to your development as a player. Without any understanding of opening theory you are doomed to be ripped apart by players of a reasonable standard.
However I cannot stress enough that sitting down and trying to learn specific openings 'parrot fashion' is the WRONG way to go.
You must first learn opening principles. There are some good books around that cover this.
The reason you need principles / rules / guidelines is that you cannot hope to learn all openings. You therefore need to know what to do when your opponent plays a move that does not conform to theory. You also need to know WHY the openings you do become familiar with have developed over the years. They all have key themes such as control of key squares, development of key pieces to powerful squares, and middlegame strategies.
Once you have mastered the principles, learning a few key openings will be much easier as you will understand why the moves are being made. To try and understand the Sicilian Najdorf or the Kings Indian Defence until you understand the principles of opening play is nigh impossible.
I have met many players in my chess 'career' who can talk for hours about a certain line in the 'Pirc Defence', but have a rating of 1400 or less. Without wanting to insult anyone, this shows their chess knowledge is focused too much on a certain aspect of the game when learning the principles, and later the tactics and strategies, is more important than reams of theory.
Theory is the later part of the chess jigsaw (no player over 1800 will be clueless as to opening theory, but they know the basics well enough to progress).
Just my view, which is no better than anyone elses. Good luck
Originally posted by azalin76As long as you are under 2200, there is no point spending too much time on openings. just learn few good responses against e4 and d4 and thats it.
Is it absolutely necessary to learn openings? Is there a point that I will have to learn or roll over and be trampled by people passing me in the ratings?
Knowing your openings well indirctely helps you the whole game because your confidence level will remain high longer. If you have a bad game after four moves it's easy to get depressed and the rest of your game will suffer. If you make it to the middlegame with a decent position your energy level and confidence will remain higher longer.
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Originally posted by wondercatEven in beginning of 20th (when knowledges of opening was not so important) century only real chess talents like Capa could afford that.
Capablanca: In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else, for whereas the the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame.
Originally posted by wondercatJust a minor technicality point. ALL games have beginning, middle and end games....some are shorter than others. Learning to play only one facet does not bode well when you are faced with the other two. Memorization will help, intuitive play is more valuable than memorization, in my opinion. Strategy and tactics go hand in hand, and even the best players get blindsided once in a while. All of these components make up the chess game. Oh, and a little luck mixed in wouldn't hurt either. In my most humble opinion.
Capablanca: In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else, for whereas the the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame.
Originally posted by azalin76The opening is very important. When I was a newbie, I could barely reach the middlegame against a strong player without collapsing in the opening. I had to learn to avoid falling for scholars/fool's mate etc Don't use your Queen like it is the only piece on the board.
Is it absolutely necessary to learn openings? Is there a point that I will have to learn or roll over and be trampled by people passing me in the ratings?
Originally posted by z00tIf you're falling for scholar's mate, then I think it's more than the opening you need work on. 🙂
The opening is very important. When I was a newbie, I could barely reach the middlegame against a strong player without collapsing in the opening. I had to learn to avoid falling for scholars/fool's mate etc Don't use your Queen like it is the only piece on the board.
Personally, I would just study enough opening theory to get comfortable and into good games. In tournaments, I've had success against experts with little to no theory. Work on your middle game and tactics. Those will carry you through the opening.