Don't go to complicated, KID is a good line to learn, and rarely ever looked at because it is almost as if people expect you to know how to play it lol
also the Dutch is good, I tend to play f5 immidiately, but some like the e6 move order, um have no clue about the others though
Out of the list above, the Nimzo-Indian is most solid.
The ideal for a beginner/improver is the tarrasch according to most chess teachers. However "learning" should mean grasping the basic themes and nothing more. You have better things to do right now. The alternatives are not very good for a beginner IMO.
I play the KID, but you need to have a LOT of theory and understanding to play correctly. The Nimzo-Indian has SO MUCH THEORY you can spend a lifetime learning it. Probably I would play the QGD: Tarrasch, but White needs to know a lot of theory, so most people online that play 1.d4 will probably avoid it(This is in general, some people might specialized in it) I would recommend you...
The low-theory aspect and mobility of the QGD:Tarrasch are appealing, so I will go with the Tarrasch.
Your advice is appreciated.
Thank you.
I play the KID, but you need to have a LOT of theory and understanding to play correctly. The Nimzo-Indian has SO MUCH THEORY you can spend a lifetime learning it. Probably I would play the QGD: Tarrasch, but White needs to know a lot of theory, so most people online that play 1.d4 will probably avoid it(This is in general, some people might specialized in it) I would recommend you...
The problem with Nimzo is when they avoid it, you need to also study QID..
What pfen said. The first thing you should master in chess is active piece play in open positions. The tarrasch gives you this, at the expense of a structural "weakness" which is hardly going to seriously harm you against an opponent of similar level (below a certain playing level piece play tends to beat structural plusses, since the practical chances of sudden tactical blows are usually on the "active pieces" side). The play is rather thematic, you can really handle this defence by knowing the basic themes; also it's very useful to learn something about IQP stuff since it's one of the commonest pawn structures in chess. Worth noting is also the fact that the tarrasch is a very versatile defence which can be played aginst 1.d4 2c4, 1.d4 2.Nf3, 1.c4, 1.Nf3. This is very useful and uncommon; for example a beginner might also choose the albin countergambit instead of the tarrasch if the goal is to reach an open position, but then he needs something esle against everything but 1.d4 2.c4.
Jacob Aagaard should avoid playing the Tarrasch himself, judging by the way he was pwned in the Danish Chp., just finished.:P
To be fair, though, Nikos was on the chat at the official web site and mentioned Jacob misplayed his position.
The Queen's Gambit, in all its shades, are the way to play. Orthodox (teaches you the Minority Attack); Tarrasch (IQPs); Queen's Gambit Accepted; Slav. Capablanca recommended the Slav, but then there wasn't the same amount of mind boggling theory!
The basic idea is the Queen's Gambit is solid and teaches many important ideas per time spent studying it. Just like the answer to 1.e4 should be 1...e5 to learn most as a beginner.
Thanks to all! I never seem to tire of reading or discussing the pros and cons of different openings. Your input is appreciated.
So my opening as black for 1. d4 is going to be QGD: Tarrasch I have been reviewing the line and like it quite a bit.
I'm not planning on learning this opening or any others more than 8 moves deep. Should I be going deeper? I'm a big fan of using logic and common sense in the opening so please understand I am not looking for a magic bullet here.
By the way I'm playing Sicilian: Kan as my response to 1. e4 is that a bad decision for a beginner like myself? The primary reason is I dislike 1. .. e5 as black because it opens up my f7 square to whites Queen bishop with white having the initiative. But again I am asking for advice and shall keep an open mind. So as a beginner should I be learning the Sicilain: Kan or open with 1. ..e5?
If 1. ..e5 is your recommendation any opening line you could suggest for a beginner? Or should I just use common sense and logic to defend from e5?
Cheers!
if you are gonna play the tarrasch you should put down openingsbooks for now and study the isolated queens pawn(iqp). there is some good lectures on this site by IM Rensch or you could read baburins winning pawnstructures which is a whole book that explains the ins and outs of iqp and is very good. your skill in iqp will be your bread and butter
I just thought of a simple introduction to the Tarrasch which might be helpful:
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/abby01.pdf
@satxusa
I would suggest playing the open games (ie. 1. e4 e5) as black as the best way to improve your play faster. The Sicilian is a great opening but often requires knowing rather subtle ideas.
The open games can lead to riotous positions, with piece and pawn sacrifices (eg. the King's Gambit) , and quiet positions requiring a feeling for position and the best placement of the pieces (eg. the main lines of the "Quiet" Italian Game and the Ruy Lopez).
It is also a journey into the history of the game. 1. e4 e5 was basically all one saw in the 1800s. The games of say Paul Morphy are not just beautiful but also instructive on basic ideas as development and sacrificing material for initiative.
The Tarrasch is good for beginners but White scores well against it at higher levels.
Not quite true; the opening is currently experiencing a revival, and several GMs are using it right now with good results. (for example Bacrot- Delchev 1/2-1/2 at the last aeroflot open, two "beginners" rated around 2700)
It depends on how much theory you are willing to learn. If you don't want to tackle a lot of theory, then I'd suggest the Dutch Defense. 1...f5 narrows white's response down quite a bit. I'll grant that it isn't popular at a high level of play but at the beginner level it's absolutely playable.
It comes down to a matter of playing style. tbh, so many people play 1.e4, that when a queen pawn player straggles along, it usually gives me pause. Oftentimes I will just copy whites moves a couple moves in, then I do something different to try to create a favorable imbalance, and ignore opening lines altogether. Play the board, not the opening ;) see if you can spot where he has created weaknesses in his camp, and figure out how best to capitalize on them, without making uneccessary weaknesses of your own. Who knows, you might stumble into a great line on accident! I'm trying out the dutch for the first time ever in one of my current games, and I have no knowledge of the opening at all other than what the first 2 or 3 moves might be. Having a lot of fun with it :)
but against 1.e4 as a beginner, I really think the Caro Kann is a good one to learn. It's a very solid positional defense, and even top players have a hard time getting an overwhelming advantage against it. Once you've played it enough, you will start knowing what to do and maintaining equality at least in any of the 3 main variations (classic, exchange & advance). It's a defense that plays like one. Once white's attack peters out, then its your turn to come & hit him back, and he's usually exhasted all his pieces before you charge back at him. then once you've more or less mastered the Caro, then you can upgrade to the sicilian. my reasoning is, that there are so many variations & lines to the sicilian, that its a difficult one to come to terms with right away. the Caro is very similar to the sicilian, but the caro holds the c5 push back a notch in reserve for later to crack white's pawn chain. Sicilian goes to c5 right away for a more immediate attack that can really be self destructive if you aren't sure what you're doing. it's like the Caro just got a big gun ;)
What pfen said. The first thing you should master in chess is active piece play in open positions. The tarrasch gives you this, at the expense of a structural "weakness" which is hardly going to seriously harm you against an opponent of similar level (below a certain playing level piece play tends to beat structural plusses, since the practical chances of sudden tactical blows are usually on the "active pieces" side). The play is rather thematic, you can really handle this defence by knowing the basic themes; also it's very useful to learn something about IQP stuff since it's one of the commonest pawn structures in chess. Worth noting is also the fact that the tarrasch is a very versatile defence which can be played aginst 1.d4 2c4, 1.d4 2.Nf3, 1.c4, 1.Nf3. This is very useful and uncommon; for example a beginner might also choose the albin countergambit instead of the tarrasch if the goal is to reach an open position, but then he needs something esle against everything but 1.d4 2.c4.
That versatility is a big upside.
For anyone who is intersted I am going to setup some unrated online games where I play the Tarrasch opening as black. Send me a PM or friend me with a note and I will set up the games.
I'm a beginner level player and I've got a short list of responses to 1.d4 that I'm considering.
Nimzo-Indian
Dutch
Budapest
QGD: Tarrasch
Your feedback is appreciated!