Try the ' dream ' setup (king and queens pawns ahead 2 spaces each, both bishops right next to them, both knights behind the bishops, queen forward,castle.)
How can I move past classical openings?
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patricknrgcole wrote:
Try the ' dream ' setup (king and queens pawns ahead 2 spaces each, both bishops right next to them, both knights behind the bishops, queen forward,castle.)
"dream" setup is a good name, because you only get that one in your dreams. It's a great ideal to aim for, but in the real world, the other guy has plans too, and his plans include preventing you from ever achieving your dream setup.
Start with at least one pawn forward E4, D4 or C4 white and E5, D5 or C5 black. See what its worth because center control at trade off time can be either: a) too far away (little space to develope); or, b) at the center with each opponent gaining equal space to develope pieces. Then, you may begin to learn openings in an easier way. Good Luck because thats all there is when openings are not learned quickly and repeatedly! Time is against the average person who can not book dive to study repeatedly each opening for the great amount of chess openings knowledge!
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sapientdust escribió:
patricknrgcole wrote:
Try the ' dream ' setup (king and queens pawns ahead 2 spaces each, both bishops right next to them, both knights behind the bishops, queen forward,castle.)
"dream" setup is a good name, because you only get that one in your dreams. It's a great ideal to aim for, but in the real world, the other guy has plans too, and his plans include preventing you from ever achieving your dream setup.
I've reached an d4/e4/f4/Nf3/Nc3/Bc4 setup in many games, mainly online.
If you play the opening with the plan of reaching that setup or a similar one, you will hardly make wrong moves. Just be clever (if your opponent plays ...c5, Nc6, ...e5, ....Qb6 and ...Bg7, maybe you notice it's too ambicious to play d2-d4, isn't that right?)
Wait, you rate your openings low because of a lack of variety? I don't vary my openings and I'm well over 2000...Why would you vary your openings? Lack of confidence?
Bullet and Blitz isn't the most ideal way to learn chess at the start, reading the first sentence of the OP.
Anyone is ready... to play the Reti ^_^
I'm not here to debate which is better, learning openings, learning tactics, learning the endgame. If you have some simple/safe openings that a 1200 player can have some fun playing let me know.
Reti opening looks interesting. Someone else mentioned the london system which has been working out well for me. I think the Reti is probably closer to what I was originally looking for with my first post.
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I've played the Reti since it was way over my head (when I was 1450 USCF). It was my main opening for several years, and I still trot it out on occasion. Based on that experience, I strongly recommend simpler tactical openings like the Italian and the Spanish.
My personal experience is using 1. g3, 1. f4, 1. b4, 1. g4 and their reversed counterparts for a couple years. These have helped me develop better tactical skills and defensive ability thanks to the plain awful positions that resulted. Note that this was way after I stopped (mostly) randomly blundering pieces.
So once again I recommend just following opening principles, and using classical openings like the QGD and Italian. You won't get horrid positions where material/mating concessions are forced, and you can work on fundamentals first before openings. Heck, the reason I played those ridiculous openings was precisely to see if openings were meaningless at this level... they were.
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I will also emphasize tactics, but add one other thing: concentrate on making incisive moves in the opening.
At your level, in most games, one side of the other can get a large, even decisive advantage within the first 10 moves if they really try to find the most efficient moves possible. This is because the opponent will be playing unnecessary a3,h3 moves, developing their minor pieces sub-optimally so that they don't coordinate with each other.
Play through a bunch of Paul Morphy games and you will see what I mean. Every move had a strong purpose and created a serious threat leading to a lasting initiative. That tees up the opponent for the knockout punch.
In a chess class I taught on Tuesday, two students were matched up against each other. White was a relatively new player, and Black was a tournament player rated about 800. I "helped" White because I wanted to give her ideas about development, but also to show the power of direct, efficient moves in the opening. Even though the OP is 1200, I think it will help them too...
I hope this gets my point across.
Tactics are key, but so are "applied tactics."
I meant to add: the classical openings you play that now feel stale or "boring" will stop feeling that way if you play with enough energy!
Don't change your openings. You are on the right path with the classical stuff.
Andre_Harding wrote:
Play through a bunch of Paul Morphy games and you will see what I mean. Every move had a strong purpose and created a serious threat leading to a lasting initiative. That tees up the opponent for the knockout punch.
There is no reason ever to ignore this advice. Nice metaphor, too: thinking of the opponent as a golf ball about to be sent into the river.
Ziryab wrote:
Andre_Harding wrote:
Play through a bunch of Paul Morphy games and you will see what I mean. Every move had a strong purpose and created a serious threat leading to a lasting initiative. That tees up the opponent for the knockout punch.
There is no reason ever to ignore this advice. Nice metaphor, too: thinking of the opponent as a golf ball about to be sent into the river.
I try to send my golf balls (and opponents) not into the water, but into the hole.
dpcarballo wrote:
sapientdust escribió:
patricknrgcole wrote:
Try the ' dream ' setup (king and queens pawns ahead 2 spaces each, both bishops right next to them, both knights behind the bishops, queen forward,castle.)
"dream" setup is a good name, because you only get that one in your dreams. It's a great ideal to aim for, but in the real world, the other guy has plans too, and his plans include preventing you from ever achieving your dream setup.
I've reached an d4/e4/f4/Nf3/Nc3/Bc4 setup in many games, mainly online.
If you play the opening with the plan of reaching that setup or a similar one, you will hardly make wrong moves. Just be clever (if your opponent plays ...c5, Nc6, ...e5, ....Qb6 and ...Bg7, maybe you notice it's too ambicious to play d2-d4, isn't that right?) Thanks for the support dpcarballo
I'm sorry, but there is no "dream setup": the best setup will take into account the opponent's moves.
I know some chess teachers who teach this to little kids, and I think it's horrible advice because it doesn't encourage THINKING. I would rather take a beginner and let them make lots of mistakes while they learn how to think--in the not-so-long run, they will become MUCH stronger than someone taught to memorize.
pice protection 5/10
I am frankly worried about this. If you can't hold onto your pieces, studying openings is definitely the wrong use of your time. Stop dropping material, and only then worry about the finer points of the game.
Also, do you seriously think anyone below 2000 correspondence here is using an engine? I've seen games by 1600 (and above!) Online here that are plain ridiculous, hanging pieces and whatnot.