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Stop making this mistake in your openings

Stop making this mistake in your openings

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chesscoachdiego
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Playing and sticking to your opening theory blindly is the #1 mistake most people make.

In this post, I'll show you what this is and how to fix it.

I just played a friendly match against a lower-rated opponent, and we reached this position:

I just played c5, and the position looks normal. It is probably slightly better for blacks (me).
My opponent had spent his last moves preparing for the e4 break. with the Rook on e1, the bishop on d3, and his Knight on c3.
Why? Because that's one main idea of that opening for white. Actually, there's nothing wrong with that.
But
Instead of thinking about the consequence of my last move, he decided to strike the center with e4 (?)
You'll see how this turns pretty bad for him.

So what happened?

He had an initial opening idea: set up his pieces in the center and prepare e4. Once he felt he had the chance, he played e4.

What's the mistake?

He didn't consider nor think about my last move, c5. 

I am sure he learned that e4 ideas somewhere, it should work in other positions but not in our game.

This is why I mean by "sticking to your opening theory blindly" or "over-pushing your ideas."

And this is a silent enemy that appears at all levels. 

Let's take a look at the game of my student, Nathan, who is already +2000 rated.

Nathan made a normal (yet poisonous) move Bd2. His opponent (2000 rated), who wasn't aware of his intention, made a normal developing move in the caro kann Be7 (??). Here's the result:

The game finished right there.

Here are 3 reasons why these early opening blunders happen:

1. You are too focused on your ideas

2. You feel safe playing the opening script you learned, that you can't tell when the game is going in a different direction

3. You calculate some moves but not enough to see if your move is bad and how it can get exploited by your opponent.

The solution is not 

  • Learning more opening
  • Doing more tactics
  • Watch more videos

Doing so doesn't solve how you think in these situations nor prevent blunders.

Because you don't have a problem with not knowing the theory, you have a problem with a lack of anticipation.

You should work on your calculation skills if you want to start getting good at this and make a quantum leap in your chess journey. 

Improving your calculation should be challenging but simple:

1. Solve puzzles that are difficult enough to stretch your calculation skills as much as possible.


2. Train your ability to detect tactical opportunities before your opponent, that is, to recognize the "secret signals" that the position gives you to tell when you have a tactic in front of you.

It's just the combination of solving the right puzzles + trying a different way of thinking to solve them + repetition

Good Calculation is the skill that masters all the skills in chess, and if you don't include this in your training sessions, you are doomed to make dumb mistakes in the opening. .

I am working on a free masterclass on improving your calculation using a new system I have, "the 2-steps ahead" method. If you want me to send it to you once it's done, comment "calculation" below, and I'll send you a message.

Don't forget to check your inbox.

I hope this helps

See you on the winning side

Coach Diego