Solid openings for bullet players
Hello everyone!
There are two types of chess players. Some people prefer to play a well-calculated, long game. They look at every move and predict the next ones in their head. However, not everybody enjoys 'wasting' multiple hours in front of the wooden board, or - even worse - in front of their screen. That is why bullet was invented: in order to give more energetic and fast-paced players a chance to show their chess skills. Don't calculate much, don't draw arrows all over the board ( Hikaru referrence ), etc. Just speed playing. Although some players don't approve of that, many good players, including even the strongest ( Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura ) like to play some of that chess. As no. 1. player in the world showed us already, you can beat a grandmaster casually even when you're drunk. With the right moves, of course!
While new, it's easy to get into thinking in the middle of the fight - and in consequence - lose on time. It happens not only to beginners, but to everybody who just starts their bullet mastery. People have various tricks to make you lose time and you just need to gain a little bit of experience before reaching a higher level. My today's post shows you a solid, premove-based opening, which will let you save additional seconds to win. Let's hop into it!
1. White setup
When playing white, it's easiest to start your development with d4 and prepare the structure similar to The catalan. I will show you the basic setup to start with:
After you made these moves, you prepare to attack on the queenside, as it is usually the main concept of the catalan opening. Play b3, Bb2 and c4. While black is making preparatory or defensive moves like Re8 or Bh7 etc., you can expand slowly on the queenside! Play a3, c5 and b4 (that order!) Than try to go for a4 and b5 as fast as possible to gain space. By the time your plan has already ended, your opponent should make a fatal blunder.
2. Black setup
Having an extra tempo is undoubtedly easier. However, there are also systems for black, which lead to a complicated ( for white ) positions and it's very easy to win on the spot. In order to play an opening as fast as possible, make sure to learn some French Defense to get familiar with various tricks that white has prepared. Whatever... you start with the move 1...e6! Than, unless white has played Bg5, you can surely expand with 2...d5. White has several options here and it leads to more theoretical positions, but after all, you have a lot, a lot of initiative. Continue with moves like c5, Nc6, Rc8 and Qb6. Prepare f6 or do it instantly to clash for the centre with all the figures. What's also worth mentioning: you usually leave the king on the kingside or in the middle to avoid various tactics, so don't worry, just develop and be agressive ( on the board ).
