A Solid Opening Repertoire for Speed Chess

Hi! After playing mostly hypermodern type openings for more than a year now, I decided to adopt a classic opening repertoire to use as an alternative when meeting strong players in speed chess.

In this post, I will comment on the criteria I followed to make my opening choices and the results after a month of practice. This might be of interest to players from intermediate level and beyond (1100+ rating).

First, as an opposite of what I was playing before in hypermodern style (cfr. previous posts on the Nimzowitch-Larse Attack https://www.chess.com/blog/maafernan/opening-repertoire-the-nimzowitsch-larsen-attack and the Modern Defense https://www.chess.com/blog/maafernan/opening-repertoire-the-modern-defense), I wanted solid and classic openings that aim at immediate central claim. Second, I would try to profit from past studies and experience so I would not start from scratch. Third, I wanted if possible that all the openings had the same thematic strategies when playing either with White or Black.

As you will see , all the openings are of the closed or semi-open type, share the thematic develpment of the Queen's bishop and the hold of the centre with a Queen´s pawn in the fouth rank supported by the Queen´s bishop pawn. 

My criteria are of course rather subjective, but I wanted to narrow the options to a maximum, and cut down time invested in opening study to the minimum.

Then I adopted the following.alternative repertoire: 

As White:

1. d4, London System.

I had studied this in the past and played some games too for fun but till now never made part of a consistent repertoire.

This is a setup generally based on d4, Nf3, Bf4, c3, e3, Bd3, Nbd2 and 0-0 against virtually any Black play.

As Black:

Against 1.e4

Meet 1. e4 with 1...c6 and 2...d5 (Caro Kann).

In the past I studied and played the classical variation (2. d4, d5, 3 Nc3, de4 4. de4, Bf5) which surrenders the center to develop the bishop -a solid variation by the way I keep playing nowadays. (Somtimes I try 3. ...g6 holding the centre a bit, as in the Gurgenidze variation of the Modern Defense, alghough this is hardly a solid option).

Against 1.d4

1...d5 2. c4, c6 (Slav).

This is new to me. I used to believe the main variation 3. Nf3, Nf6, 4. Nc3,.dc4 5. a4,.Bf5, a higly respected line that surrenders the center aiming at dynamic piece play, was the only way to go. But now I enter the Chebanenko/...a6 variation that ideally follows with ...Nf6, ...a6, ...Bf5 (when possible), ...e6, ...Nbd7, ...Bd6 or Be7, ...0-0 (holding the center, similar to the London System with reversed colors, although you don't reach always this setup because White's play).  

Against Flank Openings

I meet 1. Nf3 or 1. g3 with 1...d5 and 2...c6

and meet 1. c4 with 1...c6 and 2...d5

Sometimes play will traspose to the Slav. If White doesn´t play d4, you can try a similar development of your pieces as you would against it. That is pawns on d5, c6, and minor pieces as follows: Nf6, Bf5,  Bd6 or Be7, Nbd7, with kingside castling.

Meet 1. b3, 1. b4,1. Nc3 or 1. f4 with 1...d5  

A setup of pawns and pieces similar to  the recommendation above will do most of the time. 

Results

About the results after a month of speed chess practice, I'm quite satisfied. As White with the London System, from about 80 games, I have a winning rate ranging from 48 to 59 % depending on the variation. As Black with the Slav ( Chebanenko variation as main line), from about 12 games, I have a winning rate of about 50 %. And with the Caro Kann -perhaps the most critical in my case- from 35 games I have a fair 46 % winning rate average.

I'm quite happy with the results and have fun in the games. I will try to improve on some lines. I think a repertoire like this is solid, not so theoretically heavy, and quite narrow so not too much for preparation was required. Now I use this alternative repertoire when I don't feel to play in hypermodern style. 

Do you feel like playing solid sometimes? Maybe you could give these openings a try! If you would like to learn more about openings or improve your play in general, I would be happy to help! Please check my profile, and if you’re interested in lessons, please send me a message, and I will reply with details.

Good luck!