Chess Openings

Well, there is a very nice Chessable course by Sam Shankland, if I remember correctly. I also learned it from there.
In any case, I believe at your level, learning from YouTube videos is also perfectly fine.

@Robot-kuchenny This video by IM Alex Banzea is a great free resource to get started. The author also created a paid Chessable course on that opening that was very well-received.

@Robot-kuchenny just to add to the above, after watching the suggested videos the best thing to do is also once you know the first few moves just play games (the more the better) and review each one once you finish (even just a quick 5 minute click through the moves is better than nothing).

You're often not going to play games where you play long lines of theory unless you're well into the 2000+ rating range. So what you want to learn more is the plans and there's no better way than getting practice with them than just playing followed by checking to see how well you did. Also, when checking against an engine with a new opening aiming for good enough and succeeding is always going to be better than stressing over perfection.

Bro that is my response to d4.

I’m a Scandinavian guy and a Scottish guy (in chess, not irl).

Hi, what are the plans in the queen's indian accelerated ? Anyone knows ressources where I can learn this opening?

#:~:text=The%20Accelerated%20Queen's%20Indian%20Defense,Nf3%20or%201.

Am looking for a dynamic yet sound response to 1.d4. Can any1 give some suggestions?

@ragibites2013 Grandmasters looking for exactly what you’re describing have gone with a combination of Nimzo-Indian and Queen’s Indian Defense in the past. Let me show you what I mean:

I gonna play Evans Gambit or English cuz why not?

I like the fried liver/traxler

I need a way to counter the Scandi, it appears in like 20%+ in all of my games

tysm! will look deeper into this.

the scandinavian is already positionally pretty terrible. instead of a repertoire change you might practice seizing the initiative, because black literally gives it to you in the scandinavian

Have noticed that as well! It’s been appearing quite a lot.
Would also be interested in tips from some of our chess gurus here. :D

Beautiful win with 2100 accuracy whereas my rating is 1377

Rarely come across answer to Caro Cann and the best possible move made by black

I think chess guru might be a little too high of a description for most of us here but I'll share my approach to thinking about this.

For a while playing against the Scandinavian was producing my worst results as white and I just couldn't seem to find a consistent plan against it and that's when I realised that my whole approach was wrong.

When playing the open Sicilian I was already treating it as 4 openings.

1. 2... Nc6
2. 2... D6
3. 2... e6
4. 2nd move sidelines

This made lots of sense as I was getting different positions in each one. At some point I will try to expand the sideline section but that's a higher level problem.

Comparing this to my Scandi approach was night and day. I was trying to do the same thing every time and it just left me confused.

So now I try to break it down to 4 openings, this has worked out better.

1. 2...Qa5
2. 2...Qd8
3. 1...Nf6
4. 2nd move sidelines

This approach has definitely helped with this thought process definitely became more defined in the last year and the results show (although it likely started sometime in the year before).

2022 (35% from 40 games)

2023 (41.1% from 45 games)

2024 (46% from 50 games)

2025 (58.6% from 35 games)

2026 to date (59.4% from 16 games)

This treatment of the opening as 4 small sub openings has allowed me to focus on some really basic things I was avoiding such as an early Nf3 to avoid the pin, but without c6 being played this is just some basic tactics.

Another thing I found was that I was often dodging was Bd3 but again this can be completely fine without c6.

Picking out these tactical ideas to develop how I want rather than being too worried about non issues helped with better early development against Qd8.

Moving onto Qa5 I found a system that had some solid potential for an early development lead.

If the white Bishop comes out push the kingside pawns and castle queenside, if it stays back enjoy better pieces and space.

For Nf6 lines just remember you don't hold onto the pawn just go d4 and then when the time is right go c4, Nc3. This gives a nice pleasant structure.

Generally speaking against the Scandi finishing the opening with a nice edge to go into the middlegame is a good objective rather than seeking out a killer blow. Hopefully some of this helps!