Week1 Discussion and Preparation

Hey everyone, we can use this topic to discuss this week's strategies. 

I recommend the site https://www.openingtree.com/ to see what openings your opponents play.

I will try to give some inisghts to this week's opponents.

Here is a reminder of who they are:

@ashwath98: I see your opponent BillZheng plays e4 and d4 equally. 

You can play the Accelerated Dragon against e4 and the KID against d4. He hasn't played many games with those openings and I see that you play them already. He is higher rated so it's important to keep calm and watch out for tactics

@alefox985: Your opponent plays 1. ...e5 against 1. e4 almost exclusively so you can go for the Giuoco Piano or the Ruy Lopez.

Maybe it's best to go for the Giuoco Piano with d3 and O-O, I see you have good results.

In case you decide to go with the Ruy Lopez, try to avoid Nxe5 in the exchange variation (after Bxc6 dxc6). Try to castle first.

@WildWrist, after e4 c5, your opponent usually plays either the Smith-Morra Gambit, or the Open Sicilian.

If you get into the Smith-morra , you can accept it but don't forget to develop your pieces fast.

@FangBo: your opponent usually plays e5 after 1.e4

In the Ruy Lopez he plays 3. ...Bc5

In the Giuoco Piano with d3 and O-O he plays normally

In the Three Knights, he plays Bc5 or Nf6

Sure. Thanks

@Cobysters: your opponent is much lower rated, you should be fine with any opening lol 

Great! Thank you for the precious advices

Well played everybody, unfortunately, the total score is 3-2 so this will count as a loss, but it was very close!

Regardless of the results, I am proud of the fact that you have been active and negotiated very well! That is the most important thing, to prevent forfeits!