A better approach to openings

Hey guys!

Sorry not to post it here before, but better late than never right?

I just wanted to share with you an article I wrote offering to change a common wrong approach to openings (and how to find good moves in general) that I frequently see among my students.

You can find it here:

http://blog.chess.com/Spochman/no-more-opening-memorizing

I hope you will enjoy and benefit from it!

Very resourceful! Thanks for the info!

And I never seen such an analysis on the Wing Gambit before!

I've actually read it twice now.  Good stuff.

Hi Spochman,

When you say that Black has a significant advantage after 2.b4, what continuation are you referring to? Thanks. You only show a few inaccurate moves and conclude that White is no worse from what I can tell.

Hi Expertise87. I would appreciate you reading the whole article before writing unrelated comments. your comment is adressed within the article itself, take the time to read it carefully. 

Sorry, I read it again and I still don't see it. I see you criticizing 3...bxa3 as an inaccuracy but I don't see a better recommendation. You mention d5 as a possible try but 3.a3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 does not lead to a Black advantage, and you say Black should be better after 2.b4. So what line are you referring to?

Also I'm not sure why you have White taking back with the Bishop on a3 in the first place. Nxa3 is more accurate. Black certainly doesn't have an advantage if he takes the a-pawn.

6.c4, your move sir.

http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=68111512

This is a game I played against a very strong player in this variation that shows that if Black grabs the 'free' Rook he loses. Extensive analysis and high-level games have shown this quite convincingly. So Black needs another plan besides the computer's recommendation of 6...Qe6 7.Bd3 e4 8.O-O Qf6 9.Bxe4 Qxa1 because White is just winning there.