Basic openings for 900
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I've been told that I should study endgames before openings, but not knowing enough theory to play a good opening can easily place one in a disadvantage (thus a harder time in the endgame). Are there any basic openings that I can play as a 900 without too much theory (No Italian Game please).
Aug 27, 2023
0
#2
I would like to know your playstyle first. But anyway heres some NPC copypaste repertoires:
1) Kings indian setup for both sides against anything
2) Caro/slav for black
London system OR queens gambit exchange for white
3) Colle system for white
French defence and queens gambit declined 1.e6 2. d5 for black
4) Stonewall attack for white
French defence and stonewall defence for black
5) Scandinavian defence(classical, modern or kloosterbauer) and englund gambit(classical trap or hartlaub charlick gambit)
For white mainly vienna or danish gambit.
But again, this depends on your playstyle.
1) Kings indian setup for both sides against anything
2) Caro/slav for black
London system OR queens gambit exchange for white
3) Colle system for white
French defence and queens gambit declined 1.e6 2. d5 for black
4) Stonewall attack for white
French defence and stonewall defence for black
5) Scandinavian defence(classical, modern or kloosterbauer) and englund gambit(classical trap or hartlaub charlick gambit)
For white mainly vienna or danish gambit.
But again, this depends on your playstyle.
lassus_dinnao wrote:
I would like to know your playstyle first. But anyway heres some NPC copypaste repertoires:
1) Kings indian setup for both sides against anything
2) Caro/slav for black
London system OR queens gambit exchange for white
3) Colle system for white
French defence and queens gambit declined 1.e6 2. d5 for black
4) Stonewall attack for white
French defence and stonewall defence for black
5) Scandinavian defence(classical, modern or kloosterbauer) and englund gambit(classical trap or hartlaub charlick gambit)
For white mainly vienna or danish gambit.
But again, this depends on your playstyle.
1) Kings indian setup for both sides against anything
2) Caro/slav for black
London system OR queens gambit exchange for white
3) Colle system for white
French defence and queens gambit declined 1.e6 2. d5 for black
4) Stonewall attack for white
French defence and stonewall defence for black
5) Scandinavian defence(classical, modern or kloosterbauer) and englund gambit(classical trap or hartlaub charlick gambit)
For white mainly vienna or danish gambit.
But again, this depends on your playstyle.
I like to play aggressively and simplify equal or winning positions to endgames. I already play the Caro-Kann (Yes, I'm obese) and have been trying to learn the Danish and King Gambits.
Aug 27, 2023
0
#4
Oh I see. I recommend you to look into 2 and 4th reperoires. Stonewall defence can be played from a caro kann move order also so you dont have to learn the french. 5th repertoire might be a gem tho. Its VERY aggressive.
Dutch Defense is also on my wanted list, but I've been told it's too advanced for me
What is a repertoire? (The previous message was supposed to be sent earlier, but my WiFi is bad)
Aug 27, 2023
0
#7
Dutch was my main defence for a long time. A problem is the fact that it classical is bad against london and leningrad is just dangerous. 
Here are my stats with it. I dont recommend you to play the dutch tho. The gambits white has go crazy
Aug 27, 2023
0
#8
Lemur_flop-es написал:
What is a repertoire? (The previous message was supposed to be sent earlier, but my WiFi is bad)
Its a set of different openings that work together on making a theory wall against anything. Caro is a defence against e4. Against d4 you need something else. Caro-kann + this something else is a repertoire for black
Yeah, my win rate is about 41% with the Dutch. I've also tried the Blackmar gambit but that hasn't worked for me since 700 ELO
My current repertories as White are Bishop's Opening, Mieses Scandinavian, and Open Sicilian. I'm not good enough with the Sicilian, and the Bishop's opening is what I've been using since 600 ELO.
Aug 27, 2023
0
#11
Lemur_flop-es написал:
My current repertories as White are Bishop's Opening, Mieses Scandinavian, and Open Sicilian. I'm not good enough with the Sicilian, and the Bishop's opening is what I've been using since 600 ELO.
You can just try some kind of a system and play it until you want to learn a real opening. I chose queens indian attack/defence and french defence as a repertoire bc got tired of needing to constantly rewatch videos on e4 theory. This way to choose an opening is OP since you can play the system as white against anything and as black against anything except e4, for which you need to learn only one defence and you are done with openings
I was looking at the Queen's Indian attack, and it reminded me of a double Fianchetto opening. I like Fianchettoes a lot and it does work as a defense against e4 and d4, so I think that is a valid opening for me. It prepares for early castling, giving me more time to plot an attack. I might try that in a blitz game.
Aug 27, 2023
0
#13
Lemur_flop-es написал:
I was looking at the Queen's Indian attack, and it reminded me of a double Fianchetto opening. I like Fianchettoes a lot and it does work as a defense against e4 and d4, so I think that is a valid opening for me. It prepares for early castling, giving me more time to plot an attack. I might try that in a blitz game.
Queens indian doesn't work against e4. Did you mean kings indian?
Yeah, both seem similar
Aug 27, 2023
0
#15
Lemur_flop-es написал:
Yeah, both seem similar
Ok. If you like kings indian, you can just play it both for white and black
if you study endgames, you will be more exact with your moves and learn to really evaluate what is going on in the position. With that mindset, you will instinctually pick better moves when there are more pieces on the board.
I recommend...especially for the beginner-novice player (or for that matter, any improving amateur who is looking for playable mainstream openings, without having to learn gigantic amounts of opening theory in the process)...
White Opening against 1.e4 e5.....any of....
Scotch Game & Gambit
Ponziani Opening
Vienna Game & Gambit - considered to be an improved version of the King’s Gambit, which is also exciting to play, especially in speed chess games (bullet, blitz, etc.).
Italian Game - is a good, solid opening for White, but is also more complex to initially learn to play well than those above...although you might check out the Evans Gambit - it is dynamic, solid and interesting to play.
As White against the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5)...any of...
Alapin/c3 Sicilian
Morra Gambit
Grand Prix Attack
As White against Caro-Kann Defense (1.e4 c6)....any of...
Advance Variation
Classical Variation
Panov Attack
As White against the French Defense (1.e4 e6).....either of...
Advance Variation
King's Indian Attack
If as White you prefer to open with 1.d4, then I recommend the London System (1.d4 d5 2.Bc4).
There is lots of instructive YouTube video content on all of these openings.....I especially recommend 'Hanging Pawns' and 'ChessGeek' YouTube channels for good opening instruction. Many folks like 'GothamChess' for his concise, fast-paced overviews of a variety of openings.
otherwise...
Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond…
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell
Lemur_flop-es wrote:
I've been told that I should study endgames before openings, but not knowing enough theory to play a good opening can easily place one in a disadvantage (thus a harder time in the endgame). Are there any basic openings that I can play as a 900 without too much theory (No Italian Game please).
“…not knowing enough theory to play a good opening can easily place one in a disadvantage” And that’s okay. I can GUARANTEE your opponents will not be playing theory past move 3, so there’s literally no point in learning any theory at all. Put a pawn or two in the center, develop your knights if you don’t know where your bishops are going yet, then develop your bishops, then castle, then attack wherever your opponent’s king is. It’s really just that simple.
Aug 27, 2023
0
#19
I found the Ponzioni to work well for me at lower ranges. Now I play the Vienna. My brother likes the QG.
When playing Black I am a proponent of playing defenses which offer a reasonable chance of success and which my opponents are less likely to be expecting, thus making it more likely that they will be less prepared than me to play it. That is, openings where there is a good chance (assuming I have done my due diligence) that I will know it better than my opponent does...
For example,
As Black against 1.e4...
Scandinavian Defense - probably the easiest defense to learn and play against 1.e4. There are four main variations: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 (my preference), or 3...Qd5, or 3.Qd8, or 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 (the Portuguese, aka Modern, Variation).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up9c5bbMJvE&ab_channel=GothamChess
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpd8jcVKcJw&list=PLssNbVBYrGcDxYjYug23Ls2C-wMcqJQUQ&ab_channel=HangingPawns
An excellent repertoire book on the 3...Qa5 Variation (my preference) is The Scandinavian for Club Players by Thomas Willemze.
Caro-Kann Defense (CK)- 1.e4 c6. This is one of the four most popular defenses against 1.e4, the other three being 1...e5, the Sicilian Defense (1...c5) and the French Defense (1...e6). So 1.e4 players will likely have done some preparation in the CK. Nevertheless, the CK is flexible and can be played by Black in a solid, conservative style or dynamically, in a sharp, counter-attacking style. For the former I recommend the CK Classical - Capablanca Variation, and for the latter the CK Classical - Korchnoi (aka Tartakower) Variation. The Classical complex (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3) is sometimes referred to as the 'Main Line' CK...
Capablanca V. (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KvEdj_TcM4&list=PLssNbVBYrGcBZfLbeAU7d8llHf2jxBEl7&index=5&ab_channel=HangingPawns
Korchnoi (aka Tartakower) V. (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6 exf6).....note: this is my favorite variation!...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsnITf68J5w&ab_channel=ChessGeek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_6qOZIlbE0&list=PLssNbVBYrGcBZfLbeAU7d8llHf2jxBEl7&index=10&ab_channel=HangingPawns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MrEYqiMU4w&ab_channel=Chessfactor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPVp5TWZR0w&ab_channel=DanielNaroditsky
A comprehensive book on the CK which includes extensive treatment of the Capablanca and the Korchnoi Variations is Win With The Caro-Kann by Sverre Johnsen and T.R. Hansen.
As Black against the Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4).....
Ragozin Defense – (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bb4) The Ragozin is a sibling of, and an alternative/complement to the Nimzo-Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4). While in some lines the Nimzo can transpose into the Ragozin, the latter tends to be more dynamic/aggressive than the Nimzo...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asmuH_dL5nQ&ab_channel=TheChessWorld.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oRtSS4lENo&ab_channel=HangingPawns
Main Line of the Nimzo-Indian Defense - Hanging Pawns…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04208aqgKMc&ab_channel=HangingPawns
A recommended book on the Ragozin Defense: Play the Ragozin - A Dynamic Repertoire by Richard Pert. The book also offers a complete repertoire after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. 3.Nc3 Bb4 as well as a repertoire against the Catalan plus other White options after 1.d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6.
For the Nimzo-Indian I recommend the following excellent books on the topic:: Starting Out: The Nimzo-Indian by Chris Ward and Playing the Nimzo-Indian by Edward Dearing.
Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA)...(1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4)...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4YbcucmT4&ab_channel=CoachKestony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlXXfcXcF5o&ab_channel=HangingPawns
An instructive introduction to the QGA for Black is Starting Out: Queen's Gambit Accepted by A. Raetsky & M. Chetverik...
Albin Counter Gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5) - for its surprise value against the Queens Gambit:
https://chesspathways.com/chess-openings/queens-pawn-opening/albin-counter-gambit/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCkbChYLEd4&ab_channel=ChessVibes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albin_Countergambit,_Lasker_Trap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drRFTPODZlA&ab_channel=HangingPawns
An excellent, instructive introduction to the Albin C-G can be found as Chapter 8 of the book My First Chess Opening Repertoire for Black by Vincent Moret.