I await other's replies anxiously. I too am in the same place, though I consider myself on the fence, approaching intermediacy.
I find - although it contradicts your theory of drowning in knowledge - looking at the main line or two behind openings you see yourself playing a lot. Under the learn tab on this website there's the "Book Openings" section; not sure if that's a members only thing but I find it helpful.
Trend Micro security would not let me install the e book you suggested above. I did install the trial Shredder program and it looks good.
Are there other interactive opening software programs for beginners?
And which is a better book: Fines' The Ideas Behind Chess Openings or Collins' Understnding Chess Openings? I want something that is a joy to read and not pages and pages of notation!
stwils
Im in the same place man.
I suggest you learn the opening concepts and you should be ok as long as you know one opening. you dont even have to memorize the whole line if you know the concepts well
That sounds like what I am looking for. Thanks.
stwils
There is a fairly basic runthrough of opening principles and explanations of the first few moves in common openings on the chesskids.com website (in the "lessons" section). Before I looked there, I was trying to go through and learn openings off by heart. If you learn the principles of what you should be trying to do in the opening you should in time be able to respond reasonably well to most openings your opponent tries. Which, as a beginner, is all one really needs to do, as the small positional advantages either player may gain in a reasonably played opening are fairly insignificant when players are hanging pieces and making positional errors all the way through the game.
To sum up, I'd advise looking at the basics of openings on the chesskids site, and then focusing on the middle and endgames. When you become more confident on the middlegame and endgame, thats the time for detailed opening study.
If you want 4-5 openings to study...for white I'd suggest looking at some lines from the Fried Liver Attack, the Smith-Mora Gambit, and the Cochrane Gambit (low priority). For Black, look at the Accelerated Dragon as a response to e4, and the Nimzo Indian as a response to d4. I wouldn't spend more than 10% of your study time on openings though. You need to be grinding out tactics if you're a beginner or intermediate player. Good luck.
i doubt there is easier approach to openings than seirawan book, he suggests the minimul study of opening theory using Kings indian , defence against d4 and attack as white , and pirc against e4 , the idea is that the 3 openings leads to v close structures so ur eyes doesnt have to get acquainted of many forms and structures , so u can have good time studying the middle game , tactics , positional chess and endings , later u may deviate and chose the opening that matches ur taste
1.Take your time, pick a Chess opening study it understand what it does for White, understand what it does for Black. Be able to explain it to yourself or anyone else.
2.Take your time, learn how the other Chess pieces can work with the opening to make it strong.
3. Take your time, your piano teacher was right, you can use all of your pieces in Chess but you do not need all of them to win.
I took your advice and went to chesskids.com. What a gold mine! Thank you, Jess_11, for telling me about it. The lessons are written in such a way that are understandable and appealing. (I am not a kid by a long shot, but this is going to be so helpful to me. Stick your toe in the water, and then soon you can wade in, then swim.)
I may check into Seirawan's book.
But I think all of you are giving good advice to me - learn a few basics openings - but spend most of my time on tactics, etc. The last thing on earth I need right now is to get hung up on 200 openings!
Thanks, guys.
stwils
I have been ordering tactics books and software. But I am lost on openings.
Is there a simple book or software program that would help me digest about 4 openings?
And if I play black, do I need to study an opening defence?
I am finding out as I get into chess that sometimes it feels like I am in a lake drowning - so much to learn - too much - and I seem to be just swimming around trying to keep my head above water.
Years ago a piano teacher talked to me about the "wisdom of simplicity."
I need to find my way back to simplicity - but also to knowledge.
stwils