Best sources for opening novelties?

Sort:
TerrorEyes666

Opening theory is changing a lot now that AlphaZero and Leela are here. And the top super-GMs have also been coming up with novelties to established theory. What's the best way to keep up-to-date and find novelties soon after they become known? The problem is, when I study using the major vendors of openings databases, the most well-established and popular moves will be shown. But the novelties may be better or fit my style better. It would be difficult to look through all the latest tournaments, including engine tournaments, to find the newest and coolest moves (or move orders) being played at the top levels. Is anyone keeping track of this information and compiling it somewhere? For example, the MCO books used to keep up with variations being played in recent tournaments. And it was easy to look up variations in those books. But nowadays everything is moving faster, and books can't keep up... Any suggestions where to look? Thanks!

TerrorEyes666

Thanks, but it doesn't answer my question about whether such a source exists. Like MCO but kept up-to-date from the top tournaments, or maybe from novelties disclosed in online courses or New In Chess articles, any credible source at the highest levels. I've been studying only tactics for years, and it will remain as my primary topic to study. But lately I've decided it's time to learn some opening variations. Never mind that my stats are quite low and I'm not a master. I still think my question is valid and makes sense. :-)

sholom90
TerrorEyes666 wrote:

Thanks, but it doesn't answer my question about whether such a source exists. Like MCO but kept up-to-date from the top tournaments, or maybe from novelties disclosed in online courses or New In Chess articles, any credible source at the highest levels. I've been studying only tactics for years, and it will remain as my primary topic to study. But lately I've decided it's time to learn some opening variations. Never mind that my stats are quite low and I'm not a master. I still think my question is valid and makes sense. :-)

There is a place that's online, and I'm wracking my brain, but I just can't remember it.  It's a monthly, and some of it is accessible without a fee.  In the left hand column there are various openings, and if you click on it, there's an article about 3 or 5 or whatever novelties (or resurrected old lines) that were played in various tournaments over the prior month.  (It's really bugging me that I can't remember the site....)

tygxc

ICCF correspondence ongoing games is a major source. 

Ubik42
learning some opening stuff is fine but if you are looking to incorporate the latest GM level novelties in your games it is 100% waste of time. Not 99%.
CrazyXII
My openings are “move pawn”, then improv for the next 5 turns, and bam it’s an opening.
null_day

I'm discovering some interesting ideas in opening theory here

In case someone know better resource for opening theory - let me know. Thanks.

RussBell

ChessPublishing....

Run by GM's and IM's....well-known openings theoreticians....the latest opening theory....

https://www.chesspublishing.com/content/

null_day
RussBell wrote:

ChessPublishing....

Run by GM's and IM's....well-known openings theoreticians....the latest opening theory....

https://www.chesspublishing.com/content/

It's not possible to analyse positions there

sholom90
null_day wrote:
RussBell wrote:

ChessPublishing....

Run by GM's and IM's....well-known openings theoreticians....the latest opening theory....

https://www.chesspublishing.com/content/

It's not possible to analyse positions there

@RussBell -- yes!  That's the site I was thinking of.  Thanks!

@null_day -- I'm not sure what you mean.  The main thing is that we get to see what the novelties are (all from just the past month or so) for free.  You need to pay to get a game download (are they annotated?  I don't know, I don't have a paid subscription).  But at least one can get started doing one's own analysis with the novelty presented.

Also, @null_day -- I took a quick look at https://openings101.org/ (thanks for letting us know).   I don't think it answer's the OP's original question (where can I find novelties), but I'm intrigued that it purports to give a number of repertoires. 

However, I'm nowhere near on the level to make an informed judgement on that.  Can you tell us your impressions?

TerrorEyes666

I think part of the problem is that the definition of a "novelty" is no longer as black-and-white as it used to be.  Previously, it was clear what are "book" moves and which are not.

But nowadays, it seems that the line between book and non-book has blurred to some extent.  The top players are experimenting with a number of unusual ideas.  I mentioned computer chess because it seems that our digital overlords will have a more refined sense of what should be "book" than the humans do.  Thoughts, anyone?

TerrorEyes666

Also that chesspub.com has a great message board (forum) on their site, which is free.  People discuss various lines and it's worth checking out.