If I decide to study a new opening, I will start many different games using that opening and as different variations are played against me, I will study them intensely utilizing whichever resources are readily available to me (and free). Also, if a couple different games reach the same critical point, I will make different moves in each in order to decide which I feel more comfortable with.
Best way to study openings
Sort:
I downloaded Chess Position Trainer. It left me stumped on the "Alekhine" ( my poor brain can't handle all those combinations ) . . . so I used it to memorise Bobby Fischers "Game of the Century". Hopefully this will get my brain into gear to start studying, learning, memorising other openings.
Sorry to throw you off track, but that's where I am my stage. All the best!
Well, I can't claim any success, but when I want to learn an opening, I like to enter a tournament here on chess.com. Also I quickly play through a number of master games to see what themes emerge. Chess Openings for Black Explained is a great book. Good luck
For me the following worked well:
1. I buy a good book on the opening. This is a must to really understand the opening you are playing. The book will (hopefully, if it is a good one) explain the ideas.
2. Load up the repetoire into your training program, CPT for example.
3. Read the book whenever you feel like reading a bit.
4. Practice in the training program when you feel like it.
5. Play blitz games; After game end get your book and check how the opening went. Did you leave book first? Learn why your move was bad and do not reapeat it (you prolly need to do this once per line but this really makes the idea stick to your brain permanently). Did your opponent leave book in a bad way? Did you punish him optimally or was there a better way?
List looks long but this doesn't take all that long nor alot of mental energy (for me doing point 2., 3. and 5. just one per line is usually enough to even learn 12-15 move deep lines). Your opening phase will quickly get crushing and you will get the bad habit of getting used to getting opening advantages all the time.
Apr 1, 2016
0
#6
I think the best way to study oppenings is to watch videoes at chess webside
For many opening books, I think that they are written to be a combination of instruction manual and reference. The idea seems to be that the reader skip much of the reference material and consult it only after playing a game that raises a question addressed by the reference material.
In a 2006 GM John Nunn book, in connection with opening study, it is stated that, if a "book contains illustrative games, it is worth playing these over first", and the reader was also advised, "To begin with, only study the main lines - that will cope with 90% of your games, and you can easily fill in the unusual lines later."
In one of his books about an opening, GM Nigel Davies wrote (2005), "The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line."
"... I feel that the main reasons to buy an opening book are to give a good overview of the opening, and to explain general plans and ideas. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
I would like to spend some of my chess time learning and studying openings, and I would like to know what you all think is the best way to go about it.
My plan was to start with the Sicilian and learn how to make it work for Black. I generally feel more comfortable improvising my e4 opening with White, which is why I want to start with a solid answer to e4 as Black.
What's the best way you have found to learn an opening? Should I start with an overview of all the various lines, or pick one of the more common ones and focus on that one? Is opening explorer a good tool for doing this, or do you recommend a book or some other learning method?