Building a low-study repertoire

Since I have started playing chess, I have always played the King's Indian Attack as white, Pirc against 1. e4, and King's Indian Defense against everything else. 

These openings have served me well, but for various reasons I think it's time to move on.

I am not at the level where studying openings extensively is the best return on investment.  So, I am looking to find a set of openings which requires very little theoretical knowledge and can give me more study time for tactics and endgames.

However, while I definitely want to avoid the mainlines of the ruy lopez and sicilian, I do want solid openings.

My playing style can best be described as dynamic/positional with a penchant for endgames.

So far, I am thinking of the English Opening for white. I will play the early g3 line moving for a fianchetto.   This seems somewhat like the KIA that I am used to but much more ambitious and well-rounded.  I thought seriously about this compared to the Bird/Polar Bear system (reverse Leningrad dutch style) and decided that was just too risky of a game for my style.

As black vs. e4 I am really liking the Scandinavian Defense with 3... Qd6.

Black vs. d4 is where I am drawing a blank.  I guess I could just keep the KID, but honestly it's the one that I'm the most uneasy with.  I am thinking possibly the Dutch Stonewall, but I really don't know what my options are other than indian systems.

Does anyone have any input or other suggestions?

If you want low-study positional you're gonna need a few opening systems that are usable against many different responses.  

As black I'd consider looking into the Dutch Defense.  I've recently dropped it due to a few emberassing losses straight out of the opening, but it IS solid and requires basically no study...

As white... well, I play the KG.. that's not a 'low study' opening :P.

Another black option (although a little bit less versatile) is the Nimzo-Indian ... which is great for an endgame player being as black spends most of the midgame simply trading off pieces in an attempt to create multiple sets of doubled pawns ... it's a fascinating opening system because white just can't get moving in time.  I've been using the Nimzo for the past week (in replacement of the Dutch) and I love it.

Just my 2 cents :D

-matt

I started off playing those same openings and I still use the pirc against e4 but for white I play 1.Nf3 ... 2.c4 which will usually be a reti or english and for black against d4 i'm now staring to play the modern 1.... g6

I've found these to be a natural progression as most of the theory you already know can be applied. I thinking of learning the alekhine (Nf6) against e4.  one reason being it can transpose to the pirc which i already know.

I also chose these openings mainly to avoid the ruy and sicilian and to play something a little different.

 as far as KID vs. d4. is concerned it's probably not going to suit your style(it's my favorite).  I'll defer to ih8sen that the dutch  might be a good option for you.

since i exactly started as u did i suggest English for white (read the dynamic english by tony kosten ) grunfeld with d4 , in both cases u r not deviating much from what u have learned..........but against e4 its about time to play the fruit of all openings the SICILIAN

Against d4 try the Tarrasch, 1. d4 d5  2. c4 e6  3. Nc3 c5. Choosing the English may not be what you want, there is a lot of responses that Black can play, but once you have it down its good and you will play many endgames.

Mike

As an opening, The kings indian attack is fine.  You will NOT get spectacular fun and excitement from other openings, stick with it!  The KID on the other hand requires the memorization of lots of theroy.  The pirc requires accurate play. 

Against 1. e4 1... e5 is of course recommended.  And against 1. d4 1... d5 is recommended.  "But Bickley" you say.  "These openings, perticularly the ruy lopez requires knowlodge of up to 40 moves deep!  Why ever would I play them?". 

Because when you play 1... e5/1... d5 you can wing it and play reasonably well.  Ok, sure you need to learn various themes (like for the ruy lopez why Nxe4 doesn't win a pawn, or why you need to play c5 in the queens gambit) but the openings are just so natural!

For black however, there really aren't many openings (save unconvential ones like say, b6) that don't require you to know a lot of theroy.  Save prehaps the dutch against 1. d4, but that can backfire with the low king safety!

Hi,

If you are agrressive tactical palyer, then...

A possible repertoire for black: Benko Gambit vs 1.d4, Sicilian or 1...e5 vs. 1.e4, Marshall Gambit vs Spanish

A possible repertoire basis for white: 1.e4, open games&scotch vs 1...e5, Morra Gambit vs Sicilian, 3.Nc3 vs French 3.e5 vs Caro-Kann

Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker variation is a low-study variation as black, and gives decent chances for an endgame.

Tarrasch defence as suggested earlier is a good option too, as is the Benkö gambit.

Thanks for the help guys.  I am going to get that book The Dynamic English, and I think I have decided to try the Caro Kann vs 1. e4.  I'm still out on 1. d4 but I'm looking into the Tarrasch, Dutch, and Nimzo-Indian.

What about black knight tango  which involves  1.d4 Nf62.C4 Nc6

The English is pretty complicated opening as it can transpose into so many other openings.  Sure, it's flexible, but IMO is a lot of work to learn.  I'm not sure that it is suitable for under 1600-1800, but good luck anyway.

Maybe you could start another thread in a couple of months to let people know how you got on.

nimzo indian is the better

We can all have our opinions, but I started out with the Dutch to be honest and then went to other openings.