I have seen some of the games you have played here... say that one:
http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=119510670
I'm not a prophet, but I can predict with absolute certainty that if you study openings right now, you are after another 40 year break.
Here there is more than you will need about the opening in the foreseeable future. What you really need working at is not blundering pieces, and accepting your opponent's gifts. Openings can come later, much later.
Thank you IMpfren and Mr mcarthy. Both of you have actually changed my mind about my strategy - my study strategy that is.....
"... For players with very limited experience, I recommend using openings in which the play can be clarified at an early stage, often with a degree of simplification. To accomplish this safely will take a little study, because you will have to get used to playing wiith open lines for both sides' pieces, but you can't eliminate risk entirely in the opening anyway. ... teachers all over the world suggest that inexperienced players begin with 1 e4. ... You will undoubtedly see the reply 1 ... e5 most often when playing at or near a beginner's level, ... After 2 Nf3, 2 ... Nc6 will occur in the bulk of your games. ... I recommend taking up the classical and instructive move 3 Bc4 at an early stage. Then, against 3 ... Bc5, it's thematic to try to establish the ideal centre by 4 c3 and 5 d4; after that, things can get complicated enough that you need to take a look at some theory and learn the basics; ..." - IM John Watson in a section of his 2010 book, Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 4
Btw everyone I've been doing better in my openings against computer programs and against live people by concentrating on general opening principles.once again I continue to be grateful for all the help I have gotten here.My copy of Tamburro's book should arrive in a day or 2 and I look fwd to reading it this wknd
A beginner of your caliber should suffice in openings with the use of the search button on Google. Spend your money somewhere more useful, such as a middlegame book.
True Men it's interesting that you've offered a contrary an view. I'll certainly take it under advisement
Does anyone else out there have a similar thought. I have an open mind about his opinion
See post #19 from about 4 days ago.
Yblai2 I re-read that post and I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised to know that as White I'm pretty comfortable with the main lines of the Ruy and the GP 3 moves deep and I'm starting to do the same with the French as Black.That"s my "reportoire" for now(I'm also doing general chess reading along daily puzzle-tactical traing). In my recent limited forays into on-line competition I'm getting creamed even at the 800-1000 level. I know that blunders blunders blunders are my biggest problem.I also know that I often get so into playing offense that I forget to play defense! I'm sure that these are common deficiencies amongst advanced beginners across the world. One of my recent opponents was gracious enough to tell me that Yasser Sereiwan's books helped him get from total beginner to 1100 in one year.Am I doing what I should be doing in order to improve?
I should perhaps make it clear that I wasn't trying to tell you what to do. I think one should be wary of those who are dogmatic about what to do and what not to do. I would also be wary of those who tell you to work on only one thing. My guess is that most chess players need improvement in more than one area. I can understand if you only want to work on one thing, but I hope that you will not take that approach because of badgering from someone else. One thing that (I think) helps me is that I try to stay with slow games - games that last at least an hour. The Seirawan books seem like a reasonable thing to try, but (if I remember correctly) there are 7 of them, so it might take awhile. I often suggest Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
Thanks again for more great advice, esp. the comment about slow games vs.blitz or 30 mins. I also think that playing lots more computer or unrated games would be an excellent idea for me.
This general opening ideas will suffice for you.
1. Open with e4 or d4. Answer d4 with d5.Answer e4 with e5.
2. Put your rooks on open file.
3. Unless you see a reason not to do so, castle.
4. Unless you see a reason not to do so, capture towards the center
5. Put your bishop on open diagonals.
Then focus on reducing your simple blunders. You can reduce your blunders by solving tactics problems.
Additional tips on reducing blunders:
1. Always study your opponent's last move.
2. Before you make a move, check if there is a tactical drawback,
3. Always look at the whole board.
4. Always focus.
I suggest you get the book Logical Chess Move by Move by Chernev. This book explain well opening ideas. It will also improve your middle game play.
http://www.amazon.com/Logical-Chess-Explained-Algebraic-Edition/dp/0713484640
The primary purpose of the 2006 book, Discovering Chess Openings, was to discuss basic opening principles, but, along the way, author, GM John Emms, did give some information about various specific openings. At one point, he wrote, "If you find an opening here that appeals to you and you wish to find out more about it, the next step would be to obtain an introductory text devoted entirely to that subject."
Jamby-Thnx you for your sage advice by the way I bought chernev's Logical Chess months upon months ago and have been enjoying it ever since
Here is the best book for amateurs ever written. It comfortably puts all Chernevs, Pandolfinis and such in shame. The openings part is just ten pages, with no variations at all analysed.
It might be tough for total beginners, but doable. The material and explanations are exceptional.
"Throughout [Discovering Chess Openings, author, GM John Emms] uses excellently chosen examples to expand the readers understanding of both openings and chess in general. Thus equipped the student can carry this knowledge forward to study individual openings and build an opening repertoire. ... For beginning players, this book will offer an opportunity to start out on the right foot and really get a feel for what is happening on the board." - FM Carsten Hansen (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
In 1999, IM John Watson wrote, "Batsford's new edition of Logical Chess: Move by Move ... is replete with advice, principles, axioms, and tips to guide one's play. ... it is definitely for beginners and players who are just starting to learn about development, weak squares, the centre, standard attacking ideas, and the like. In many ways, it would [be] a wonderful 'first' book (or first 'serious' book, after the ones which teach the rules and elementary mates, for example), ... the games are clearcut and instructive. ... almost all [are] examples of miserable defence by the loser, or of utter lack of understanding (by modern standards). But precisely for that reason, they contain powerful thematic lessons for the beginning player. My only warning would be that the impressionable student should be gently reminded by a friend or mentor that most of the rules and principles Chernev so dogmatically states do not actually have any consistent validity in real-world chess, so that the book should be looked at as a way to get started thinking about positions, not as a reliable guideline to what chess is really about. With that proviso, I would recommend it heartily to anyone just starting to explore the game, ..."
http://www.theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/assorted-recent-books
IMpfren was your suggestion a serious 1 ? No one here or elsewhere has suggested anything like that as a resource. However I do believe that you are a man of integrity and will give your idea some serious consideration. Right now I'd be happy if I could always remember that I have to play defense as well as offense and/or remember not to pounce on the 1st good move I spot but to keep searching for the BEST move
..
For someone seeking help with choosing openings, I usually bring up Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014).
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html