Help for a total newb

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CadenFisher07

Hey all. First time on this forum. I’ve been playing chess casually for about 7 years since I was 8 yo. But, now I actually want to improve. My Elo on here is about 800. What openings should I learn and how many? Also what YT channels can I watch that have good tips and openings. Thanks in advance!

-Caden

justbefair

https://www.chess.com/forum/search?keyword=tips

tygxc

@1

"My Elo on here is about 800." ++ A rating of 800 is a sign of frequent blunders. Always check your intended move is no blunder before you play it.

"What openings should I learn" ++ None at all. Just play 1 e4 e5 and 1 d4 d5 as black and open 1 e4 as white. Whenever you lose a game, analyse it thoroughly so as to learn from your mistakes.

"how many?" ++ None at all.

"what YT channels can I watch" ++ YT is not useful. You cannot learn to swim, to ride a bicycle, or to drive a car by watching YT and neither can you learn to play chess from it.
Instead study a book, like Chess Fundamentals - Capablanca

"openings" ++ Do not worry about openings. Worry about tactical mistakes.

MichalMalkowski

As always, the answer to beginers is to not to focus all that much on openings, and train tactics. Tactics, tactics, tactics, and tactics again.

Strictly about the opening ( something has to be played), stick to things simple and clearly sound such as Italian game. Or Vienna game. Or queens gambit. Speaking of witch, take some time, and decide whether You prefer to start with 1.e4 or 1.d4. Other first moves are not advisable for beginers, as they are either (slightly) doubious, or very complex.

 

As for YT channels, try to find something that is low on entertainment value and high on meritorical matters. They can be great for improving Your strategical understanding or to pick up some technical skills, especially in endgames ( note that those things are not the most important for a beginer). I know only one such channel in english ( in polish it's Uniwersytet Szachowy). I think it was Jim's chess channel. There was an absolutely wonderfull ( for me at that time) film explaining the concept of good bishop vs. bad bishop, as well as some engames techniques being tought.