I run into this issue with fellow club players, and for me, I’ve prepared a few sidelines or transpositions where I can still steer the game.
Other than that, offer or take a draw and move on.
How to deal with opponents who play your favorite openings against you?
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Personally I feel that if you struggle most in your area of expertise… it’s not your area of expertise. Find a new repertoire or book up further in this one, you shouldn’t be struggling in an opening in which you know what your opponent wants to do.
Chuck639 wrote:
I run into this issue with fellow club players, and for me, I’ve prepared a few sidelines or transpositions where I can still steer the game.
Other than that, offer or take a draw and move on.
I have heard people saying that an opening is like a sword, but how you use the weapon depends on your own innate ability and skills. So in terms of opening theory, it's like whoever knows an opening and its finer points (e.g. subtleties) better will usually emerge on top.
Also, like you said, it can be good to learn sidelines against your own preferred lines so that in an actual game it doesn't feel like you're playing against yourself.
Yeah this is a very common problem that people face. I personally just don't care at all and play the same lines because I know, the middlegame will always be different. Sidelines are a great resource as well.
Sep 25, 2023
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#7
brianchesscake wrote:
Chuck639 wrote:
I run into this issue with fellow club players, and for me, I’ve prepared a few sidelines or transpositions where I can still steer the game.
Other than that, offer or take a draw and move on.
I have heard people saying that an opening is like a sword, but how you use the weapon depends on your own innate ability and skills. So in terms of opening theory, it's like whoever knows an opening and its finer points (e.g. subtleties) better will usually emerge on top.
Also, like you said, it can be good to learn sidelines against your own preferred lines so that in an actual game it doesn't feel like you're playing against yourself.
It’s not even about opening theory, it’s literally jumping into a middle game that you prefer.
As an example, I am an English player and dislike playing against fellow English players but, I have a handful of prepared lines that equalizes quickly.
I like playing both sides of a Sicilian Najdorf so I don't care.
Avoid those openings
Example: I like playing the London as White. It's part of my opening repertoire for white with 1.d4. As Black however I play 1.d4 e6 and try to avoid the London through whatever moves possible.
Openings are double-edged swords. Good against an opponent but it can also turn on you.
PLAYING the London is GOOD , FACING the London is BAD .
Sep 25, 2023
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#11
It's fine. To really understand an opening, you should know both sides of it - the ideas, plans, and general structures, as well as the opposition to those ideas, plans, and structures.
You should have a greater advantage playing against your favorite opening than playing against any other opening. You know your favorite opening better than any other. You know their plans, and you know yours.
Sep 26, 2023
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#13
Tbh playing against my favorite opening I also know exactly the lines i don’t like to
face, so I immediately go for those. I usually end up having an above average win percentage against my fav openings as a result.
face, so I immediately go for those. I usually end up having an above average win percentage against my fav openings as a result.
Sep 26, 2023
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#14
brianchesscake wrote:
Lately I have been having trouble responding to players who use my own favorite openings against me, it reminds me a bit of my early childhood years in chess when I would play chess with myself by making a move, flipping the board, making a move again and repeating the process until I either won or lost (I would be beating myself anyway).
I've always wondered how people could play against themselves. I never could. After I read that Bobby Fischer did it all the time, I tried it again, but the result was the same. I always resort to playing hope chess against myself. Whenever I see a cool tactic, I hope the other 'me' doesn't see it.
Regarding seeing my opening played against me, I like it. it's been a good learning experience to play against my own openings and a good way to test various lines that I don't like to face and see what happens.
Play what you don't like to face
One of my favorite openings is the Vienna gambit which is pretty easy to equalize against as Black if you know the theory. So I'm very happy to play White or Black in those positions.
Sep 27, 2023
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#18
undergroundbrownrice wrote:
Play what you don't like to face
Hi! That sounds like a good strategy. I mainly do the same, for instance I play side-lines I don´t like much. As a Sicilian player I know how frustrated you feel when with Black you don´t reach to your pet line (in my case 4 Knights). Then as white I mostly play either 2. c3 or 2. Nc3 and I have a 60% winning rate, while when 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4 -allowing the Sicilian main lines - I only have 53% winning rate.
Good luck!
Put on your best Bane voice and growl, "Ah, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it. Molded by it."
Then beat them at their own game.
Lately I have been having trouble responding to players who use my own favorite openings against me, it reminds me a bit of my early childhood years in chess when I would play chess with myself by making a move, flipping the board, making a move again and repeating the process until I either won or lost (I would be beating myself anyway).