What's the most efficient way to learn the opening, middlegame and endgame?
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Yeah that is the problem with chess, too much theory and eventually you get bored of playing the lines you have any clue about. And also calculation stuff gets boring too. I only play chess because I’m stuck with no good internet
May 17, 2020
0
#3
Again, it is all about your comfort zone. Black lives matter, especially the Black King's life. Jumping all over the place is likely not the answer. Yes, playing the same position and same game all the time can be boring. However, that does not mean go to all extremes and play the Alekhine one game and the Berlin the next.
I am at this point pretty much a French player for life. Black against 1.e4 is about the only case where I can make such a statement. At 45 now, I still have not found the sweet spot against d4 or as White.
So how do I avoid boredom playing just the French against 1.e4? Do not let the name make you think that all Frenches are the same. Winawer with 7...Qc7, Winawer with 7...O-O, Winawer with 7...Kf8, Winawer with 7...Nf5, Classical, McCutchen, Burn (the Steinitz can also be played by White instead of allowing these last 3), Rubinstein, and Fort Knox are 9 completely different systems against just 3.Nc3. Of these, I play 6 of them (Winawer with 7...Qc7, Burn, and Fort Knox being the 3 I don't).
Whichever of the 6 I am in the mood for at that moment is what I play. Same goes for other lines. Tarrasch, you have 3...c5 with 5...Nf6, 3...c5 with 5...Nc6, 3...dxe4, and 3...Nf6. Advance you have 6...Nh6 and 6...c4 (after 3...c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.a3).
You can do this with pretty much any of the "Big 4" (1...e5, 1...c5, 1...e6, 1...c6). Ruy Lopez? If you play say, the Chigorin, play the Breyer. Sicilian Najdorf? If you play 6...e6 against 6.Bg5, give 6...Nbd7 a whirl. Caro-Kann, if you play 3...Bf5 against the advance, give 3...c5 a try. If you play 4...Bf5 against the Classical, give 4...Nd7 a try.
Not that hard to do as long as you are not playing a narrow opening like the Alekhine.
Ok I think I'm gonna stick with the French defense for now.
How to pick an opening against d4? Can you show me what positions different responses lead to?
May 18, 2020
0
#5
Pick something that's reasonably good, enjoyable for you to play, and commit to it. A book titled "The Paradox of Choice" might be helpful for you, and others, who are indecisive.
I decided to change my forum topic on how to learn chess openings (and middlegames) as I decided which openings to pick.
French defense against e4
Nimzo and Queen's Indian against d4
I need tips on how to learn openings efficiently, because I am struggling to improve fast on the opening phrase
My coach told me to look over master games on that opening and learn the ideas, is that efficient?
As for the middlegame, the biggest problem for my is formulating a plan
(this is my issue here because I blitz out moves) Any tips on how to formulate a plan would be great
Finally the endgame, I'm working on the book: "Silman's complete endgame course", is that enough?