Learning 1.e4 e5 thoroughly

Not annotated.

I got the Charousek games from chessgames.com, which has more than ChessBase. I used ChessBase for McDonnell and annotated them myself (you'll find them on my blog). I have several books on Morphy with annotations of some of the games. 

I've spent hundreds of dollars on Chess Informant products, and also won 500 Euros worth through a contest.

I've heard incredible things about Kasparov on My Great Predecessors. Thanks for reminding me. I should probably sit down with a real chess board and play through the games like that?

@v3rb4lkiNt

Thanks for search for that. Great to know that is there. I have been pretty pleased with Chess Mentor.

I am here, about halfway through the Wolski mating patterns:

http://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-for-beginners-tactics2#tacticmentorcourses

I like the structure of the Study Plan, but I feel you really need to supplement with independent book study (which I am doing).

I am reading an interesting book now. Building Up Your Chess by Grand Master and 3x U.S. Champion Lev Albert. It is about how to evaluate a position.

I actually have Albert's opening repertoire book for Black. Thanks, I'll look at the reviews. I have not heard of that book.

Someone suggested I study following aspects of the following openings for 1.e4 e5:

"You can start studying with The Giucco Piano,Scotch,Sicilian,Ruy Lopez,Scandivanian,Italian Game and Evans Gambit openings."

The only problem is their English is a bit confusing and I couldn't get a clear answer as to which of these I should attempt to play as White and which I should attempt to play as Black. I can't get in touch with the, again. Can anyone shed some light on this and refine that recommendation please, telling me which for Black and which for White (and if this guy is making sense)?

All of these openings are playable from both sides. The difference between the Giucco Piano and italian game are almost non-existant (a vehement rebuttal is sure to follow). The moves being 1e4,e5 2. Nf3, Nc6, 3. Bc4 (this is the Itallian game) if black plays 3.... Bc5 it is the Giucco Piano. Bc4 puts pressure on f7 and prevents d5. If black plays the Giucco Piano he is looking to achieve equallity, trade pieces and establish a pawn break later ( thus it translates to quiet game).

The Rul Lopez and the Scotch are the most forcing from white. The sicillian and Scandinavian are played 1. e4, c5 and 1. e4, d5 respectfully. I choose openings and study the ones most from the side they are played from. Or you can cjoose to syudy what is most pppular and most likely to be encountered. The choice is yours, both approaches have pros and cons

Chicken_Monster wrote:

Someone suggested I study following aspects of the following openings for 1.e4 e5:

"You can start studying with The Giucco Piano,Scotch,Sicilian,Ruy Lopez,Scandivanian,Italian Game and Evans Gambit openings."

The only problem is their English is a bit confusing and I couldn't get a clear answer as to which of these I should attempt to play as White and which I should attempt to play as Black. I can't get in touch with the, again. Can anyone shed some light on this and refine that recommendation please, telling me which for Black and which for White (and if this guy is making sense)?

I thought the Giucco Piano IS just a variation of the Italian Game. I used to love playing that Moller Attack, better than the Max Lange.

You are correct !  I always liked both the attacks you mention also . 

Sure. Don't play it. That is, if you don't want to lose to ambitious players that, while you were whining on some forum about how everyone is insulting you, were studying hard, playing and actually learning the lines. By doing it your way (QQing in the forums) no one is wasting your time but yourself. Over and out // Mr. Wise Owl

I learned the Moller Attack first, before the Max Lange. So although I became reasonably proficient with the Moller, by the time I started to learn the Max Lange I was already on the verge of giving up 1.e4. Basically I had been playing the English and then 1Nf3. I was a tournament player and I was finding that the intensity of games with the English meant I was always tired by the last rounds. I took up 1.e4 for just over a year and my rating took a huge hit but the improvement in my tactical ability meant I recovered the minus and much more after I started playing 1.d4. I play 1.d4 still, because I think it has ther best balance between tactics and the positional element. I also think it's less drawish than 1.e4. I never became proficient at the Max Lange, although I did find myself enjoying it. If all e4 games were 1 e4 ... e5, I would play 1. e4. I got the impression that the Max Lange is less complex than the Moller but that may be because I din't know it very well.

DON'T PLAY 1.E4 E5 WHEN YOU ARE LEARNING CHESS. PROBABLY THE WORST ADVICE I HAVE SEEN ON THIS WEBSITE THUS FAR!!!!

Tx.

Good stuff. Saving this. I appreciate all useful and intersting non-trolling responses.

The avatar of a wise owl fails to hide trolling. Didn't fewl me.

Woops I spelled a word incorrectly.

As black I have never liked 1...e5.  In my opinion the enjoyable part of playing black is having quite alot of choice over which variations are played, however 1...e5 gives white so many options it is very difficult to be adequetely prepared.  It is for the same reason that i like to see 1...e5 when I occasionally play 1. e4 with white.  I used to enjoy playing the Ruy although nowadays I go for the more straightforward options like the Scotch or Italian, I am partial to the Evan's gambit also.

My advice: prepare for the variations you want to play with either colour, don't try and learn variations you won't play it's just a waste of time since you shouldn't be spending too much time studying openings anyway.

You stated "I used to enjoy playing the Ruy although nowadays I go for the more straightforward options like the Scotch or Italian, I am partial to the Evan's gambit also."

Do you play these as White or as Black?

Oh right I play them as white...I don't play 1...e5 as black for the aforementioned reasons, pretty much a devoted Caro-Kann player, I throw in the occasional Sicilian to mix it up although I can never really find positions I like playing in the Sicilian.

Edit: As I said before the issue I have with 1...e5 as black is that if I plan to answer Nf3 with Nc6 then now white can play either the Ruy, the Scotch or the Italian not to mention having the option of the King's Gambit on move 2.  I just find that I feel white is dictating the nature of the variation too much for my liking.  The Petroff isn't a bad solution to this issue although personally I have never played it...

I may switch to the Caro at some point. I still think I wil benefit from some 1.e4 e5 practice at my level though.

Yeah I should think so, I wouldn't worry overly about memorizing variations though I don't think that contributes alot to improvement.  Just learn the basic ideas in the variations you want to play and then play them!