Looking for a white opening repertoire, need help

Right know I have no repertoire. I open with 1.e4, if my opponent goes 1.e5, I play 2. Bc4 and try to play c3 d4(If my opponent allows it, I do it in one move), against sicilian I play the alapin, advanced french and caro, 150-attack setup against hypermoderns. That's all I have, but I think that's not enough for 1650 level. 

1) What is the most fun/challenging option against 1.e5(no king's gambit please, I'm a coward)?

Scotch, Italian, Ponziani or Ruy lopez? What specific variations? I would love something that can give me the advantage if my opponent messes up.

2) Should I change my sicilian weapon? I have always wanted to learn the mengarini wing gambit but didn't find any theory on it online. I won 4 out of 4 alapin sicilian games that I played recently, so idk. 

3) Should I switch my advanced french/caro for Nc3 or Nd2? I have heard that this is a more fun way to combat these defences. Also I don't like closed positions, they are hard to understand.

4) Should I learn austrian attack setup or the 5.f4 byrne instead of 150-attack? Is that worth it?

my playstyle is a) attack attack attack or b) no attack?(( make the center grip rock hard and hope it wins me the game.

Does anyone know what could match it?

• Stick with the Advanced French for now.
• Stick with the Tal Caro-Kann.
• Stick with the 150 Pirc.
• Stick with the 150 Modern.

That part’s easy enough. You have pretty good lines when you can get in an early d4. That being said, it kind of looks like you… don’t know what to do as White without an e4 d4 center, so you rush to play d4 as soon as you have it supported with c3. I’m going to recommend lines without any pawn centers so you can learn what to do against opponents who don’t give away the center for free.

Against 1… e5, I have 3 recommendations, and I’d recommend playing all of them, as there are some transpositions, a lot of overlapping ideas, and they’re all relatively positional:

1. The Bishop’s Opening: e4 Bc4 d3 to start, and here meet 3… c6 with 4. a3 so as to retreat your bishop to a2. 3… Nc6 or 3… Bc5 can both be met by either 4. Nc3 Nc6/Bc5 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 or 4. Nf3 transposing to my next recommendation…
2. The Giuoco Pianissimo: e4 Nf3 Bc4 d3 c3 0-0, then play positionally from there.
3. The Slow Ruy Lopez: e4 Nf3 Bb5 Ba4 0-0 d3 and then play positionally from there.

Against the Sicilian, I recommend 2. Nf3, and I have three responses to each of Black’s second moves: an Open, a Semi-Open, and an Anti-Sicilian. Pick and choose for each category.

2… Nc6 can be met by:

1. The Rossolimo (3. Bb5) where you trade bishop for knight, play c3 and d3 to lock down the center and the long diagonals, then develop and play positionally.
2. The Anti-Sveshnikov (3. Nc3) where you wait to see what Black does next before committing to a plan. 3… e5 can be met by 4. Bc4, 3… e6 can be met by 4. d4 likely transposing to a Taimanov, 3… d6 can be met by 4. Bb5, et cetera.
3. The Open (3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nf3) where you accept that the only variation from the other second move Sicilians Black can’t throw at you is the Najdorf, but they make up for that by adding a 2… Nc6 exclusive, the Sveshnikov and Kalashnikov. I don’t highly recommend this unless you also decide to play the Open against every other variation as well.

2… e6 can be met by:

1. The KIA (3. d3) where you argue that Black’s LSB is terrible enough to compensate for the somewhat passive move in the opening.
2. The Westerinen (3. b3 b6 4. Bb2 Bb7 5. Nc3 a6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4) where you delay the d4 push until you’re almost fully developed and then play against Black’s weak bishops again.
3. The Open (3. d4) where you learn the Four Knights, Taimanov, the Kan, and the Scheveningen.

2… d6 can be met by:

1. The Chekhover (3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4) where you try to argue that your queen is safe on such an active square so early. Do not blunder your queen accidentally.
2. The Delayed Alapin (3. c3) where you play the Alapin but better, as 3… d5 loses a whole tempo and 3… Nf6 no longer immediately threatens e4. There are two mainlines: 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 and 4. h3 Nc6 5. Bd3, each with their own plans and ideas. Alternatively Black can play anything other than Nf6 and you get the e4 d4 center in the Sicilian, which is a massive advantage.
3. The Open (3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3) where you have to learn the Dragon, the Accelerated Dragon, the Najdorf, the Classical, and the Scheveningen.

Do you like books that give many various lines and plans to pick from, or do you prefer books that lay out the repertoire for you plus help explain what is happening.

I use two books for my 1 e4 repertoire. Against the big four strongest replies (Caro Kann, Sicilian, French, 1...e5) I use the Keep It Simple 1 e4 book (first edition's repertoire). Against all other defenses I use the book Grandmaster Gambits 1 e4.

I came up with that after accessing what I like and don't like from each book. Neither book alone satisfied me. They are both repertoire books and both help explain what is going on.

A couple of examples as to why I am using two books --- The Keep It Simple 1 e4 presents the Rossilimo, the Grandmaster Gambits book presents the Wing Gambit. I decided the Wing Gambit didn't look good enough against the Sicilian, but the Rossolimo does to me. However, I rather like the early Be2 and quick h4 the Gambits book uses against the Modern and Pirc more so than the typical repertoires in the Keep It Simple book against those two defenses.

As a side note, Keep It Simple 1 e4 has come out with a somewhat different 2.0 repertoire book. I stuck to the first edition because it suited me more but many players have jumped to the 2.0 version.

Are you comfortable with your openings as black? What are they? This should help me better answer your questions.

How do you like the scotch???

1. What is the most fun/challenging option against 1.e5

Scotch

Assuming your like more open positions, I strongly recommend the Scotch. White the Ruy Lopez and Italian can and often do become more closed and positional (especially at a higher level), the Scotch offers more aggressive play (with white going queenside in some lines, leading to opposite side castling positions). I myself implemented the tricky Scotch Gambit (exd4, Bc4), an opening with an abundance of pit falls requiring accurate play from the opponent, with much success against players under 2000 on lichess. I've also looked at the Potter Variation (exd4, Nxd4, Bc5, Nb3) in the Scotch, which essentially forces an aggressive game where both sides castle on opposite sides and attack each other.

Four Knight Scotch

An alternative is the Four Knights Scotch. Below 2000, this opening is incredibly dangerous as it has a variety of early traps that allow you to win material early on.

Both openings lead to open, aggressive positions. Both openings are tricky, and a good knowledge of the ideas and moves proves dangerous at the sub-2000 level. With the being said, black can equalize against both with accurate play, especially the Scotch Gambit and the Four Knights Scotch.

 Should I change my sicilian weapon?

The Alapin is a good line against the Sicilian. You should be facing a lot of IQP positions from the IQP side, which require for active, tactical play. If you are willing to put in the work though, you can learn the mainlines of the Open Sicilian or the Smith Morra. The former is more known while the latter is considered to be more dubious. Personally, I would stick with the Alapin for the moment.

You mentioned the Mengarini Wing Gambit. It is a relatively rare but dangerous line so the lack of resources is expected. Part of being a good chess player is knowing how to analyse openings by yourself, using an engine and an openings database to create your own repertoire. I can create a file for the Mengarini Wing Gambit if you want, sort of as an introductory example.

Should I switch my advanced french/caro for Nc3 or Nd2

Personally, I would stick with the advanced variations for both and learn how to play more closed, positional chess (an important aspect of the game). With that being said, if you want to get more open, tactical positions, Nc3 and Nd2 may not be the best lines for such an aim. Closing the centre in these openings often leads to a strategic battle over a single pawn, the d4 pawn.

Caro Kann

I would recommend looking at the Panov Attack. You'll get to play IQP positions from the side with the IQP, something you should already be experienced with as an Alapin player.

If you want to try Nc3, I would recommend a dangerous gambit, the Rasa-Studier Gambit (dxe4, f3!?). This can lead to dangerous positions if black is not careful, I myself as a Caro Kann player have gotten a worse position out of the opening in this particular line.

French

Against the French, the Schlechter Variation (2. d4, 3. Bd3) and the Horwitz Attack (2. b3) lead to open centre positions where white castles queenside early on. I would also look at the dangerous Orthoschnapp Gambit, an rare weapon I have never lost with until I retired from playing it(I only dared to use it against sub-2000 players).

Should I learn austrian attack setup or the 5.f4 byrne instead of 150-attack? Is that worth it?

I am not as experienced with Hypermodern Openings arising from 1. e4 positions. I would look at 3. f4 as well as 3. f3, a move that can allow you to transpose to the Samisch Variation of the King's Indian Defense, an aggressive line in the King's Indian Defense where the centre is locked and both sides are castled on opposite sides.

Hope this helped.

No, I am not. In fact, I was going to make a new post with the question about black openings. I have no repertoire rn, I just answer e4 with e5(54% win rate) and d4 with d5. I know some lines tho, like the hungarian defence or QGD with dxc4 a3 b5 Bb7 c5

I don't play the tal caro kann, I play the a3 b4 thing. The giuoco piano is exactly what I am playing rn(e4 Bc4 c3 Nf3 O-O Re1 d4) or (e4 Bc4 c3 d3 Nf3 O-O h3 Re1 d4), the slow Ruy lopez sounds like it will make me go asleep tbh. Why would one pick a different weapon against each sicilian if the Alapin can be played instantly on move 2? To get a chance to play an improved one against 2.d6?

I have played this exact gambit from italian game move order when I was an 800, its good

I have always liked the scotch but it seemed so complicated and...random? Like there is no specific plan and all you do is try to defend the knight in the center. What do you think about the belgrade gambit? I know NOTHING about it, but the stats are amazing. I think if I choose to play the scotch, it would be the scotch gambit. Are there any resources online for it?

The reason I picked advanced french and caros is because a) I know french from the black side

b) alapin sicilian sometimes transposes into advanced french

c) it allows to play against the caro kann in the same style.

Btw, yesterday at night I watched the opening principles course on chessmood, and got some understanding of the d4 e4 f4 setup, maybe I should employ it?

(terrible spelling warning)

try catalan or nitzo-indian defence. solid, hypermodern openings on queenside. most of the time, it involves fiachoing the bishop, and basicly leaving the centre to later.

Indian game is probably the most intuitive, with benoi defence and closed catalan, which is slightly book-heavy not not the heavist

but i am like 1100ish computer elo, (pls dont look at my puzzle it wont make sense) so i might be wrong

I might recommend switching your Caro-Kann response from Advanced then. Accelerated Panov tends to give more open, double-edged positions and the IQPs you’d be familiar with from the Alapin.

That’s a weird Giuoco Piano move order, but if it works, it works I guess. There is a specific reason for every move in the move order I use though, so I’d recommend it. e4 unlocks the LSB and takes center space, Nf3 attacks e5, Bc4 developing bishops to safest active square, d3 defending e4 square, c3 allowing the LSB to retreat if needed as well as blocking Nb4/Nd4 ideas, Bb3 dropping the bishop back preemptively against d6, Bc2 securing the LSB in a strong middlegame and endgame position in response to Be6 rather than allowing Black to trade it off, 0-0 because the king is now safe, h3 because Black now has nothing better to do than improve pieces and Bg4 is the most likely candidate, Re1 developing rooks to center and clearing f1 square, Nbd2 headed to the kingside, Nf1 completing the journey, and then from here you actually have to play chess sadly.

Slow Ruy Lopez is every bit as dynamic as the normal Ruy Lopez, if not more, as you avoid the Marshall Attack while still allowing transpositions to the Pilnik Closed Morphy, one of White’s best options if not the single best. That being said, if you don’t want to learn it, you don’t have to, especially considering you have the Bishop’s/Giuoco Piano.

There’s a good reason for having a different response to each Sicilian: they’re very very different openings.
2… Nc6 gives Black much more flexibility in the center, but presents a target for White’s bad bishop. As such, Rossolimo trades off the bad bishop and sets up its own flexible center to counter Black’s. 3. Nc3 forces Black to give up some of that flexibility as any waiting move here benefits White and any real move has actual counterplay discussed in my last post.
2… e6 gives Black an ultra-solid center and prepares an eventual d5 or f5 pawn break, but blocks in the LSB and weakens the dark squares slightly. Therefore, we can either play against the LSB (KIA) with a strong pawn structure on the light squares or we can play against the dark squares and eventual pawn breaks (Westerinen) by using the long diagonal before Black can get to it and then trying to break open the center to accommodate that ultra-strong bishop.
2… d6 gives Black options on how to develop essentially every piece and is very flexible, but each of those choices comes with serious downsides usually related to a weak backwards pawn on d6, a weak d5 square, a much slower d5 break, and an open diagonal to the king earlygame due to the pawn not blocking check on d7. In this, we can play either against the diagonal (Chekhover) by putting our queen in the center where it’s most active and then pinning Nc6 with Bb5 if they try that and taking a space and activity advantage if they don’t try that, or we can play against the diagonal (Delayed Alapin) by ignoring the e-pawn’s safety in favor of development and the cramping of Black’s position until absolutely necessary as Qa4+ picks up the knight until the diagonal is plugged with Nc6, which can be kicked away sometimes by d4 cxd4 d5, or Nbd7/Bd7 which are both rather passive, or we can play against the more concrete weaknesses that d6 provides with the Open, which can be done without theory but may be easier with theory.

Your rep is enough. The only change I will make is replace Bc4 with the Italian (Evans gambit or the pianissimo). I would add the classical variation or the two knights against the caro and the tarrasch french or the advance french. I don't know why you think that rep isn't good enough.

@lassus_dinnao -

A few openings suggestions here that address your questions...specifically the Italian Game, and the Vienna Game & Gambit against 1.e4 e5, and the Grand Prix Attack against the Sicilian Defense. Each of these openings feature attacking-style chess (in particular for the Italian Game the dynamic, but solid, Evans Gambit)...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Against 1.e4 the Caro-Kann Defense is my favorite, in particular the aggressive Classical - Korchnoi Variation, also known as the Tartakower Variation.  (I don't know how it became known by two names). This is a counter-attacking variation which has recently become popular at high levels. In my view it is much more exciting than many of the, shall we say, "conservative" variations that the C-K has historically been known for. Nevertheless, it is generally acknowledged that the C-K is one of the best defenses against 1.e4, regardless of the variation chosen, whether super solid or aggressive like the Korchnoi/Tartakower.

I recommend two excellent books which feature an in-depth treatment of the Korchnoi/Tartakower variation of the C-K, which I consider to be the go-to books on this variation....
"Win With The Caro-Kann" by Sverre Johnsen & T.R. Hansen. This is a complete repertoire in the Caro-Kann defense to 1.e4. The same holds true for the repertoire book "Playing The Caro-Kann" by Lars Schandorff. As mentioned, both books feature the sharp and aggressive Korchnoi/Tartakower Variation - 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6 exf6 - which should appeal to players preferring dynamic, attacking counterplay as Black.

For a less agressive Caro-Kann repertoire featuring the fashionable, solid main-line Classical - Capablanca Variation - 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 - see "Opening Repertoire: The Caro-Kann" by Jovanka Houska and "Grandmaster Repertoire 7: The Caro-Kann" by Lars Schandorf.

In addition to the aforementioned lines, all of the cited books provide a complete repertoire, treating all of the major variations of the Caro-Kann.

The following are several instructive video introductions to the Korchnoi/Tartakower Variation. The last video listed (presented by the well-known chess book author GM John Nunn) is a review of Sverre Johnsen's C-K book which IMO does an excellent job of teaching this particular variation, and is my first choice for a book to learn it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsnITf68J5w&list=PLOaFVRf_8WkR2hEuZXnfK0vnNenUCPc3F&index=5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_6qOZIlbE0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPVp5TWZR0w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MrEYqiMU4w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7qKfb_LojU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K0zg1b5ETU

If White prefers to begin with 1.d4, I recommend the London System....

Introduction To The London System & Jobava London System...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/the-london-system

For attacking chess as Black against 1.d4 I suggest the Stonewall Dutch Defense. In particular the following two excellent books provide a complete repertoire for Black featuring the Stonewall Dutch (I recommend them in the order given here, as the book by Sverre Johnsen is, IMO, a little more "amateur friendly")...

"Win with the Stonewall Dutch" by Sverre Johnsen & Ivar Bern

"Playing The Stonewall Dutch" by Nikola Sedlak

While the Stonewall is considered to be a "closed' opening, its fairly straight-forward attacking motifs are relatively easy to understand compared to most other closed and Queen's Pawn openings/defenses. Note also that the Stonewall structure (with colors reversed) and style of play can be employed effectively as White, when the openings is referred to as the Stonewall Attack.....

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/stonewall-attack

Chapter 9 of the following opening repertoire book provides an instructive introduction to the Stonewall Dutch Defense, and is targeted primarily to the improving amateur player - beginner and beyond...

"My First Chess Opening for Black" by Vincent Moret

Good luck!

I think I'll try playing:

1) d6 sicilian: open sicilian, but take with the queen, pin the knight and go O-O-O

2) e6 sicilian: delayed alapin, hoping to get a transposition into the advance french

3) Nc6 sicilian: I'll go Bg5, trade it and continue with c3 d4

What do you think about it?

Myself, I play 2...e6 exclusively. It's very flexible, avoids the Rossolimo, supports an early ...d5 if White tries to play any obscure lines, like the Closed Sicilian or the Grand Prix, and also works well against the Alapin. Depending on the move order. Consider thematic play as a way to learn the openings, especially daily or correspondence, where you can use opening books or play many middlegames from set opening positions, probably that is better for your game than "studying the lines". Doesn't look as if thematic play is big on chess.com though.

oops, you wanted a White rep. My bad