Playing the open game ( 1 e4 e5) will sharpen your tactical skills. One problem with playing 1 ... e5 is that you're giving White a lot of leeway in openings, so you need a working knowledge of several. However, if you want to improve your tactical play, the open game is the way to go.
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Yes,
the breadth of 1..e5 is a major concern, but I think that is one of the things that appeals to me about it. It may not be very practical to early success since it will probably take me quite a while before I feel like I know the correct (or my chosen) response every move white can make after 1...e5, but learning these different positions, which are all really rich and have a great history is really kind of the point, isn't it?
Also, as to your comment about tactical....I kind of disagree. If you check out Silman's latest post, he makes a great case as to the flexibility of every opening, and as to the direction, quiet or crazy, that these games may go in; I do have some say in the matter.
Jan 24, 2011
0
#4
My first reaction is that at your level, there's no such thing as 'holding a draw as Black'. That concept really doesn't mean anything until I would guess 1800 or so chess.com online rating.
Having said that, I recently switched to playing 1...e5 against 1.e4, and I really reccomend it. If you want, I can give you some of the lines I have chosen to play against various White responses to 1.e4 e5. Alternatively, if you like, since I play 1.e4 as White, I would be more than happy to play one or more online games against you using various second moves by White, so you can gain experience with your chosen lines.
Good luck with whatever repertoire you decide to take on!
Your point about "holding a draw as black" is seriously valid. I am for sure getting ahead of myself, considering that I've only been playing about 9 months, but that's not to say that this point won't be valid later in my chess life when it is something of a consideration. If you are serious about playing with me, I would be seriously into that.
@Clouseau
I agree that pawn structures are seriously important, and key to understanding concepts. I also think I am too fickle to just play one opening always, so I believe that I will end up playing both. It's not like my GM norms are on the line or anything, I'm just enjoying learning. Playing the Queen's Gambit Declined (specifiaclly Tartakower and Lasker variations) is also a plus, because the pawn structures are similar, as well as the bad bishop on c8, so they will benefit eachother.
As someone who played the French for awhile before getting serious about 1. e4 e5, I can offer some thoughts.
The French is a terrific alternative to 1. e4 e5. If you really like the French, you should play it. It does need to be acknowledged that 1. e4 e5 will do a lot for your chess, and you won't get this same education from the French. You'll get to play assertively from the first move, grab the initiative when White stumbles, and you'll improve your tactical vision. If you play 1. e4 e5 exclusively for awhile (think long term here: at least a year or two), I'll bet you'll be able to play those crazy sharp French positions much better whenever you decide to go back to them. You might even decide that you're an 1. e4 e5 player who happens to play the French instead of the other way around.
It's true that after 1. e4 e5, there is a lot that White can throw at you, and at first you will take the occasional beating to something you've never seen before. The good news is that the backbone of your repertoire can be based on the answers to just a few questions.
1) What do I want to play vs. the Ruy Lopez (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5)?
2) Do I want to play 3 ... Bc5 or the Two Knights Defense (3 ... Nf6) against the Italian Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4)? This is important because this is one of the only places in the Open Games where transpositions can become an issue and your choice here may affect what move you'd play in some other positions.
3) What do I want to play vs. the Scotch (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4)?
4) What do I want to play vs. the King's Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. f4)? This is a distant fourth to the first three IMO, but because of how dangerous this opening is for both sides, I include it on the list.
With regards to learning how to play 1. e4 e5, those are the most important openings to have a plan for as Black as those are generally the most common. Most other replies can be handled by following good opening principles: develop, get castled, break with ... d5 as Black. There are some exceptions to this rule, but it might be best to learn more about those as you run across them.
@fishzilla
Thank you for your sound advice, I found it to be most in accordance with what I have thus far discovered. What do you play in these openings?
I'd stick with the French. First of all, a huge percentage of white players groan when they see it, and that's always nice.
And while the French has a very boring, passive reputation, you can make it as tactical and sharp as you want it to be (most of the reason it has this reputation is because white players insist on leading it into the most boring possible lines, like the exchange.)
I like the fort knox variation as a solid, simple alternative to the winawer.
phryndmnnt wrote:
I'm an improving adult beginner. I don't have tons of time for chess, when I am being responsible anyway, but instead of watching tv or playing videogames I play, practice, and study chess for an hour or two at night.
My first love as a response to 1. e4 was the french defense, but I have found that the most effective variations are exceedingly theoretical and sharp. When I started playing more and started seeing 1. d4 I would just approach it the same way, in a different order, which I later learned is called the Queen's Gambit Declined. As white I play 1.d4 2. c4
My question is this. Recently I have become interested in 1...e5 as black after 1.e4 A lot of stock is taken in learning the classical styles and openings, as it is said to improve you as a player in general like nothing else can. Also I must admit that it is easier to punish bad play in the open games. I don't think I want to abandon the French, it is much easier to hold a draw, particularly in the easier less theoretical sidelines, but perhaps I can have both?
What are your thoughts, experiences, and considerations?
Im so sorry,I wright in english,but not speaking. =============================================== I am player from 1974 untill 1987 ,and play so much openings and defenses,but is wrong,not good,believe me. ======================================================================== Here,in my city there was a gret player,he say what players must play all live same ,ever,ever.Currently I play with white 1d4.With black against 1e4,the french defense,against 1d4 1,,,g6 2...,Bg7 the modern defense,and 1c4 I play 1...,e5. ======================================================================= For this I suggest you play a few defenses,and openings,only seem me,not more this.Sincere regards===========ps:I abandon tournaments,but not chess
What is your goal? Probably having fun, I don't think you are planning on a career as a chessplayer?
-Play the openings you like best, you'll try different openings with time and you'll make up your own mind!
My goals, in order, are as follows
1. to improve
2. to accomplish
3. to enjoy
You'll be a better player no matter what opening you play, you could choose an unsound gambit, you'll win some and lose some, and you'll learn plenty while you are having fun!
Normal road to better chess:
1.Learn some basic opening principles.
2.Learn some basic tactical patterns/ ideas.
3.Learn some basic opening traps.
4.Learn some basic endgames - Silman's complete endgame course!
Then:
-Allways study your own games, not blitz/bullet (bullshitt) games, but long games preferable OTB games (real life face to face) find out what went wrong/ what you did right,
-Learn about strategy when to open/ close the center, wich side to play, when to trade down, what pices you should trade/ not trade.
Reassess your Chess - Silman!
-Dig deeper intoo the openings, try to understand the plan behind different openings (playing trough commented GM games is great!)
-Learn how to make plans, what to do? How to find candidate moves and how to calculate them to a depth so you can make up your mind wich one to play?
Solving puzzles with no clear goal, not mate in 2-3 but puzzles where you have to find out who is better/ equal, write down all your candidate moves, your calculations and all your other chess thougts, will work great!
-Study tactics with puzzles hard enough to give you a challenge!
crt art, chess tempo, tactics trainer on chess.com, and puzzle books.
When you have done some of this for a long time, it's time to find out what to do next! How do you do that?
-Chess Exam and Training Guide - Igor Khmelnitsky.
Playing in a club with strong players is great, ask others for feedback on your games!
I hope some of this sounds sane to you, good luck!
Best wishes from:
Pål Skogli 1803 Fide 420 tournament games (most national)
Hi, also ich denke für jemanden der e5 kennen lernen will und mehr, sind die 2 DVD's von Jan Gustafsson super geeignet.
Band 1 Marshall-Gambit gegen Spanisch (Was aber sehr viel zum "auswendig" lernen ist. Da alleine drauf zu kommen ist nur unnötig schwer aber verstehen muss man es ja doch trotzdem etwas.)
Ist sicher super interessant aber für den Einstieg gegen Spanisch vielleicht nicht gerade geeignet.
Band 2 behandelt alle anderen offene Abspiele. Und das dürfte schon deutlich interessanter sein für den Anfang. Hier wurde zwar geschrieben das es dennoch nur zum "auswendig" lernen ist, das kann man natürlich immer und zu allem sagen.
Wenn dich das interessiert dann kauf dir diese DVD's, verschaff dir rundum einen kleinen Überblick mit den Videos und dann heissts ausprobieren :-))) Du hast vielleicht noch nicht so ein hohes niveau aber die Mitspieler die man hat sind ja doch immer etwa auf dem gleichen level würd ich mal behaupten.......
Wenn es dann einigermassen läuft kannst du dir später immer noch extra die ganzen Analysevarianten auf der DVD anschauen und nachspielen. Wenn du fragen hast kannst du mir auch eine Nachricht schicken, ich werd es dann wenn möglich beantworten.
There are two ways for improving:
Improving strengths
or
Removing weaknesses
It is often more fun to work on your strengths but you will probably soon suffer from "diminishing return" (i.e. the improvement per study week goes down)
Dan Heisman has suggested the following piece of advice:
You might learn faster if you play openings opposite of your style!
I have decided to give it a try!
I'm an improving adult beginner. I don't have tons of time for chess, when I am being responsible anyway, but instead of watching tv or playing videogames I play, practice, and study chess for an hour or two at night.
My first love as a response to 1. e4 was the french defense, but I have found that the most effective variations are exceedingly theoretical and sharp. When I started playing more and started seeing 1. d4 I would just approach it the same way, in a different order, which I later learned is called the Queen's Gambit Declined. As white I play 1.d4 2. c4
My question is this. Recently I have become interested in 1...e5 as black after 1.e4 A lot of stock is taken in learning the classical styles and openings, as it is said to improve you as a player in general like nothing else can. Also I must admit that it is easier to punish bad play in the open games. I don't think I want to abandon the French, it is much easier to hold a draw, particularly in the easier less theoretical sidelines, but perhaps I can have both?
What are your thoughts, experiences, and considerations?