Opening survey for OTB players

Do you play OTB chess tournaments?

 ok my survey for those who play OTB chess. I just want to know how important opening theory for us non-pros

1) What is your elo rating?

2) Do you often get into better positions than your opponent after the opening?

 3) How do rate your opening play? Is it better / similar / worse than players of the same ability?

4) Do you play the mainlines or surprise your opponent with the sidelines? 

5) How many moves deep can you memorise the opening theory? 

 6) Do you stick to just one opening variation or play a couple of variations?

1) I don't know

2) Most of the time

3) I rate it very high

4) I usually play main lines

5) About 15-20

6) I play many

1)1550

2)Yes, most of the time

3)better

4)Mainline stuff, but they never know more than 5 moves deep.

5) I have a set repertoire, and I've been playing it for awhile so I know it quite well. I don't know exactly how many moves deep I know but I do know it's always more than the other guy.

6)I stick to my usual repertoire, it's usually the same variation. 

1)1382

2) yes usually, unless my opponent is better than me

3) probably better

4)nothing obscure or dubious (at least not deliberately).  I wouldnt call the alapin sicilian mainline though.  

5)dunno, not many.  I just know enough to work it out as i go along.  I know the first few moves off by heart, then i can get a good number right after that but i have to check the board.  

6) I stick to the same openings.  I will get different games by playing different people. 

I used to play OTB tournaments alot, i even travelled abroad to play weekend tournaments too, however i dont any more as i stopped playing chess for about 5 years. I think i should answer your survey anyway.

1. 1750 (Started t'ments with 900+ national rating and still played up to 1700+ or so)

2. I guess so, but more importantly i was in positions i was familiar with.

3. Probably slightly better.

4. Mainlines and some sidelines.

5. Usually to wherever there is a large selection of possibilities, then understanding and creativity takes over. I wouldnt recommened learning by heart tho because most weaker players wont play theory anyway, wait until you are near 1600-1800 grade to have longer studied lines in your rep.

6. Stick to same variations, but still read up on other lines.

Thanks all for replying. err....a bit about myself

1. 1626 (5 years ago. I haven't played since I am working and with a very young demanding daughter)

2. For white, I used to play reti and symmetrical english. I usually end up equal out of the opening but if my opponent doesn't understand positional play and create too many weaknessess I end up better.

 For black against e4 (at that time) I play sicilian dragon (of all openings). I end up better against opponents not booked up. But against players better than myself and prepared I am slightly worse off

For black against d4 or anything else, I play the dutch leningrad. I end up equal or better  (for players who don't know about the book)  and worse for players who are prepared.

3. worse than players of similar ability

4.Mainlines

5. Reti was a safe opening for me. Just the themes no memorisation about 5-7 moves deep. But the sicilian dragon took too much time and effort 15-20 moves deep   

 For the leningrad dutch just 8-10 moves deep.

 6. Same varriations.

I have changed my rep since then. I realised I am not blessed with a great memory.

 I tried to go for something more solid and less  demanding as black. Against 1.d4, I play the tartakower variation Queen Gambit declined.

Against 1.e4 the french. Chose the stenitz and burn variation against 3.Nc3.

 For white I tried something more ambitious i.e. 1.d4. But now I found the theory too overwhelming.I am undecided whether to go back to 1.Nf3 (solid but very difficult to win) or continue with 1.d4.

 What is your advice?

1) elo ~ 2050 OTB

2) I often get better positions out of the opening against weaker players

 3) I think my opening play is more of a strength than a weakness

4) It depends, but I'm trying more and more to play sidelines if I feel they have surprise value and I'm comfortable playing them

5) It really depends on the line : from 3 moves to 10-15 moves I guess

 6) I'm broadening my repertoire and try to play very different opening variations

My advice is : just play what you feel comfortable with - and if it doesn't work, then fix it

Confidence in your opening choice is as important as the intrisic value of the opening for amateur players

1) 1717

2) Against weaker players I often get large advantages and against stronger players I usually can acheive equality

3) My openings are improving so I would say that they are average for my level

4) I used to play sidelines but now am trying to learn all the main lines in the openings I play

5) The lines I play are fairly in depth, like in the sicilian Najdorf I need to know 15+ moves

6) I change my openings because if you play a line yourself you are better equipped to play against it.

1)1565

2)yes

3)better

4)both, some openings I stick to the mainline some I look for sidelines

here are the openings I play

black:

King's gambit Falkbeer countergambit

Two Kight's defense, I play the mainline, fritz, ulvestad, wilkes-barre, and anti-max lange attack.

Ruy Lopez Schiemann Variation, and Zaitsev Variation

Semi-Slav mainline

I play the main line against most other openings

White:

Scotch Gambit

Morra-Smith Gambit

Panov-Botvinnik Attack

French defense Winawer Variation 4.Nge2

I play the mainline against most other defenses

5. 10-20 depending on the opening, but never played an OTB game that went more then 7 moves deep.

6. The more I understand about opening theory I more I try different openings.

1) What is your elo rating?  2022

2) Do you often get into better positions than your opponent after the opening?

    Depends, if I am rated higher usually better, if within 100 points, its usually even, if I am lower rated usually worse.

 3) How do rate your opening play? Is it better / similar / worse than players of the same ability?  similar

4) Do you play the mainlines or surprise your opponent with the sidelines? I play, usually, the mainlines especially if the player I am playing is higher rated. By mainline, I mean the lines that I know what is considered best. For instance, I play the Botvinnik English, not a mainline for the English, but I stay within the parameters of the Botvinnik.

5) How many moves deep can you memorise the opening theory? Hard to say, openings that I am very familar with could be 15-20 moves. If I am not familar with the opening its usually the first 5-10 moves.

 6) Do you stick to just one opening variation or play a couple of variations? More than one. Although I play the English mostly, there are times when I play the Reti or play 1 e4.