@TeacherOfPain, Bobby Fischer was exactly the opposite of what you thought he was. He was literary a walking opening encyclopedia. He even learned russian so that he could study books written in russian.
Opening Theory Is Pointless For Most People That Will Ever Play. Why Bother?
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Yeah, Bobby was great at openings in general. He could still be elite even if he had to play all his games in openings he'd never played before. He understood chess at an extremely high level so he could be thrown into any position and do extremely well even against top players who were way more experienced in those openings.
Similar to the Magster in that way.
Fair enough...
If you think studying opening theory is not important then you simply do not know very much about chess.
Aug 11, 2020
0
#626
ponz111 wrote:
If you think studying opening theory is not important then you simply do not know very much about chess.
For lower rated and intermediate players including myself, I would say studying theory is useless since we can get by doing nothing too special other than practice. The average rating at chess.com is about 800 to 900. So to say that most players don't need opening theory is probably correct.
Aug 11, 2020
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#627
If you want to play Competitively in OTB Tournaments, you should study Openings Theory as much as your brains can absorbed. Many strong otb players who claimed they don't study are Lying. Psychological tactics 
Is it better to reinvent the wheel or reverse-engineer it?
rueflu I [respectfully] disagree. Even players with ratings of 800 to 900 need to know a little opening theory. If they do not know a little opening theory they will keep being outplayed in the opening resulting in bad positions very early, Also they will keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
Wow... what a bunch of nonsense.
JR Capablanca was a rich guy, and he was comfortable enough to buy and read literally every chess book that was available at his time. So far about his "laziness"...
Aug 11, 2020
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#631
This topic has been discussed, and beaten to death. And its not gong to change anyone's mind. So I will add my .02. Even up to USCF A class. Games are decided by tactics, blunders, and mistakes.
Aug 11, 2020
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#632
ponz111 wrote:
rueflu I [respectfully] disagree. Even players with ratings of 800 to 900 need to know a little opening theory. If they do not know a little opening theory they will keep being outplayed in the opening resulting in bad positions very early, Also they will keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
This is what happens when an 800-900 rated player, plays "opening theory"
IMBacon a 800 or 900 player should not try to learn advanced opening theory of some Sicilian line, He should stick to very basic theory. And the mistake you showed could happen to any 800 or 900 rated player.
Note: I said a little theory--not advanced theory of some Sicilian line. Should learn things such as not to move a pawn or piece twice in the opening without a very good reason. Also try to control the center. Also in the opening do not move your queen early--develop your minor pieces. Things like that--very basic opening theory.
Aug 12, 2020
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#634
IMBacon wrote:
This topic has been discussed, and beaten to death. And its not gong to change anyone's mind. So I will add my .02. Even up to USCF A class. Games are decided by tactics, blunders, and mistakes.
Still dosen't make studying opening theory "useless".
Aug 12, 2020
0
#635
Opening theory isn't "pointless". Some people don't need to study that much, but that doesn't make theory useless.
Personally I use opening theory to get to comfortable positions, and many times I've had winning positions right out of the opening. Sometimes I don't spot the correct continuation, but most times I do.
I studied with books for years and later with Chessbase. After 30 years of club and league chess I gave up for 12 years. When I returned I decided to just rely on my experience as White and play a Semi-Tarrasch sort of defence against ANY d4 opening. This has cut down my thinking time considerably especially in 3/2 games.
Opening Theory is right ,one follow right opneing can take a big advatage,for example two horse defense,you have to follow right move,or you lose quickley
two horse defence 1 e4 e5 2 nf3 nc6 3 bc4 nf6 4 ng5 d5 5 exd na5 6 bb5+ c6 7 dxc bxc 8 be2
if black don't play this way ,white can win,if black play this way ,black have an advatge with speed and two open bishop line
The jury is still out with the Two Knights Defence I use Steinitz's 9. Nh3 tempting black to exchange bishop for knight after which white's light square bishop rules the h1-a8 diagonal.
Nevermind carry on...