Positional (calm) player vs tactical (sharp) one

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varelse1

I think a 1500 Positional player will score 50% against a 1500 tactical player.

But I bet he would do much better against an 1100 tactical player.

TheGreatOogieBoogie

Boy do I have an opening for you! 

I normally don't like books with "Winning with..." in the title, but Winning With the Najdorf Sicilian has great reviews and is written for amateurs who can learn how to play the opening as well as learn new information about it.  The book also has some information stronger players can benefit from as well.  There are countless lines that lead to forced draws but also keep in mind that your opponents will not always play book.  If they don't ask yourself what they're planning.  Maybe they're hip on a novelty that you aren't (shame on you, Najdorf player, for not keeping current with critical theory!  Databases are your friend) but also likely is they're out of book.  Just carry on with your thematic plans, keeping d5 and sometimes b6 under control, and preparing counterattacks. 



VULPES_VULPES
TheGreatOogieBoogie wrote:

Boy do I have an opening for you! 

 

I normally don't like books with "Winning with..." in the title, but Winning With the Najdorf Sicilian has great reviews and is written for amateurs who can learn how to play the opening as well as learn new information about it.  The book also has some information stronger players can benefit from as well.  There are countless lines that lead to forced draws but also keep in mind that your opponents will not always play book.  If they don't ask yourself what they're planning.  Maybe they're hip on a novelty that you aren't (shame on you, Najdorf player, for not keeping current with critical theory!  Databases are your friend) but also likely is they're out of book.  Just carry on with your thematic plans, keeping d5 and sometimes b6 under control, and preparing counterattacks. 



I tend to play this:



TheGreatOogieBoogie
VULPES_VULPES wrote:
TheGreatOogieBoogie wrote:

Boy do I have an opening for you! 

 

I normally don't like books with "Winning with..." in the title, but Winning With the Najdorf Sicilian has great reviews and is written for amateurs who can learn how to play the opening as well as learn new information about it.  The book also has some information stronger players can benefit from as well.  There are countless lines that lead to forced draws but also keep in mind that your opponents will not always play book.  If they don't ask yourself what they're planning.  Maybe they're hip on a novelty that you aren't (shame on you, Najdorf player, for not keeping current with critical theory!  Databases are your friend) but also likely is they're out of book.  Just carry on with your thematic plans, keeping d5 and sometimes b6 under control, and preparing counterattacks. 



I tend to play this:

 



Yeah that's a good system too.  Though 5...e5 is currently in vogue it looks too antipositional to me.  I like 5...e6 personally from there, as 6.Bb5 can be met with Qc7 and 6.Ndb5 can be met with 6...d6 or 6...Bc5.  Ivanchuk, Kasparov, and Kramnik have played such positions as black before. 

This game looks interesting:



kleelof
Daimonion wrote:

When an inspiring positional and calm player (like me:-)) meets a tactically strong, attacking and sharp player it is the latter, as it seems to me, who can more easily force his style on the former. 

Rocks are hard, jagged and unforgiving. Yet, the gentle flowing water can shape them to it's will.

Grasshopper.

Goob63
TheGreatOogieBoogie wrote:

Boy do I have an opening for you! 

 

I normally don't like books with "Winning with..." in the title, but Winning With the Najdorf Sicilian has great reviews and is written for amateurs who can learn how to play the opening as well as learn new information about it.  The book also has some information stronger players can benefit from as well.  There are countless lines that lead to forced draws but also keep in mind that your opponents will not always play book.  If they don't ask yourself what they're planning.  Maybe they're hip on a novelty that you aren't (shame on you, Najdorf player, for not keeping current with critical theory!  Databases are your friend) but also likely is they're out of book.  Just carry on with your thematic plans, keeping d5 and sometimes b6 under control, and preparing counterattacks. 



Its too bad I cant save posts, Ive been wanting to give a good shot at the Najdorf(Ive taken a liking to Anand's play, sue me), and you covered a hell of a lot there to me. Nice

Dark_Falcon

The problem for the positional stereotype of club player is, that most of them feel uncomfortable against sharp tactic players, especially when they are lured into unknown ground, rare gambits f.e.

And dont forget on club level its easier to attack than to defend a position...

one mistake and the defender is doomed....thats my subjective opinion and my personal experience. 

And of course i prefer to hunt the opponents king than to play boring chess and fight against an isolated pawn for 50 moves :D

Ricardo_Morro

I am the positional style player. With the Black pieces I like to play French Defense and Modern Sicilian against 1 e4, Leningrad Dutch and King's Indian against 1 d4, sometimes Queen's Gambit Declined. With White I generally play 1 e4 and play Ruy Lopez and Closed Sicilian against the usual resposes. I am well prepared against French, naturally, since I play it and against Caro-Kann and Alekhine's Defense. This gives me a simple repertoire oriented to positional play where I don't have to memorize too many openings and is good for 95% of games.