Repitoire Help

Hello. I have decided to quit playing the French Defense, and play 1. e5 as my defense to 1. e4.

What is the best way to go about learning all the different possibilities. I mean, I need something for Ruy, something for Scotch, something for Vienna, something for KG, and a dozen other little gambits.

For what its worth, I play the Vienna and the Stonewall attack for white, and the Dutch Stonewall to d4 or c4. So far, I have basically just been playing the Vienna backwards as black, and it seems to work ok.

Any suggestions?

You might enjoy Nigel Davies' "Play e4 e5!" a repertoire book for black against all the major white openings.

For White, I might suggest the Torre Attack or Colle System.

For Black, I think Sicilian Defence or 1. ... e5 works. Against d4, try ti Benko Gambit or KID

You should probably read the guy's post before posting. 

Yeah, I have that one, I intend to go through it.

Seems like the Ruy Lopez is the big boy you have to deal with.

More advanced works on the open games as black include!

Play the Open Games as Black by John Emms

A Spanish Repertoire for Black by Mikhail Marin

Beating the Open Games by Mikhail Marin

Yeah, I combed every bookstore, new and used, for those, and came up empty. Bookstores have such crappy chess sections! I guess I'll have to order them.

Remember, the cheapest way to start playing a new opening is to just play it. Well, that's a bit unfair, but still true.

Consider that the next cheapest method might be to consult the Games Explorer here on chess.com for lines against each of the major responses. Look over the options, pick the ones that appeal to you at first, play them in unrated games perhaps, discard the ones you don't like, check the Explorer after each game to see where you or your opponent went astray or created a novelty, then make the necessary corrections.

This is cheap, but it fails to provide the necessary insight in the plans in each opening line. For this, one would need additional resources. One possibility that covers the general (and many specific ones) is Watson's new series on the opening. In this series he explains the deep reasoning behind the many strategies of the major openings. The series is sort of like Fine's old book The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings on steroids.

Good luck. Changing openings is always a mixed bag: the adrenalin rush of learning something new combined with the adrenalin crash of getting crushed while you do.

 Watsons series is fantastic...I have the 2nd and 3rd volumes and am presently going over the 2nd.  If the first is anywhere near as good as the last 2 then it is wonderful.  He actually makes openings fun to learn as well. 

Yeah, since I have started playing seriously a few months ago, I have jumped around and dabbled with many things. I think I am finally happy with all my choices, and think the suit my style well.

I spent a long time trying to learn the French, but found I didn't enjoy playing it, and was always disappointed when someone played 1. e4. So I figured I should switch. I like the open games, and everyone says they are important to learn, so here I am.

Thanks for the help!

These 2 books raised my rating hundreds of points!

1. How to play the Chess Pawn Openings by Eugene Znosko-Borovsky

An inexpensive book from a Russian Master from the 1920's. He had a gift for explaining complicated precepts, so that they are understood as simple Ideas. I loved his book!

2. A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire by Chris Baker

This book will help you develop a complete repertoire! It is full of fun and sharp variations for e4 e5 Disciples!

I've been playing the petroff as black, which seems to take the scotch, ruy, and whatnot off the table. Its working fairly well so far.

It may get boring tho'. Personally I love playing Black against the Ruy and Scotch!

Then I have them right where I want them! ;-)

what is a good opening for staring out to get opening reportiere?

1.e4 e5

Play the open games until you no longer have to ask questions about what your repertoire should be.