Sharp yet sound opening repertoire

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Avatar of ThrillerFan
German_MagnusCarlsen wrote:

 ThrillerFan,

Thanks for your input. I am well aware that my opponent can almost always steer the game into positional waters. However, openings like the Najdorf will allow for sharper positions more often than openings like the Caro-Kann. What would you suggest for white against the French?

In your case, 3.Nc3.  For someone like me, 3.e5.

 

I never recommend anything other than those 2 moves.  All other 3 moves are junk and give Black full equality.

Avatar of Wezzyfish

For a long time against the French I was playing the Tarrasch variation and liked it well enough for a while, but a lot of times the French players were more prepared than I was.  I switched over to using a KIA type of setup with 2. g6, and I have had better results at my level due to the fact that my opponents face it less often.  It is also what Fischer played, which is what made me give it a shot.  

Avatar of German_MagnusCarlsen

Thanks ThrillerFan

Avatar of German_MagnusCarlsen

 The reti gambit looks interesting!

Avatar of Till_98

With black you can go for the kingsindian against d4 and play the sicilian kan or najdorf against e4. Against c4 you can also play the kingsindian as against g3 or Nf3. With white you can play the Kingsgambit which can be really fun if you are well booked up or the scotch which gives white the potential to end up in a much better position if blacks play is not exactly accurate. Against the french you can play many things except the exchange french ;). I would suggest you the kingsindian attack, very fun to play, nice attack on the kingside and very typical plans. Against the caro kann i would suggest you to play the 2 knights variation. against the scandinavian you just take and play the main lines with Nc3. against the sicilian you can play the morra gambit after buying for example marc essermans book or just main lines. 

Avatar of Till_98

or you just go for the best on move 1, 1.d4. Laughing

Avatar of eaguiraud

The ruy is boring IMO, I play the Scotch gambit with e4 (exciting games). Against d4 the modern Benoni is almost always a wild and fun game, and to counter the French the Tarrasch is good if you don't want to play the exchange. I, as a French player, have a bit of difficulty against the Tarrasch and exchange (only if white plays well. And if you decide to play the advance, brace yourself, almost every single French player hopes you play the advance. Sorry for the long post.

Avatar of Strategy_Talent

You have to play positional chess whatever opening you pick. I think caro-kann is passive (thats different than positional). If you want attacking chess then Benoni and two-knights defense seems good choices. If you want dynamic & strategically rich solid openings then Taimanov & Grunfeld are good idea. If you want rock solid positions French & Nimzo-Indian seems great choice.

I don't recommend caro-kann if you don't want to fight each match for your life just to get draw. Pirc is great if you are a real defender and playing against some opponents who tries to attack but not positionally mature (objectively not a perfect choice but it needs something really deep to beat a good pirc player) Nardorf is not so hard opening if you have good positional fundamentals. Dragon & Ruy lopez too much theory you will need. QGD a bit passive but ok, not so hard. Slav defense if you really need a draw and you can survive so much pain (similar to caro-kann)

Avatar of TwoMove

QueensIndian is not exactly sharp though is it, one of the more drawish openings.

Avatar of mocl125

The Fried Liver suits your style, though if you are going to play it, you should play it against lower rated players.

Avatar of German_MagnusCarlsen

Fried Liver is another secret weapon I have. My style is between aggressive and positional. I don't like gambits typically, but I also prefer open positions with more tactical possibilities. Obviously I can't always play the fried liver, hence this forum.

Avatar of FutureGM2001forlife

Please don't play fried liver. I am doing this for your own good. 

Avatar of eaguiraud

Isn't the fried liver refuted with the traxler counter attack?

Avatar of German_MagnusCarlsen

No, the traxler counter attack is not very good if white plays correctly. 

Avatar of ThrillerFan
mocl125 wrote:

The Fried Liver suits your style, though if you are going to play it, you should play it against lower rated players.

Any player playing Black that is not a moron wouldn't allow the Fried Liver.  5...Na5! is lightyears better than 5...Nxd5?!.  After 5...Na5, Black has complete equality!

Avatar of German_MagnusCarlsen

Well, I have some really deep preparation against Na5 where I can get a better position against almost any lower rated player. However, you are right that black has equality with correct play after Na5.

Avatar of AimfulAstronaut

I play sicilian from both sides... i play f3 against nimzo and both scotch and ruy lopez are good

Avatar of mocl125
FutureGM2001forlife wrote:

Please don't play fried liver. I am doing this for your own good. 

Why should German_MagnusCarlsen not play it?

Avatar of WalangAlam

Well I tend to look up to top GM's for specifics, in your case Sharp but sound openings. The great Tal favored the Benoni, many GM's including Kasparov and Karpov also favored the Gruenfeld, a battle from start to finish. Just my two cents worth.

Avatar of Robert_New_Alekhine
logozar wrote:
Robert_New_Alekhine wrote:

Ruy Lopez gets tactical if the other side plays terribly.

Sicilian Defense is the obvious choice. I recommend the Sicilian Kan. 

+1

Najdorf is fun and complicated

Kan is easier to learn

Whichever you like.

Actually, every opening can get tactical if the other side plays horribly!

Kan is just as complicated and just as "fun" as the Najdorf. In addition to that, few people know what to play against it so enjoy your time getting easy wins vs. 1600s.