Tournament Openings

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Coolsak21

Hello! I am an amateur chess player in the United States. I frequently play tournaments for my school and at my local club. I just recently started playing USCF rated events and am around the rating of 950. With my Chess.com rapid rating of 1600 and Lichess rapidi of 1900, I find my play to be slightly stronger than that, probably more accurately 1100-1200 USCF. So when I play against someone with ratings between 100-1200 I feel more confident than what my ratings describe. Obviously the main focus is tactics at my level, but I find that the openings I play have a pattern. I know and play one opening with white (Vienna Game- if Nc6 /Gambit-if Nf6) and have specific responses to other non e5 responses. With black against e4 I play the caro-kann and against d4 i play the semi-slav (although at my level theory usually dissolves within a few moves.

I find that I know the basic ideas of each respective opening, but in tournament play, I find that my openings hold up and give no advantage to my opponent, but don't give me many chances. I usually end up trading pieces and getting to an endgame where i find results to be 50/50, even against 300 rated players. I know my openings are similar to GothamChess's recommendations, which i find to be part of the problem, but I don't know how to avoid having a position out of the opening that is very drawish and doesn't give me any advantages or chances. I know both the Vienna and Caro-Kann are low-theory openings which don't give their respective side any advantage. So I was looking for some advice. What do I need to do? Should I choose a different opening with more chances, learn how to transform the opening into a middlegame with chances, or just ignore the issue and work on tactics which will be beneficial at my level?

ThrillerFan

Actually, you clearly don't know the opening.

Vienna Game is 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 (or 3.Bc4 or 3.g3)

Vienna Gambit is 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4

So you have them backwards!

Next, the Caro-Kann is NOT a low theory opening.

Third, you cannot expect an advantage with Black. Even with the Caro-Kann, you will be slightly worse in the beginner. The same can be said for the Sicilian, 1...e5, or even what I play, 1...e6. You cannot expect an advantage out of the opening with Black and have to deal with defending until White makes an error, or if he never does, and you never do, it will be a draw.

tygxc

@1

"I find my play to be slightly stronger" ++ Online ratings are inflated.
Online speed chess is a different game from over the board slower time controls.
What works in a fast time control no longer works in a slow time control.

"the main focus is tactics at my level" ++ Yes

"Vienna" ++ Good

"caro-kann" ++ Good

"semi-slav" ++ Good

"my openings hold up and give no advantage to my opponent, but don't give me many chances" ++ Your opponent gives you chances when he makes mistakes.

"I usually end up trading pieces and getting to an endgame" ++ Good

"where i find results to be 50/50, even against 300 rated players"
++ So both sides make mistakes, none profits and in the end neither knows how to win

"I don't know how to avoid having a position out of the opening that is very drawish"
++ All sound openings lead to equal positions.
It is up to you to avoid mistakes and to exploit any mistake your opponent makes.

"doesn't give me any advantages or chances"
++ An opening does not give you an advantage, only a playable position.

"Should I choose a different opening" ++ No. Each time you switch openings, you lose more.

"ignore the issue and work on tactics which will be beneficial at my level?"
++ Yes. Also work on endgames as you seem to reach those and have problems in them.