Sicilian
Queen's Gambit
Ruy Lopez
French Defense
I've been thinking that I might prefer to substitute the Nimzo-Indian for the Queen's Gambit. I think you can make a case for including either one, but not both, since they're pretty similar and actually can transpose.
Why the Queen's Gambit? Perhaps to learn how to respond to 1.d4?
sorry for the maybe stupid question but what is the "t"?
The Trebuchet sorry it was not clear, in fact it was totally obscure.
sorry for the maybe stupid question but what is the "t"?
The Trebuchet sorry it was not clear, in fact it was totally obscure.
Is that the Zugzwang ? I googled this diligently but, unless you mean a somewhat improved form of medieval catapult, I only found a side reference to Zugzwang.
the 4 most important openings to learn i would suggeast are the 4 most played openings. im not entirely sure what they are but i would hazard a guess at say the spanish, the sicilian, Qs gambit and maybe the french (with the english pretty close behind). but just blindly learning moves in a mechanical fashion wont help you much, what you need to do is understand the aims behind these openings and what they are trying to achieve. the french has far different aims to the sicilian. but as you will encounter the sicilian (if you play 1.e4) again and again i advise you learn it, with the najdorf (and maybe acc dragon) top of the list. also, it is perhaps a little more important to learn openings from blacks point of view as if you are white you always get to dictate the play, and so you only need to learn one first move - 1.e4, 1.d4 or 1.c4 etc. learn your openings in detail and all the usual responses to it and you should be ok.
Good openings for a beginner:
1. Giuoco Piano
2. Ruy Lopez
3. Queen's Gambit Accepted as Black
4. Sicilian as White
Tthere are no "4 most important openings". You just have to experiment until you like and understand what you're playing.
example: I started out playing a lot of fianchettos, in the King's Indian Attack, English opening, and as black of course. Then I discovered that I really don't play those positions very well, and I'd much rather be the guy who conquers territory with my pawns, prefereably in the middle of the board. I just don't understand the hypermodern positions, so I don't play them.
Two practical steps: get a hold of Reuben Fine's The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings (much more useful for beginners than the latest opening books); and play a lot of turn-based chess, in which you are allowed to use databases for the opening.
Tthere are no "4 most important openings". You just have to experiment until you like and understand what you're playing.
I disagree. There is no "best opening" but there are a few openings that teach you alot about chess in general, compared to the majority which are mostly helpful for just playing that opening. The 4 most important openings are not necessarily the ones you like however, and it's not like it's a complete prioirty to study these openings, but master games with these openings tend to be very instructive.
Two practical steps: get a hold of Reuben Fine's The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings (much more useful for beginners than the latest opening books); and play a lot of turn-based chess, in which you are allowed to use databases for the opening.
I disagree, I think the best of the latest opening books are improvements over Fine's classic. It was a great book in it's day, but new opening books: Fundamental Chess Openings -- Watson three volumes on the opening -- and gosh there's another from Gambit that's great but I can't remember the name -- they're clearer and more instructive IMHO... I love classic books too, but they're writing some good ones nowdays.
There's one huge reason to go with Fine's book though... it's miles cheaper than the new books! You can get a used copy of Fine's book for next to nothing, particularly if you are willing to use a descripitive notation version. The new books are around 30 bucks a pop... and the Watson books are a series of three, so that's 90 freaking dollars right there.
(ooops, I broke the links highlighting in red...so just cut n' paste into browser if interested)
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Chess-Openings-Unlocking-Mysteries/dp/1904600603/ref=pd_sim_b_2
http://www.amazon.com/Chess-Opening-Essentials-Openings-Complete/dp/9056912038/ref=pd_sim_b_5
http://www.amazon.com/FCO-Fundamental-Paul-Van-Sterren/dp/1906454132/ref=pd_sim_b_53
Fine, used algebraic paper. Btw 2-6 dollars!
Good openings for a beginner:
1. Giuoco Piano
2. Ruy Lopez
3. Queen's Gambit Accepted as Black
4. Sicilian as White
The Ruy and Sicilian are not really well-suited for beginners.
sorry for the maybe stupid question but what is the "t"?
The Trebuchet sorry it was not clear, in fact it was totally obscure.
Is that the Zugzwang ? I googled this diligently but, unless you mean a somewhat improved form of medieval catapult, I only found a side reference to Zugzwang.
Put a white pawn on e4 and a black pawn on e5 with just a King each.
the first King to come alongside the pawns loses the opposition and the game his pawn falls.
A key King and pawn endgame position.
Whatever they are they are not as important to "learn"
As four endgame positions
King and pawn vs king
The Philidor position
Lucenas Bridge
The principle of two weaknesses.
The t
This is a most interesting video on Youtube explaining the Trebuchet end game position and moves, actually the best I have ever seen and would appreciate any comment as to the value and expertise of the analysis, just click on the arrow on the screen to start the video, it takes about 6 seconds or so to start playing, enjoy it and remember to post your comment (s):
I went through that and it is a very good explanation.
I was taught chess at school and we spent the first six weeks on King and Pawn endgames. I could never forget those positions ever !!
Thanks for pointing it out.
Going back to the original question about openings, We were told at school what opening best suited our style in other words you dont pick the opening the opening picks you.
As a result I have had a settled repertoire for many years and I have never changed from it, I just look at ideas, in the lines I play. Sometimes right through to the ending.
Hi Paul
I play d4 always.
1 g6 against everything.
Simple
I always avoid sharp heavily analysed lines, I am quite happy with an equal position out of the opening if I am comfortable playing that position.
I will look to win in the ending usually
Simple really
I've come back to chess after a break of almost thirty years. All of this back and forth chat is immensely illuminating. I find that studying openings in depth is time consuming, and in general play you find your opponents don't play fair: you're sticking to the book, and they throw in an unexpected move that makes your hard work come to nothing. Someone mentioned playing the board. That sounds the best advice, because in my experience (thirty years ago!) the average player very rarely plays more than the first three or four moves of any recognised opening.
Well in the QG I always know the opening better than my opponents do, and because I understand it, I almost always get at least a slight advantage out of the opening, if not more. It also fits my style. Studying an opening can be fun if you look at the main plans and how they are executed.
As many people have already said, pick some openings that YOU will most likely encounter, and which ones YOU want to avoid (If you don't like playing against the Sicilian, play 1.d4 and you'll never see it. Likewise, with 1.e4 you'll never need to worry about the Queen's Gambit, etc.). Since I never play 1.d4 as white, and as black I never respond to 1.d4 with 1...f4, then I NEVER need to worry about the Dutch Defense (from either side of the board). As white, I can play the Ruy Lopez, but as black it is very easy for me to avoid it by not playing 1...e5.
The Encyclopedia of Chess Openings breaks it down this way:
White's first move:
1.e4 - King's Pawn
1.d4 - Queen's Pawn
Everything Else.
Black's response to 1.e4:
1...c5 - Sicilian Defense
1...e5 - Open Game or Double King's Pawn
1...e6 - French Defense
Everything else
Black's response to 1.d4:
1...Nf6 - Indian Defense
1...d5 - Closed Game or Double Queen's Pawn
1...f4 - Dutch Defense
Everything Else
I haven't played a d4 opening as white in years...
I was told as a kid, by the Chess Teacher
You are not an e4 player
Never got over that now I have issues with e4.
Scarred for life.
Black gets a little cramped with the Sicilian and starts definately on defense,
I would say it's the opposite of those.
Well in the QG I always* know the opening better than my opponents do, and because I understand it, I almost always get at least a slight advantage out of the opening, if not more. It also fits my style. Studying an opening can be fun if you look at the main plans and how they are executed.
ALWAYS? I do like the QG though in the QGA white can get some nice kingside chances. In QGD the exchange offers white the better chances and Bg5 gives white an edge also. The Indian defences white can claim a small edge. the slav small edge. semi-slav a small initiative/edge. And well that small edge can make the 2nd player quite a bit uncomfortable. According to Fritz12's new sharpness tester e4 is more sharp then d4.
the problem(well not problem more of a setback or drawback) with e4 would be there are a couple of pretty vexing defences against e4 against d4 the positions are more or less somewhat similar though some can be quite different like the grunfeld and the QGD very different.