When to study the opening?

Hello,

Last time I played rated OTB chess I was 1600 USCF, and I estimate that I am 1700-1800ish now, after about a year. I was wondering when would be a good time to start learning about openings and plan formation. I have minimal strategic knowledge, close to no endgame knowledge (I know how to win king+pawn vs king endgame but that is about it), and know about the first 4-5 moves of a few openings. I tend not to actually play lines, but follow principles predominantly. I've basically reached this stage on tactical ability alone; have played chess for like 2-3 years, and done something like 25 problems a day or so. However, I'm starting to think that I should perhaps expand my horizons and actually study something instead of just doing puzzles. Should I start with openings or what should I do?

Thx for the help.

@ILOVEBUNNIES: At the level you’re at, it would be a good idea to consider a bit more of the other aspects of the game. The study of tactics is something that everyone needs more of, especially at the amateur level, but as you go up the rating ladder, tactics alone will not be able to get you that win all the time. Openings should be looked into, but in my opinion, they shouldn’t be focused on too much. Use opening books more as a sort of road map. When you’re not sure where you’re going, bust open that book (or database) and see which move is suggested and try to figure out why. If you find that you play the same openings over and over again, you should be able to have a working knowledge of the openings without having to memorize them by rote.

As for endgames, I would advise looking at the basic kinds. The Lucena Position and Philidor Position are two Rook and Pawn endgames you’re going to want to know about if you don’t know them already. It’s also nice to understand opposition and other key concepts in Pawn endgames. The rest is kind of optional, since you might not get into them too often.

One important thing to remember is that tactics should still be your first priority. Someone who knows every move of every line of every opening and knows how to play any endgame accurately but has no tactical ability would still be crushed by someone like you. Openings and Endgames are also important, but treat them as a kind of sideshow to the main event: Tactics.

Dig in to a good classic middle game book or two or three... (Silman's How to Reassess Your Chess -- #1, Ludek Pachman Modern Chess Strategy, Euwe and Kramer  The Middlegame, etc... *(there's many more, Michael Stean's Simple Chess, Kere's book on the middlegame... Excelling at Positional Chess by Aargaard, Analyze to Win by Byron jacobs, 40 lessons for the club player, and on and on...  

Combine this with chess problems, but do tough one's drawn from real games, in good problems you'll see the positional themes you're working on and how they relate to tactical consequences. "Imagination in Chess," by Gaprindashvili is almost perfect. The only thing wrong with it, is the positions are by and large VERY difficult (I think a USCF2100/FIDE 2000 is the target reader of the book). But the positions are very well chosen and working thru the explanations can be quite revelatory.

Combine this with working thru complete games thinking about the next move... There are pgn's available for download all over the web, many annotated. Copy and paste into fritz or chessmaster or chessdb, put your favorite engine on infinite analysis and follow the game trying to guess the next move... check your choice with the engine, and compare with the move of the actual game.

Do that for a year and I swear by the end of the year studying openings will make a lot more sense... the openings will connect to middlegame objectives you've been learning (and since middlegame ideas connect to endings on the other side...  understanding the middlegame helps bring the whole business together... well that's the theory anyway, god knows I'm still scratching my head much of the time.)

There's no real harm in studying opening books now (other than it being a not very efficient use of your study time), but if you're anything like me, you'll find them dry and hard to use until you have more solid middlegame chops... it helps to have a conceptual vocabulary for what's going on IMO. 

Thanks a lot for your help guys! I'll skip the opening for now, and start working on the middlegame/basic endings. Thx for taking the time to write such long answers; they make a lot of sense.

I think people are wrong. Openings have alot to do with middlegames. Some opening ideas stretch to the endgame. Your opening choice determines many middle game plans. Ignoring openings and studying middlegame is like trying to run without learning to walk. Sure you could do that but walking is useful and a natural step on the way.

Also, you definately should learn more endgame technique. All the basic pawn, rook and bishop endings.