Which openings do you recommend for a 5|0 blitz OTB tournament?

See ya guys. If you have something still in your pocket, feel free to share and contribute in this post in advance too. I'm heading now to that tourney. I have mixed feelings, I'll either play tactically good or positionally bad. We will see what happens. Gonna post the results afterwards here. 

Openings played by super-GMs. Spanish,Queens Gambit,Grunfeld etc.

Why did you finish with those scores?

Losing on time? Getting into time trouble and losing material? Just missing tactics? Actually losing to players that are stronger than you at blitz (higher ratings for example)?

I think the suggestion of playing what you know, is probably best. If you don't know the lines very well you will end up using up too much time looking for good moves, especially out of the opening, or potentially mess up your position if you start having to move quickly in time trouble.

Oh my goodness! What are the rules if someone stops the clock in the middle of the game and claim I made an illegal move (but I didn't)? Should he automatically lose (like resignation), or is it legal? 

It was the same guy as previous time, when I claimed threefold repetition and he declined it, claiming I didn't stop the clock and lost on time! 

(+3-5=1) this time. Urgghh... 

I think for the first one, I think he can make three incorrect claims (for win or draw), and then he forfeits the game.

And for the second one, the position on the board takes precedence, so it's a draw. Once the draw is claimed correctly; that is the end of the game. So, how could you lose on time if the game is over?

Even in blitz? I know this is the case in rapid where opponent gets 2 additional minutes.

There was no arbiter near our board. I claimed it (correctly, for sure ), but forgot to stop the clock. I thought it's a draw if it's a draw. 

For the first one, you get 1 more minute under E.9.5.b and E.B.2.

For the second one, you must stop the clock (or an arbiter) under law E.9.5. So, he was right, but was extremely unfair.

https://www.fide.com/fide/handbook.html?id=171&view=article

Summary:

Round 1 (black): I was outplayed by a regular tournament winner. We played some Semi-Slav stuff, which I enjoy to play, but position was too complicated, I had to defend and eventually lost one time. However, before the start we played 2 games, with a 1-1 result. I managed to beat him in Ruy Lopez, Chigorin. Yay! 

Round 2 (white): He had a slight edge but lost on time; he also led 0:48 vs 0:23 in terms of time, I think. I played very fast at the end, defended well this time, so he had to think. It was a N+PP vs NN+PP endgame, but one of my pawns was heavily advanced. His fault that he wanted to win. Fair player though. 

Round 3 (black): Interesting, drawn game. Nice guy (Miha, too!) even analysed it afterwards. We played 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Nxe4 5.Bxf7 Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5 7.Neg5+ Ke8. He said it was unpleasant position for him after d5 and that he was still glad we played something new for him, not the same old stuff old people play.  I can post 20 moves I remember from that game, the whole game was about 30-35 moves long. We both spent about 3 minutes, when I offered a draw. I'm 1.5/2 against him now. :)

Round 4 (black): I again offered a draw in a closed position of some strange English I think, but it was declined, because he had 2:16 vs my 0:53. He lost on time in a lost position at the end. I was able to shuffle my pieces good and fast enough to break through and win some material. I controlled a1-h8 diagonal and later h-file with the winning h-pawn break.

Round 5 (white): Quite equal game, he won a pawn in the middlegame and precisely won the endgame, too. I can't remember what we've played, but I think I tried Colle-Zuckertort system there. Never again in a blitz game, haha. Although it was not that bad. Maybe I lack experience in these kinds of position.

Round 6 (black): Not sure what happened there. I think I was outplayed and mated!  We played some strange Sicilian stuff, quite sharp I think. I grabbed too many of his pawns in time trouble as I underestimated his attack.

Round 7 (white): Win against the 2nd best player of the tourney this time. I was his only loss. My best game on the tourney, he let me mate him and admitted defeat. Not forget to mention, he was also the only one who beat the winner.  He responded with Alekhine defence and I said that it's hammertime and went full attack with so called Four Pawns Attack. At the end I had a pawn on d6, rook on e7 and managed to bring the knight to f6+ and mated him with Rh7# (for those who know what I'm talking about ). 

Round 8 (black): Don't wanna talk about this crap of a player. I was winning and he interupted the game by saying I made an illegal move. Of course my queen sac was correct. I won a bishop with the brilliant tactic, but was so furious afterwards I even missed the drawing move at the end. Holy fuck! (sorry for the wording). My fault my play, but that action was completely inappropriate...IMO.

Round 9 (white): Didn't even care about this game anymore. I think I lost on time, against a tournament winner today. He played that Nakamura bullet thing 1...f6, 2...Nh6, 3...Nf7 4...g6 5...Bg7.

If I interpret your score well, then should your ELO be something like 1900. You scored better against the players above you then the ones beneath you in the ranking.

How did that happen?

Yes, all players from Slovenia.

Well, I'm sure I'd be able to score much better in a standard tournament time control against those players. In blitz everything can happen. Especially in sudden death. 1900 may be a little bit too much. 1777 I'd say. 

For those who are interested in, I shared my thoughts about the tournament in post #32.

Very cute. What were the moves to get to that position?

Well done Miha! Keep up the good work!

Good to know. Is there something that pairs nicely with that as Black...in other words, something you might play as Black that is sound and doesn't require endless memorization?

scandinavian?

OK, thanks. I looked it up. That's just for responding to 1.e4 though, correct? Anything else?

Also, something similar along these lines for when White opens with 1.d4 or another first move?

Something in the scandinavian you might like that I play is after e4  d5 exd4 Nf6 which is playable and people might not be prepared for it .

I've heard of the Marshall Gambit. I'm still experimenting so I may try it.

Apparently David Letterman played the Scandanavian Defense against Kasparaov in a televised game. There was a checkmate in 23 moves. (I assume Letterman won by surprising Kasparov with this defense. :-)

I would not recommend. specific lines. something you know is a good idea. an opening you are familiar with is always a good idea. try to stick with it if you can.

In Blitz, its good to have a repertoire of openings to suit the situation. For example, choice of opening may depend on:

1) You are playing with white or black.

2) Or you want to play for a win or a draw.

3) Or how good your opponent is.

Here are some openings to try to get a solid game against strong opponents: Ruy Lopez (Berlin), English Opening, Slav or Semi-Slav Defence, e5 (said to be "Best by Test" by Legendary Bobby Fisher, Reti Opening

If you are playing for a win & looking for a sharp game then these may be good openings to try: Ruy Lopez (Schliemann defence), Dutch Stonewall defence, Sicilian (Njdarf/Dragon), Nimzo-Indian

If you are trying to throw your opponent out of opening theory to surprise him then: Grob's attack, St George Opening

Most importantly- its not just the opening that matters. In blitz sometimes endgame tactics may prove more useful than opening theory. Therefore- try to work on endgame tactics as well.

Blackmar-diemer gambit