Well, geographically the English seems like a logical choice.
As a 1200 what openings should I play. For example should I now learn the English?
Sort:
"Easy" Openings for White
Some of the 'easier' (i.e., less 'theory' to learn) 1.e4 openings for White.....which are sound and very playable at the amateur, club level. With the exception of the two 1.d4 games suggested below, all of the 1.e4 games are so-called "Open" games, where the center is not typically blocked initially, and which tend to lead to games of a more tactical character (as opposed to maneuvering, positional chess)...
Scotch Game
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scotch+game
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_Game
Ponziani Opening
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ponziani+opening
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponziani_Opening
Vienna Game & Gambit
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vienna+game
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Game
Introduction To The Vienna Game & Gambit
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-the-vienna-game-gambit
The Italian Game – initially more challenging to learn (i.e., more 'theory') than the above, but a very rich and sound opening complex, which can be played for the rest of your chess career and at the highest levels...
Introduction to The Italian Game & Evans Gambit
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-the-italian-game
Bishop's Opening - an opening 'gateway', leading to a rich variety of openings including several of the above (especially the Italian Game), which can thus be used to keeps your opponents guessing!...
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bishop%27s+opening
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop%27s_Opening
if you prefer to play 1.d4 as White, then perhaps the 'easiest', yet effective, openings to learn are...
The Stonewall Attack - I consider this to be a precursor to the London System (there are some similarities, but The Stonewall is easier to learn), and very playable at the amateur, club level...
The Stonewall Attack....
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/stonewall-attack
Introduction To The London System & Jobava London System
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/the-london-system
Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond…
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
finally, for more good chess resources, be sure to check out my blog...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell
I've really been enjoying playing the Jobava London at an 1100-1200 level and winning a lot of games with Nc3 Nb5 Nc7, which is surprisingly common.
I have been focusing on the London system for white. Indian or Sicilian for black.
Mar 9, 2023
0
#6
I disagree with Ultimate-trashtalker. I think getting to the middle game and endgame without blundering is good for development. You will learn more openings over time.
Mar 10, 2023
0
#7
Basic tactics training and blunder checking should be your priorities.
I wouldn’t recommend the English for a 1200, unless you are already playing the Sicilian and even then it is a stretch to play when you grasp the ideas and plans of a reversed Sicilian.
Not only can it be a positional nightmare, but how do you convert an advantage of two tempi?
Other issues are leaving the door wide open for black to respond with a wide variety of reputable defences.
Then there are the transpositions…
While choosing any opening you need to understand few points..
1. It should match with your playing style ..for example some player prefer solid and positional structure while some prefer attacking.
2. How many variations available for opponent in your selected opening
Now about the English opening. Usually if you are English player then also prepare for all lines of D4. For 1200 player it's very difficult to understand how to switch one opening to another by switching moves ... And believe me it's also difficult to post details in forum .. might be I need to write Blog for this
As black i love the French and as white the scotch.