How deep does one study openings?

I’ve been studying openings (London & French mostly). I analyze 1 move at a time (the opponent’s), then configure my next move. I’m about 3 moves in for different scenarios but I struggle with the “what’s next?”.

So my question is ‘what’s the opening depth should I study?’

When it comes to openings for players under 1000 level your specific opening knowledge of theory does not matter a whole lot. What matters is that you apply the opening principles, keeping an eye out for tactics, and not blundering pieces.

When it comes to studying openings there are a number of ways to study the opening. There are books, videos on Youtube, and opening explorers that can be used to help learn lines, and learn the ideas behind an opening and their variations. Some variations you will learn better, and may learn more of due to the fact that you will play some variation more often than others. As a general rule for players under 1000 I don't recommend memorizing more than 3 moves for a line. What is far more important is learning the ideas behind the opening and their variations. This is because your opponent will not play the book moves as a response to your opening, and then the lines you memorized don't matter anymore. This is where the opening principles, tactics, not blundering, and knowing what you should be going for in your specific opening is what will take you much further.

Here is an example from the French Defense:

Knowing the ideas in your opening can take you much further then memorizing that way you can spend less time memorizing, and play your opening better than you would have from just memorizing. I would only recommend learning a specific line if that line is giving you trouble, and you play against it often.

In the game (which is one of your games) that I analyzed when I mentioned lines where you would not castle. Those are lines that are not played at your level. I have played the French Defense for years, and may have had only a couple of games where it was probably best to not castle where I was in an equal or better position than my opponent. Usually if I don't end of castling it is because I messed something up, and then they forced me to play with my king exposed (I usually lose those games). The first time I was exposed to one of those lines was from my friend who is 2050 USCF, and it was a part of his opening prep against the French Defense. 2050 USCF is way beyond your and even my skill level. Hints if your opponent is playing and knows one of those lines either one of two things is happening. 1. you have gotten way way way better, and can play one of those lines. Or 2. you will probably get crushed, and no amount of opening prep will help you win that game. They are just that much better than you.

Hope this helps.

Can you explain further

Well @AlphaTeam already told you, you don't really need opening theory at you level. Focus on other more important basic concepts. With the basics you should easily get a rating of 1400+. Then you can start learning openings. I really recommend a book. With an engine you will understand nothing and Youtube videos are normally too short, to get you a real understanding of an opening. Their ideas are to show you what opening exists, so you can choose one. Then take a book. Grandmasters set at them for hours to explain you almost every move and their idea.

Your only important task in the opening is to reach an early-middle-game position in which you feel comfortable and confident. Everything else is just fashion.

The depth to which you will need to examine your chosen opening depends on the strength of the players you will be facing. It takes more study to get a good game against a Master.

My favorite way of studying an opening is to just find some Master games played with that variation. Playing over these complete games teaches me not just the opening sequence of moves, but also the typical tactics and middle-game plans that the chosen opening gives rise to, and some typical endgame play arising from those positions.

I truly appreciate your replies. I especially relate with the opponents not playing a book move. Here I am studying strengths and weaknesses of a particular opening just to get a totally unexpected response, confusing me, although I do sometimes find a weakness (or hole) in their wreckless approach. But not always.

Video’s don’t work for me as the hosts go through their lessons at warp speed.

I’ve started using Smallfish which gives me options as to how to respond to ‘off book’ and other moves.

I will look for a beginner’s book which concentrates on the issues I’m facing.

Lichess puzzles are also a daily workout for me (an hour or so) and I do find it useful in finding the occasional trap during the middle games.

Again, thank you for the quick lesson. It’s really appreciated.

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Let me add: "Forget about theory, learn general principles" is not just for beginners. Even at my level, I'm frequently out of book by move 5. I still get good positions, because I understand general principles and know the thematic plans for the openings I play.
Yes, I do know some lines 15+ moves deep. I almost never see them in my games, so how much do they really matter?

+1

Zero.

Please stop studying openings. That's just a waste of time. Just look up "opening principles", that's enough. Concentrate on more important stuff (tactics, tactics, more tactics), and try to blunder less.

Here is a couple of examples of from my last tournament where I did not have opening theory that I knew to help me in the opening. I had to rely on 1. Opening principles 2. tactics, and 3. some idea of what to do in one of the games based on some opening theory in one of the openings. I put notes on my thought process on my moves in the opening, and some on my opponents which I thought were not that good.

In the first game I am black, and I am facing an 800 USCF rated opponent. He played well for an 800 rated player, but still lost because of few mistakes (some of which were in the opening). He played the wing gambit against me which is a variation that I very rarely face so I don't know any lines when it comes to this variation. This variation is not played at my skill level for a reason. My USCF rating is in the 1200 range for some perspective on the difference between skill level.

In the second game I am white, and am playing a 1000 USCF rated opponent. I recently started learning the Ruy Lopez, and while we do not go into that opening. I am not familiar with the e4e5 Nf3Nf6 as the opening I was playing before did not allow for that response. I had to rely on the opening principles, tactics, and strategy to help me in the opening. I won after my opponent blundered in the opening.

The most important things to focus on at your skill level is tactics, opening principles, and not blundering. Learning the very basics of the endgame via overkill mates, and the principles of the endgame is also important. Your opening variation does not matter so much as long as you get your king safe, develop all your pieces, and don't have a material disadvantage. Tactics matter much more, and help you out no matter what part of the game you are in. Knowing how to close out games is also more important than knowing opening lines. I did not know the opening lines, and my opponents may very well have known the lines better than me, but either because they chose a not so good variation, or did not calculate out the certain position I was able to win. I was better out of the opening in both games. Hope this helps.

Here are some links that will help you: Opening principles

Tactics definitions (pins, forks/double attacks, skewers, discovered attacks are the most common and most of the more advanced tactics are based on one or more the these common ones)

Basics of chess strategy:

How to evaluate pieces

Basics of pawn structure

Basics of planing

Evaluating positions

Basics of Endgame:

Endgame Principles

How to checkmate with two queens, two rooks, or queen and rook

King and Queen vs King Checkmate

King and Rook vs King Checkmate

you can study opening theory as deep as you want to but you only need to know as much theory as deep as your opponent does. Sometimes they will know a lot and sometimes they will only know a little. either way once you come to the end of the theory being played you must think for yourself.

this is where general chess knowledge kicks in.

here's an example: I know the mainline Qa5 Scandinavian 10 moves deep which is enough against most players. But if my opponent deviates early, that specific move order may not be of any particular value to me now. But having an understanding of what those moves do in the positions is always valuable.

here's a model line to illustrate the point.

1.e4,d5 2.exd5,Qxd5 3.Nc3,Qa5 but what if white plays 3.Qf3,... do I still play Qa5? or something else? I don't know but all I really need to know is do I trade Queens with Qxf3 or do I move the Queen? the answer is, now you have to think for yourself and ask what is the best move in the position for me? memorizing theory will only tell you what to play in a specific position. understanding theory will give you a guide for what to do when the theory stops.

Apenas unas cuantas jugadas (5).

I’m not a pro but like if you are like a complete beginner, I would recommend setup based openings like the kings Indian or the London system but for theoretical openings, you should study the top 3 most common move and responses to those moves and look out for any traps.