My Opening Repertoire as White

I made a short video in which share a simple opening repertoire for beginners and improving players based on my personal preferences combined with data on past results. You could use this to get ideas for developing your own opening selections.

My repertoire is currently based on 1 e4, and I also recommend the London System for those who prefer to open with 1 d4.

1 e4...
* if ...e5, Scotch Gambit
* Sometimes 2 d4 (Danish Gambit)
* if ...c5 (Sicilian), Closed Sicilian > Grand Prix

(You may also consider the Smith-Morra Gambit, check out my separate video on that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTNdP.)

* if ...e6 (French), d4 (49%)
* if ...d5 (Scandi), d4 (Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, 64% win rate), e6 transposes to French
* if ...c6 (Caro-Kann), Nf3 (61%)
* if ...d6 (Pirc), Nf3 (72%)
* if ...g6 (Modern defence), d4 and grab the centre
* if ...b6 (Owen defence), d4 etc.
* if ...Nc6 (Nimzowitsch), d4 etc (62%)
* if ...Nf6 (Alekhine's Defense), e5 and harass knight (64%).

Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond

And here's my follow-up video on my recommended repertoire playing as black.

Link?!

You are recommending BDG to beginners???

White repertoire

Black repertoire

Sure, why not? It's a surprising and tricky gambit. There's no reason why lower rated players shouldn't have part of the fun.

Fair enough

But why not 2. exd5 🤷‍♂️ 

Because Scandi players will be ready for 2. exd5. The angle for my opening repertoire is to try to wrong-foot your opponent and gain the initiative early in the game, so you get things your way.

OK, I'm rated 1400 and thereabouts, not a beginner as such, and I do make clear in my videos that this is MY repertoire. I invite viewers to try out my recommendations and then to decide what works for them.

french "d4" doesn't mean anything this is like saying you play 2.Nf3 against the Sicilian and no more theory

Blackmar Diemer is trash -_-

It's what I enjoy playing right now against the Scandinavian, that's all. You're 2000+, so not the audience for my channel. Why come onto the "For Beginners" forum and just criticise those who are trying to help other players to improve? I'm not here to teach the soundest openings, but to help sub-1000 players to break through to 1000+.

@benhutnt72 please detail what do you mean by d4, like after d5 what do you do.

I know I am not the audience for your channel however, I play the french and don't want people to think it's that simple

Hi Ben, would like your thoughts on flagging wins in longer games? I just finished a 10 minute rapid game where I was much worse off after the opening. My opponent (obviously looking for the win) took up a lot of time, and I was just defending and holding on. I ended up winning on time but felt terrible, I was totally outplayed and didn't deserve the win. Have you had games like this? Would make a nice video maybe, holding on for a draw for example when in trouble would be instructive as you talk through it. Now I have to finish off by saying I have lost many games on time when winning also so maybe it all evens up. Loving the channel mate. Cheers.

Did you watch the video? I'm not only suggesting first move responses, obviously.

Regardless, those won't help

Flagging is a tactic, obviously, and one that both players should bear in mind when playing shorter time controls. It's a bit like forcing a draw from a losing position, say with perpetual checks, it's not nice but it's within the rules of the game, so if you're the one on the winning side it's simply something you should watch out for and protect yourself against. Same goes for flagging, if your flag drops from a winning position, you are the loser, fair and square.