Openings you stopped using as you got higher in rating - Chess Forums - Page 2

jamesstack

Dec 11, 2021

0

#21

One thing I changed over the past year is that I dont play the ruy lopez anymore. Instead, I play either the Italian or the 4 knights. This one change has helped my results a lot. I even had some quick victories of about 20 moves against 1...e5. But there is even more to the story.....there is a lot of theory one has to know to play the ruy lopez. Once I didnt have to study that anymore, I suddenly had more time I could pour into my black openings and my results improved with black as well. I also used some of this time to study tactics and endgame so that may also be part of the story.

Optimissed

Dec 12, 2021

0

#22

Solmyr1234 wrote:

HelpNeedsHelp wrote:

The move order may vary slightly, but I keep falling into this trap in the Sicilian Defense if I'm not paying attention. I really feel like the Sicilian is a line you don't really want to play until you're closing into the 1500 rating range and understand what you are doing. I still play it to learn it because I think it helps improving as a player, but I wouldn't recommend it if your goal is to win as a beginner.

3.c3 - The Delayed Alapin, would be great here. [I'm saying it as a French player who has the misfortune to face it sometimes ]

Sorry, afraid I don't understand. Do you mean after 1. e4 ...e6 2. d4 ...d5 3. c3? If so, black can take the e pawn. Otherwise, what is white's alternative second move? It would seem that after c3, black can always take the e pawn and so is at least equal, if not better.

Nennerb

Dec 12, 2021

0

#23

Stopped using classical openings (except the Sicilian/the English)

ninjaswat

Dec 12, 2021

0

#24

Kid because I died otb with it since I didn't know anything

Might come back to it now tho

NM darkunorthodox88

Dec 13, 2021

0

#25

blueemu wrote:

1. Nc3

It has some cool lines, such as

... but it's too straightforward to hope for an advantage. Plus, there's no really good line for White in reply to the simple 2. ... dxe4.

these lines give so much choice for white, between, exd5 bc4 line, or g3 lines, or e5 lines. At least one of them should have proved satisfying.

NM darkunorthodox88

Dec 13, 2021

0

#26

Christianf859 wrote:

When I FIRST started playing I played everything because it didnt matter. I didnt know the theory so I unknowingly played the bird, French, caro, etc...

From like 1000 to about 1800 I played the queens gambit as white, and modern defense vs everything as black.

1800 to 2200 I played the London System as white, and nimzovitch and KID as black.

2200 to present I play the Jobava London as white and play 1. Nc6 vs anything as black.

So honestly not too much change over the years. Been a d4 player since the beginning, and I still prefer black openings that are simple and universal.

whats your solution to 2.nf3 in the nimzowitsch? do you go for the nimzo-pirc schyuler suggests?

NM darkunorthodox88

Dec 13, 2021

0

#27

my repertoire has remained almost the same from my 1500 days . i abandoned the scandinavian and the Alekhine to narrow my repertoire , as well as 1.f4 and 1.b3 but then adopted back 1.b3 at about 2000. I also dropped 1.d4 b5, as i wasnt fully convinced that playing an orangutan a move down could possibly be pleasant at the higher levels, and st. george never grabbed my attention.

current repertoire

White : 1.b4 1.b3 1.nc3

black 1.nc6 and 1.b6 vs the big four, varied responses to everything else.

as (and if) i start approaching higher ratings of about 2300, i will surely add some other stuff to become harder to predict like, French, Caro-kahn, nimzo-indian/QID/Bogo, prob the tartakower defense, maybe even some e5 line to vary my nimzowitsch. I can see myself playing lots of secondary but respectable lines from the big 4 as white.

the safety aspect is that in trimming your repertoire you can instead add a of depth to the lines you do play. Eventually though, you may need to keep the depth you have and add breadth once again to push to the next level. opening prep matters but as the rating mountain gets stepper not allowing others to prep agaisnt you becomes more and more important.

blueemu

Dec 13, 2021

0

#28

darkunorthodox88 wrote:

blueemu wrote:

1. Nc3

It has some cool lines, such as

... but it's too straightforward to hope for an advantage. Plus, there's no really good line for White in reply to the simple 2. ... dxe4.

these lines give so much choice for white, between, exd5 bc4 line, or g3 lines, or e5 lines. At least one of them should have proved satisfying.

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 is the line that convinced me to give up that move order.

NM pretzel2

Dec 13, 2021

0

#29

I stopped playing the french because of the exchange variation.

NM darkunorthodox88

Dec 13, 2021

0

#30

blueemu wrote:

darkunorthodox88 wrote:

blueemu wrote:

1. Nc3

It has some cool lines, such as

... but it's too straightforward to hope for an advantage. Plus, there's no really good line for White in reply to the simple 2. ... dxe4.

these lines give so much choice for white, between, exd5 bc4 line, or g3 lines, or e5 lines. At least one of them should have proved satisfying.

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 is the line that convinced me to give up that move order.

which line bothers you from it? black has a lot of choice but most is harmless (qd5, e6, e5 ,g6,c6) . nf6 is annoying but white should have tiny advantage. (its usually white who can push as he has 4-3 majority in nxf6 lines, blacks chances depends on White's carelessness. Nc6 is interesting, but white should hold a small advantage with nf3 and natural play.

This leaves bf5, where many argue black has gotten a superior caro-kahn, as c6 wasnt forced, but fortunately white doesnt have to play so freely, he can choose between 4.qf3!?, 4.ng3-h4, ----nf3 which contains a nasty trap if black dooesnt play nd7 early, 4.ng3 5.nh3 which has its own share of poison, the popular bc4-d3- qe2 alternative ,and my personal favorite:

and we have a fresh position with mutual chances.

blueemu

Dec 13, 2021

0

#31

darkunorthodox88 wrote:

blueemu wrote:

darkunorthodox88 wrote:

blueemu wrote:

1. Nc3

It has some cool lines, such as

... but it's too straightforward to hope for an advantage. Plus, there's no really good line for White in reply to the simple 2. ... dxe4.

these lines give so much choice for white, between, exd5 bc4 line, or g3 lines, or e5 lines. At least one of them should have proved satisfying.

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 is the line that convinced me to give up that move order.

which line bothers you from it?

Black ends up playing a Caro-Kann formation, but can play c7-c5 in ONE move instead of two.

Bettyuk

Dec 13, 2021

0

#32

Jenium wrote:

I stopped playing 1...e5 because the Ruy was so annoying.

Just don't play 2.nc6 then? The Petrov (2.nf6) is a solid alternative.

OranegJuice

Dec 13, 2021

0

#33

for around 1-2 months I played nothing but f3 kf2 as white or f6 kf7 for black

Jenium

Dec 13, 2021

0

#34

Bettyuk wrote:

Jenium wrote:

I stopped playing 1...e5 because the Ruy was so annoying.

Just don't play 2.nc6 then? The Petrov (2.nf6) is a solid alternative.

Nah, I would fall asleep and lose on time.

keep1teasy

Dec 13, 2021

0

#35

HelpNeedsHelp wrote:

I'm just curious if anyone knows if there's a trend for this.

Mate in 4. Fried Liver. Englund Gambit. Queen tricks.

There's probably gambits too, but I'm not too sure beyond that.

Another reason would be trying to integrate openings with sharp lines, but it's still a double edged sword because you might be in trouble if your opponent has more preparation than you do.

My point is to ask: Do you have openings you stopped using in order to play something more safe that helps win more consistently ?

yeah i stopped using 1.e4

KeSetoKaiba

Dec 13, 2021

0

#36

B1ZMARK wrote:

HelpNeedsHelp wrote:

I'm just curious if anyone knows if there's a trend for this.

Mate in 4. Fried Liver. Englund Gambit. Queen tricks.

There's probably gambits too, but I'm not too sure beyond that.

Another reason would be trying to integrate openings with sharp lines, but it's still a double edged sword because you might be in trouble if your opponent has more preparation than you do.

My point is to ask: Do you have openings you stopped using in order to play something more safe that helps win more consistently ?

yeah i stopped using 1.e4

hehe all the 1. e4 mains having a heart attack. I prefer 1. d4 too xD

keep1teasy

Dec 13, 2021

0

#37

I think I'll pick e4 up again though

KeSetoKaiba

Dec 13, 2021

0

#38

B1ZMARK wrote:

I think I'll pick e4 up again though

Weak. You are caving to the 1. e4 players xD Play 1. d4 and join the dark side *ahem* I mean, uh, 1. e4 is good too...play whatever you like.

keep1teasy

Dec 13, 2021

0

#39

KeSetoKaiba wrote:

B1ZMARK wrote:

I think I'll pick e4 up again though

Weak. You are caving to the 1. e4 players xD Play 1. d4 and join the dark side *ahem* I mean, uh, 1. e4 is good too...play whatever you like.

i mean considering that my score with 1.d4 is like... 44%...

ninja888

Dec 13, 2021

0

#40

I haven't played the Sveshnikov Sicilian since I learned the accelerated dragon.