What do you do when you're Stuck?

Forget about the openings. Learn how to think during the game and openings are going to be piece of cake. I can teach you EXACTLY how to think during the game (opening, middlegame and endgame). Your chess understanding will never be the same and you will improve a lot. I charge €20/h, but if you can’t afford too many lessons, don’t worry. I can teach you a lot in an hour. Here to help if you are interested.

If you want to study by yourself, read ‘Logical Chess’. It is really instructive book. You have it on youtube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eTB7oHeRgM&list=PLUrgfsyInqNa1S4i8DsGJwzx1Uhn2AqlT

As far as I know you are not suppose to seek outside help which would include asking for advice. Ask questions after a game is completed. Then use that advice in your future games. Doing it on your own means you search and study yourself.

Sorry bigD.. I guess I wasn't seeking advice on this game I'm playing.. I just used it as an example, my question is really how does one know when it is the right time to open up a defense? Something I struggle with every game. I do the puzzles, and play the ai computer, but I still seem to get stuck mid game, especially if the game is timed.

I have a similar problem, and it’s probably blocking me from reaching much higher levels than my own. You should probably try Jeremy Silman’s works, notably The Amateur’s Mind.

take all the time you need and come up with a plan

Which is why 15/10 is superior to 10/0

the cons are that its infested with cheaters

True, the engines have more time to think

What an awesome piece of advice! I am sure the OP appreciates your input tremendously.

To the OP:

Asking for advice on an ongoing game would be cheating, but as a general rule in any chess game that is in the middle game stage, look for the imbalances and try to evaluate the position with the help of those imbalances you identified. Then make your decision based on your assessment, but remember to check that the move you are intending to play is not an obvious blunder, before you actually play it.

If you do not know what imbalances are, check Silman's books or just simply google it.

Check out the section.....'Pawn Breaks.....initiating an attack' in the following article...

Pawn Play and Structure - for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/chess-books-on-pawn-play-and-structure

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Thank

This thread is not about you.

Thanks for all the replies... My definition of stuck really is checking all the options and not wanting to develop my pawns for fear that my defense would be ruined. I'll check out the suggested readings.. And yes I know, I wasn't asking about the game I was playing and did say that I was just using it as an example in a later reply. I had no intention of cheating in the game. A lot of the time when I play, I'm just at a loss, especially if it's a close game. I try to keep my defense so rock solid that I'm afraid to pawn push, or open up lanes that I think would let the other player in.

you stupd

vienna gambit gives equality

scotch gambit gives equality

englund is REFUTED

I don't usually use e4.. I tend to want to u

I don't use e4 that often.. my go to white opening is queens gambit. Not sure why, I just got comfortable playing it.

The Englund is flat-out refuted, and gambits are worse than solid openings that aim for a long-term advantage like the Ruy Lopez instead of a short-term automatic advantage like the Vienna.

This is the best line in the Vienna Gambit for black.

Black has equalized.
I don’t really know about the Scotch Gambit

don’t worry about this account, it’s a troll who’s succeeded in making a lot of people mad