New to chess: What's next, an opening or ...?

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Avatar of MistaRogers

See my other post for full story: 
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/starting-to-learn-chess-questions

I started learning how to play chess (from not knowing how the pieces move) about a month ago. 
When I asked my friend that taught me how to play what the best way to improve was, he told me the Tactics Trainer on this site was a quick way to improve, so that's what I've been doing since a bit after Christmas.



I reset my score tonight to test myself anew, and I think I'm comfortable enough with tactics to start learning openings. 
I want my first to be a solid, tactical/active white opening.

Help a brotha out!
Thanks much,
MistaRogers 

Avatar of helltank

Queen's Gambit and King's Gambit are two excellent solid and tactical White openings. Queen's Gambit is more solid, but the King's Gambit is incredibly tactical and allows new players to learn chess faster, thus I suggest that you learn the King's Gambit. 

This is the King's Gambit. 

 

If he takes your pawn you play d4 and take his pawn with your bishop the next turn(he will hardly ever defend his pawn with g5. If he does, h4 will destroy his defence. If he plays h6, play hxg5 and he can't play hxg5 due to Rxh8.).

He he doesn't take your pawn you play d3 or a knight move. 

Avatar of MistaRogers
helltank wrote:

Queen's Gambit and King's Gambit are two excellent solid and tactical White openings. Queen's Gambit is more solid, but the King's Gambit is incredibly tactical and allows new players to learn chess faster, thus I suggest that you learn the King's Gambit. 

This is the King's Gambit. 

 

 

If he takes your pawn you play d4 and take his pawn with your bishop the next turn(he will hardly ever defend his pawn with g5. If he does, h4 will destroy his defence. If he plays h6, play hxg5 and he can't play hxg5 due to Rxh8.).

He he doesn't take your pawn you play d3 or a knight move. 


Why don't I put my knight in front of his pawn first?

Avatar of MistaRogers
Count_Rugen wrote:

helltank's suggested move order is great if you want to have the black queen in your face from the get go. Otherwise play Nf3 if the gambit is accepted.


Ok good haha, I was looking at that and thinking that even on a basic tactical level that it was unsound/too aggressive with the pawns.