Wbat opening to play against stronger player?

Hi all. I would like some thoughts on this question. If you play someone much stronger do you have a better chance if you play your usual opening, or if you try something offbeat like Nc3 or b3? Are there any statistics on whether upsets occur more often with unconventional openings?

Not clear what you mean by "much stronger". Let's assume at least 300 points higher.

If you play an offbeat opening like Nc3 or b3, an opening that doesn't even try for an opening advantage, you are likely to get in a worse position without much effort at all.

If you play a trappy opening line, in an opening you know very well, you are unlikely to surprise the player rated 300 points higher but it's always possible. 

What opening do you know very well?

Look at this game you played against somebody rated almost 200 points higher. You had a good advantage out of the opening yet you ended up in deep trouble within only a few moves.

You were fine and probably even much better after the opening.  I think that's what you want. You helped your opponent out from that point. He was all tangled up, with a bad bishop and you had a big space advantage. You traded your best piece for his worst piece and helped him bring about that attack on your d pawn. Before you knew it, you were back on your heels.

There must be a much better plan. I'm not sure exactly what but I know it doesn't involve trading away your superknight. It seems like the kind of position that IM Jeremy Silman would love. (Have you read "The Amateur's Mind"?)  I would guess that a strategy trying to take advantage of his weakened king's position, taking advantage of some time gained going after his undefended queenside pawns might work out. I would want to start lobbing my h pawn at his kingside (after backing it up, of course).

Of course, coming up with the winning plan is the hard part. It's easier said than done... but I think it gives you the best chance.

Thanks for the input. That game wasn't my best moment. :). But suppose you had to play a master. No matter what you do you probably lose. But what is your best chance?

Rossolimo

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5

I'd play my mainlines, same as I do every time

The same openings you always play.

OK, fine, take it from me, a 1260 rated player

I'm way over my head in a few tournaments, playing people 600 points higher sometimes. If I'm white I play the English opening. It's hard to mangle it too badly, and I usually make it well into midgame before I'm thrashed.

If I'm black I play the French defense. Again, you can mangle it, but it's a lot more predictable than many other lines of play.

Right now I'm working through The Amateur Mind. Good stuff.

go for fools mate every game

Rossolimo

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5

Ignore these other fools.

If playing an "offbeat" (bad) opening gave you more chances against a stronger player, then playing an offbeat opening would also give you more chances against a player your level (or weaker). Therefore, playing bad openings would mean you won more games. So then they wouldn't be bad openings anymore. Which means they would no longer give you more chances against stronger players (according to the first statement).

See how the logic doesn't work? :P

Against a stronger player, you should stick to systems that you are familiar with, as long as they are active and reasonably sound. The key words in that sentence are SOUND, ACTIVE and FAMILIAR.

It's a mistake to try something crazy, since the stronger player is likely to be better in crazy tactics, and probably knows the lines better than you do, anyway.

It is also a mistake to try to get a draw by playing "safe", passive moves. You cannot draw by playing "safe" moves... you have to play "good" moves.

But blueemu. If I play a standard line I know well it is likely the master knows it better. Thisi s the dilemma.

blueemu wrote:

Against a stronger player, you should stick to systems that you are familiar with, as long as they are active and reasonably sound. The key words in that sentence are SOUND, ACTIVE and FAMILIAR.

It's a mistake to try something crazy, since the stronger player is likely to be better in crazy tactics, and probably knows the lines better than you do, anyway.

It is also a mistake to try to get a draw by playing "safe", passive moves. You cannot draw by playing "safe" moves... you have to play "good" moves.

On one rare ocassion, in the 1920's, Jose Capablanca lost a game to an unranked player.  After the game a reporter asked Capa how many move ahead he thought.  Capa replied thre to four usually.  When the player who had happened to defeat him was asked the same question, he replied:  "Only one. But, I try to make it the right one."

When I play a stronger player, in addition to trying to be sound, active and plying a line I know, I do spend a lot of time trying to find and play the best move I can find.

And how did he get to know it better than you?  Because he avoided playing it?  No, because he played and learned from his losses.

That player you can't beat now gets beaten all the time by people playing your opening.  

I would play what you normally play and use the opportunity to learn your opening better by asking for a post-mortem after the game, the stronger player may give you some great insights that you would not normally get against similar opposition.

Plus, playing outside your repertoire just invites you to get move-ordered into unfavorable lines your opponent likely has a lot more knowledge of.

If you know what you're doing, play your usual opening.  Otherwise, the element of surprise might be your friend.  For instance, if you're White, and you find yourself in the Four Knights Game, you can actually play the surprising Nxe5.  This is known as the Halloween Gambit, and due to it's high risk nature it's rarely seen.  But hey, if your opponent would beat you 19 out of 20 times, and if you think maybe he hasn't seen it before, I say go for it.

Play the best opening you know the best way you know to play it.

If you have not seen it before either, you would be asking the question: "What the hell is my compensation!?". And in the 4-knights game, you should definetly not play 4. g3!?, allowing 4.. Nxe4

Let the strong player show you the holes in your primary opening. The learn from that mistake and you should not fall for it in the future. (Easier said than done). If you do decide on something offbeat, it should still be sound, active and familiar (meaning you have a specific offbeat opening that you play somewhat regularly... Choose one that is sound and active. My main lines are all very classical in nature, but I use a well-respected hypermodern for the occasional change of pace.)

WEll,how do you define "knowing" a line? By variations? By ideas?