I've had a lot of good games using the King's Indian as White. It is a little more tricky to do the same as Black. However, I would have to highly recommend that instead of using your time studying openings, use that time to study opening THEORY. That way you won't have to know a bunch of opening lines and will instead be able to counter with basic development moves.
What openings should I know?
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The KIA is not always good for white, it is good in case black does not play e5. And the KIA is a closed opening, which is not recommended until you are a better player. You should play open games, so as white begin your games with e4. If black plays e5, you can play the italian game, or scotch game. Ruy lopez can be closed as well, so I do not recommend that yet. If your opponent plays Sicilian-defence (e4-c5) just play the open sicilian. There are openings that are closed after 1. e4, the french and the caro-kann defence. But it is good to play against them, at some point you will need to be able to play closed games as well.
If you are black, and your opponent plays 1. e4, you should play 1. e5. Everybody must be able to play the open games that arises from 1. e4-e5. Yes, it is true that white has many different options after 1. e4-e5, but a lot of them aren't dangerous. e4-e5 openings are about logical and quick piece development, so you can play them even if you do not know theory. The most dangerous openings for you in case you are not prepared, otherwise they are not dangerous, and it is easy for you to find a line against them, are the king's gambit, the Evans gambit. If you find a good line against them, you are at least equal.
If you are playing black and your opponent plays the queen's gambit (d4-d5-c4) the easiest way to play is the queen's gambit declined, or accept the gambit, but do not try to hold the pawn, just continue logical development.
All in all, you should not spend really spend much time with opening theory, they are only useful if you play against openings like king's gambit, but you only need to choose a good line, and you are ok.
You should know the basic opening principles, and play the openings that follows those principles.
As white, try 1. e4 for some more open, tactical games; as black, try not to get pulled over by the cops for no reason
xxvalakixx wrote:
The KIA is not always good for white, it is good in case black does not play e5. And the KIA is a closed opening, which is not recommended until you are a better player. You should play open games, so as white begin your games with e4. If black plays e5, you can play the italian game, or scotch game. Ruy lopez can be closed as well, so I do not recommend that yet. If your opponent plays Sicilian-defence (e4-c5) just play the open sicilian. There are openings that are closed after 1. e4, the french and the caro-kann defence. But it is good to play against them, at some point you will need to be able to play closed games as well.
If you are black, and your opponent plays 1. e4, you should play 1. e5. Everybody must be able to play the open games that arises from 1. e4-e5. Yes, it is true that white has many different options after 1. e4-e5, but a lot of them aren't dangerous. e4-e5 openings are about logical and quick piece development, so you can play them even if you do not know theory. The most dangerous openings for you in case you are not prepared, otherwise they .....................
There is very little reason to know opening lines like the back of your hand. A general understanding is enough. Knowing the how's and why's of the opening in any game is much more important.
- Take control of the center
- Full piece development
- Identifying opponent's threat
- King Safety
It is unnecessary to go through the hardship of knowing openings, especially at such an early level. Much more important is flexibility and general opening theory knowledge.
KIA for everything isn't good, you can't improve as an overall player this way. Like it was said before, play the open games, e4 as white and as black e5. and for d4 just d5. for the rest go with the common principles.
It doesn't hurt btw to know the most common openings by name and recognize the first main moves. it won't improve your play but it's just common chess knowledge.
In the kids (and beginner) section in tournaments everyone is playing Italien Opening. So,if the principles aren't enough for you, you could start with this.
Ugh, I give up.
Instead I'll just prove to everyone here, regardless of how long it takes, how pointless knowing openings are and will improve without an iota of studying any specifics. General theory knowledge and practice is all I or anybody else should need up until much much higher ratings.
Jul 20, 2013
0
#8
I'd suggest picking a system as white and sticking with it. An e4 opening might be a good idea, but if you like d4 or something else play it. I would then recommend you pick a system for handing e4 and d4 as black. Learn the handful of moves to enter your systems (don't focus on memorizing a myriad of lines), AND the ideas behind them. Keep playing them until you're comfortable with the positions. Experience and paying attention to basic chess principles can teach you a lot more than memorizing opening lines. Sometimes you'll find that an idea you've played several times turns out to be a book line! If you stick to a system you should get experience with the pawn structures and tactics that arise; when you go to actually learn theory later you'll be able to recognize positions rather than commiting random moves to memory (also useful for setting up transpositions).
As far as what type of openings you should learn, I recommend learning something that you like for one reason or another. I would pick something with a sound reputation, but most of us are weak enough that something dubious is unlikely to decide the game. That said, if you pick something with a strong reputation you're likely to get better oppurtunities to develop your chess skills. To help decide, you could go over some GM games and pick an opening that tends to lead to a midgame you would like to play. As you get stronger you'll experiment and pick up more lines as you go.
Phylar wrote:
Ugh, I give up.
Instead I'll just prove to everyone here, regardless of how long it takes, how pointless knowing openings are and will improve without an iota of studying any specifics. General theory knowledge and practice is all I or anybody else should need up until much much higher ratings.
weren't you the one who suggested playing the Kings Indian for white? a rather closed and positional opening?
and going with general principles is what almost everyone here suggested. no need to fight windmills ;)
The OP might want to take a look at the study plans onsite. If you haven't found them yet, they're under "learn" in the top green ribbon bar. Seven openings are listed there and it is recommended you learn the first 5 moves of each as well as continuing to apply general opening principles. This is for folks with a rating between 1000 and 1399. Seems like a reasonable way to be introduced to theory.
None but one move only 1. c4, 1.d4, 1.Nf3 as white and go and play your best games and enjoy chess.
As black 1. ... c5 or 1. .... e6 or 1. .... c6 vs 1. e4. And 1. .... Nf6 vs 1. d4.
That's all. Those are your 1 move only openings. Then start playing chess.
alexpawn wrote:
The French defense is a great opening
it is, but not for a beginner. I think beginners should play open games.
I started Caro Kann as a beginner and had a few good results OTB. But I changed to e5 only and got crushed most times. I stick with open games. want do know why?
we have a girl in our chess club. her father is IM btw. she plays since she is 6 and is now 16. she only plays Caro Kann as black over all those years. and the games in the U1500 section almost every time start with e4. she is stuck at a rating of under 1300 for many years, because she plays a scaredy cat style. plays the same moves, sticks by the rules, no risk, no creativity - no improvement. thats why I decided to get crushed in the open games, don't care for my rating and try to enjoy the open battles.
Kageri wrote:
alexpawn wrote:
The French defense is a great opening
it is, but not for a beginner. I think beginners should play open games.
I started Caro Kann as a beginner and had a few good results OTB. But I changed to e5 only and got crushed most times. I stick with open games. want do know why?
we have a girl in our chess club. her father is IM btw. she plays since she is 6 and is now 16. she only plays Caro Kann as black over all those years. and the games in the U1500 section almost every time start with e4. she is stuck at a rating of under 1300 for many years, because she plays a scaredy cat style. plays the same moves, sticks by the rules, no risk, no creativity - no improvement. thats why I decided to get crushed in the open games, don't care for my rating and try to enjoy the open battles.
If you can do so well with 1. e4, you can do better wiht 1. d4, c4, or Nf3. You see, 1. e4 is the toughest opening, yet you may survive some games. If you survive them with 1. e4, those other openings will improve your rating 100 to 200 points.
And furthermore, never answer 1. e4 e5 or 1. d4 d5 as black.
play any opening you like as long as you know what you are doing. which pawns should not be touched etc.. when to double pawns, which open file is important etc.. i highly recommend ruy lopez, for both sides, open sicilian as white, french as black. avoid complicated stuff like caro kann or sicilian. if you want to play sicilian play the dragon, but that's just me. if the opponent plays the caro kann, don't worry, play the panov botvinnik attack. however, most of the times your opponent will play inferior moves in the opening and your knowledge of opening moves will cease to matter. then it is up to you to formulate a plan. start planning early. dont just put your pieces on squares that just look good. think of how the pieces are helping each other in accomplishing something even if it is a distant threat.
good opening: Pawn e2:e3
My advice is NOT to play systems like KIA. Play 1.e4 as white, 1.e4 e5 and 1.d4 d5 as black. Develop according to opening principles. After a while you will end up finding yourself in mainline openings without actually studying them because mainline openings... are moves that opening principles suggest.
Victor-Servranckx wrote:
There is absolutely no value in these recommended openings. Why not petroff or scandinavian or pirc? Why french which results often in a king side attack under pressure of a pawn on e5. Why not 4 knights or whatever? The dragon? Like the kings indian this results in an asymmetrical attacking race where nobody can predict the outcome. Then aljechin defence is much easier to understand.. Or taimanov sicilian.. And i can go on about dutch, nimzo indian, slav, etc... No, just play different stuff until something catches your fancy more than the rest.
1) The Scandinavian loses.
2)The Pirc, I don't know haven't tried it much. Too abstract, white can push the h-pawn and break up black's defense and unlinke in the dragon, black does not necessarily counterattack white's king. as far as i know, black aims for queenside expansion. not necessarily something a beginner will feel interested.
3)The four knights-it is the most boring opening ever, except perhaps for the petroff.
4)Taimanov sicilian-again, boring opening, no sharp play
pdve wrote:
Victor-Servranckx wrote:
There is absolutely no value in these recommended openings. Why not petroff or scandinavian or pirc? Why french which results often in a king side attack under pressure of a pawn on e5. Why not 4 knights or whatever? The dragon? Like the kings indian this results in an asymmetrical attacking race where nobody can predict the outcome. Then aljechin defence is much easier to understand.. Or taimanov sicilian.. And i can go on about dutch, nimzo indian, slav, etc... No, just play different stuff until something catches your fancy more than the rest.
1) The Scandinavian loses.
2)The Pirc, I don't know haven't tried it much. Too abstract, white can push the h-pawn and break up black's defense and unlinke in the dragon, black does not necessarily counterattack white's king. as far as i know, black aims for queenside expansion. not necessarily something a beginner will feel interested.
3)The four knights-it is the most boring opening ever, except perhaps for the petroff.
4)Taimanov sicilian-again, boring opening, no sharp play
1,2,3,4) No.
As a not very good chess player, what openings should I know? I was just wondering, because I don't really know any openings, but sometimes I play people who play some opening which I don't know how to play. So I was just wondering what openings should I know, and at my level, what kind of openings should I be playing?