What to do when opponent plays weird opening?
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Make sure the move your making isn’t a blunder and be more careful when you move focus on developing minor pieces
Dec 6, 2021
0
#3
One suggestion about this: Keep your eyes open for pieces being able to move in ways you're not used to, as well as potential attacks you might not be used to seeing. Sometimes when an opponent does something weird, I've found there are great opportunities to be found to punish them for it.
It’s easy to underestimate them. Remember that below master all openings are sound.
after b4 I reccomend e5. If they were smart they'd play something like b5 or Ba3. After b5, I recommend you just attack that b pawn, and for Ba3 just continue developing.
Dec 6, 2021
0
#7
Orciety wrote:
So, recently I got hit with a bunch of weird openings. Please give me some advice on what to do when my opponent plays stuff like b4.
You could try answering his weird opening with good moves.
Stick to basic principles unless you see his moves are weakining some important squares and you should react to it (punish it) immediately. You will have a better position out of the opening for sure and have an easier time making moves that can be enough to win you the game. Problem comes when you join him in doing dubious moves and he gets back to equality. After the game analyze it and find the best way to play against that. If you lose than you should work on winning won positions.
Develop pieces into play and control the center. Think of what downsides opponent's move has and how you could profit from those. For example 1 b4 commits to Bb2, so a possible plan is 1 b4 e5 2 Bb2 f6 so that Bb2 stares on your pawn chain i.e. bites on granite. Another downside of 1 b4 is that squares a4 and c4 are weakened, so at some later point you may land a knight there.
Dec 6, 2021
0
#10
This is something I've been working on lately. I have progressed a bit on it, but only a bit. Because if their opening is just a bit "weird" and not entirely "bad," then they are only giving up half a pawn or so, which is not much to a 1300 like me...in fact, in might be worth less than the clock time I waste figuring out what they are doing, which might be their strategy.
So, what can you do? Two things. Play good principles. Just get pawns in the center. Develop your pieces. Knights first, probably (they are easier to know where they go). Then bishops, queen, and castle. Let him be silly. You be solid. Don't waste time.
The other thing, which I've done lately...use the game reviewer to see if there's certain positions you are always losing. I was able to realize, for example, that I generally get smashed by the Pirc. Then I was able to realize why...down to overlooking one move, really. There were a couple other things along those lines I was able to find. So you could try that.
It probably only gains you a few rating points though--because you are just back to even--but it's something.
Be careful with the polish opening. b5 is the goal and losing the Center is not as bad as it seems.
Orciety wrote:
So, recently I got hit with a bunch of weird openings. Please give me some advice on what to do when my opponent plays stuff like b4.
They advise... in the such cases... just follow the main ideas for the opening of the game.
Occupy the centre of the board... make castle... develop your minor pieces... and so on.
Or resign. ))
JubilationTCornpone wrote:
This is something I've been working on lately. I have progressed a bit on it, but only a bit. Because if their opening is just a bit "weird" and not entirely "bad," then they are only giving up half a pawn or so, which is not much to a 1300 like me...in fact, in might be worth less than the clock time I waste figuring out what they are doing, which might be their strategy.
So, what can you do? Two things. Play good principles. Just get pawns in the center. Develop your pieces. Knights first, probably (they are easier to know where they go). Then bishops, queen, and castle. Let him be silly. You be solid. Don't waste time.
The other thing, which I've done lately...use the game reviewer to see if there's certain positions you are always losing. I was able to realize, for example, that I generally get smashed by the Pirc. Then I was able to realize why...down to overlooking one move, really. There were a couple other things along those lines I was able to find. So you could try that.
It probably only gains you a few rating points though--because you are just back to even--but it's something.
In fact... now I think... that these "positional moves" are very important in Chess.
Look how Nepo get not good position in almost every game with Magnus.
don't stop your opponent beating himself
Dec 8, 2021
0
#16
CheckeredChessBoard wrote:
did he play the bongcloud
Um I was not talking about a specific person, just in general and no, I never got the boncloud lol
Take the Defeating Pet openings lesson 
How do I respond to wierd moves in a opening I know a lot
When your opponent plays a weird or unfamiliar opening, here are several strategies you can consider to handle the situation effectively:
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Stay Calm and Analyze: Avoid being thrown off balance. Stay composed and assess the position objectively. Many unusual openings may look odd but could transpose into familiar structures or offer weaknesses you can exploit.
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Develop Normally: Stick to fundamental opening principles unless there's a clear reason to deviate. Aim to control the center, develop your pieces, and castle early to ensure king safety.
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Focus on Control: Use the opportunity to gain control of key squares and centralize your pieces. This can restrict your opponent's unusual ideas and limit their options.
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Avoid Overreaction: Just because your opponent plays strangely doesn’t mean you should overreact or play aggressively prematurely. Instead, look for ways to gradually increase your advantage through solid moves.
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Explore Tactical Opportunities: Unusual openings often create tactical vulnerabilities. Look for tactics like pins, forks, or other tactical motifs that may arise due to your opponent’s unconventional setup.
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Adapt Your Plan: Tailor your strategy based on the specific weaknesses or peculiarities of your opponent's opening. If they neglect development or king safety, consider ways to exploit these factors.
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Consult References: If you're unsure how to proceed, consult chess literature, databases, or even an experienced player/coach after the game to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the particular opening.
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Play Flexibly: Keep your options open. Sometimes, the best response to a weird opening is to maintain flexibility in your own setup, allowing you to react appropriately to your opponent’s moves.
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Maintain Time Management: Use your time wisely. Assessing and responding to an unfamiliar opening might require more thought, but don’t spend too much time early on. Maintain a balanced time management approach throughout the game.
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Learn from the Experience: Regardless of the game's outcome, treat it as a learning experience. Analyze the game afterward to understand what worked well and where improvements can be made in handling unusual openings in the future.
By keeping these strategies in mind, you can effectively navigate through the challenges posed by a weird opening and increase your chances of achieving a favorable position in the game.
So, recently I got hit with a bunch of weird openings. Please give me some advice on what to do when my opponent plays stuff like b4.