The Indian openings (Kings Indian, Queens Indian, Nimzo-Indian, Bogo-Indian, Old Indian, Grunfeld) should be considered useful for those players who have been already developing their tactical awareness but have yet to work on the strategic aspects of the game and wish to learn how to do so. The important thing for players trying these defenses out for the first time is less to learn variations and lines by rote and rather to understand the principles and strategic ideas behind them. Yes, of course most players trying these out for the first few times will receive some real pastings, but having a go at these defenses will help those players at the early intermediate stage develop an understand of strategy that will prove invaluable as they progress.
Which Indian Defense is the best for a beginner to learn?
The Nimzo-Indian. You put the Bishop on b4, exchange it, castle short and push all the center pawns to dark squares to replace the bishop that is gone.
Obviously there is more to playing the Nimzo well than that, e.g. scenarios where it is best to play ...d5 which is not part of the above scheme. But following that simple plan will get you a playable position most of the time at lower levels.
What color? Defenses are only for Black.
Yet another example of Trump's racism.
JJaynes, Thriller Fan and others on this thread seem only interested in players winning games in the short term and not improving their play and understanding of chess. Why not use on-line games on chess.com to try and get some experience with these defenses and understand what they are really about? It won't kill you. If you play them (losing a few to begin with) enough times and do a little homework you will get a sense of what the main themes are in the KID, for example. I've played the Grunfeld often and the KID occasionally for years fairly successfully and would say OTB in classical chess I'm now only around 1800. (I'm old now and it's been decades since I've played in OTB tournaments, so don't currently have a rating). I don't claim to know all the wrinkles or even all the main lines in all their details, but I do have a sense of the strategic objectives of the usual permutations that they throw up. The main thing is that I've really enjoyed those games I've played using those defenses, win or lose, as in my opinion they tend to offer a bit more asymmetry and dynamism than the QGA/QGD and produce more interesting games. Try them out. You've nothing to lose but your short term pride and dignity. You might even become a better chess player.
I guess I shall look more closely into both the KID and the Nimzo.
That, I wouldn't do. Make a choice and try it for a while. GCB and Orao seem to think that the NI isn't too complex (or at least it doesn't have to be), so just make a decision and stick with it for a while.
Probably the forward defensive stroke, cos if you play back to those wily Indian spinners you could easily lose ya stumps.
Probably the forward defensive stroke, cos if you play back to those wily Indian spinners you could easily lose ya stumps.
Nonesense. If it's full you skip to the pitch and if it's short you lean back and club it. If it's on a length you just pick one and try to see the ball through your tears. Maybe this is why my **** of a captain keeps batting me at 6...
There you go:
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.hr/2005/11/tals-janowski-indian-games.html
Note: I'm not the author of the blog and have never read it before
@Karpark: Thank you for your encouragement and advice. It really helped.
@ChessOath: Thank you again. I will try one at a time.
The Ruy Lopez is much more appropriate for beginners rather than any of the hyper-modern openings. Development, central control, and early tactical contact are most crucial for a beginner, and these are most naturally exemplified by the classical school of chess. Against 1.d4, beginners should first concentrate on openings stemming from 1...d5, especially the Queen's Gambit.
@ChessOath: Thank you very much. I certainly will not criticise your post, as it is the answer I was looking for. I do like tactical games, and I'm definitely not looking to memorise a zillion moves of an opening. I'm very grateful for a straight answer to a simple question. Thank you again!
You don't want to memorize theory? Don't study the KID. Really!
Scandinavian. it was Anand's choice in the 1995 PCA Wch. match vs. Kasparov.
They are not good for you then!
My thanks also to doingokiguess, Oraoradeki and and AxerofQuestions, for answering my question. Lots of ideas there. I guess I shall look more closely into both the KID and the Nimzo.