14 Aug 06
Originally posted by Ristarscandinavian is what i use as my #1 opening lol
Hi everyone,
Concerning the idea of choosing openings for your first "bag-o-tricks," I've been somewhat recently swayed by the idea of studing four openings, two in general favoring each color.
Of these openings, one in each pair would be fairly standard, the other would be an unorthodox one just to have some fun with and learn relatively obscure nuance ...[text shortened]... Bird's opening for White, and either the Scandinavian or Slav for Black.
Any thoughts?
14 Aug 06
8 edits
Originally posted by cmsMasterUhhhh... I think beginners are better off playing for control of the center and castling their king... not using their move two to move the king from e1 to f2. Pretty bad advice in my opinion. Lev Alburt - giving advice to class players - says to be a gambiteer, and if not a gambiteer, play the Scotch game, Guioco or the Goring. Against the Sicilian, Alburt suggests: 1.) e4 c5 2.)c3 d6... keeping a hold on the center. I read that one in his Chess Life column. For Black, he says not to be afraid of playing e5 against e4. The Sicilian Kan - a nice defense for Black - cuts down on a lot of theory and is a good opening for beginners. However, I sort of break that rule as a class player. I like the Sicilian Najdorf - sometimes the Dragon when my inhibitions are lowered - and I play the Queen's Indian Defense against 1.) ... d4. Still, you cannot always play the Queen's Indian Defense agaisnt 1.) ... d4.
Ok, well a lot of lower rated players on here are asking what the best opening for them is. And I've found it! It's called the "Hammerschlag", it immediately takes control of e4 and puts white's king in a very pleasant spot! It also really fights for the win and leads to excellent tactics. Here's the line for all those interested
1.f3 e5 (many other ...[text shortened]... can be used here, but your second move you always be...)
2.Kf2!
Enjoy, and good luck.
For a player rated 1300 or less, I suggest the Stonewall Attack for White, but players can often begin to play this opening by rote and not pay attention to why they are making moves. Still, it's a good start to understanding what openings are about and how they are utilized for an attack. In the end, a player should learn not how to just make opening moves, but why these moves are being made, and study tactics and endgame far more so than opening theory.
14 Aug 06
Originally posted by powershakerNo, you're totally wrong, you obviously have never used the Hammerschlag.
Uhhhh... I think beginners are better off playing for control of the center and castling their king... not using their move two to move the king from e1 to f2. Pretty bad advice in my opinion. Lev Alburt - giving advice to class players - says to be a gambiteer, and if not a gambiteer, play the Scotch game, Guioco or the Goring. Against the Sicilian, ...[text shortened]... why these moves are being made, and study tactics and endgame far more so than opening theory.
14 Aug 06
Originally posted by Sicilian SmaugIt's a solid drawing weapon. Positional usually it offers a huge amount of draws for white, but it really is also a very solid choice. I wouldn't write it off even though I currently use the Sicilian Grand Prix Attack, which is another great system for fighting the Sicilian.
Hmmm.. But that is the Alapin to which I would always reply:
1 e4, c5
2 c3, Nf6
which normally continues..
3 e5, Nd5
4 d4, cd
5 Nf3
Pretty good for black
14 Aug 06
Originally posted by Sicilian SmaugYeah, but you are getting a little beyond 1800 now, Smaug. How you see the game is a little more advanced than your average class player.
Hmmm.. But that is the Alapin to which I would always reply:
1 e4, c5
2 c3, Nf6
which normally continues..
3 e5, Nd5
4 d4, cd
5 Nf3
Pretty good for black
14 Aug 06
Originally posted by Sicilian SmaugYou didn't carry out the entire mainline, but if you had I could have told you that black scores 51%! here.
Hmmm.. But that is the Alapin to which I would always reply:
1 e4, c5
2 c3, Nf6
which normally continues..
3 e5, Nd5
4 d4, cd
5 Nf3
Pretty good for black
14 Aug 06
Originally posted by cmsMasterMmmm... That 51% includes Grandmasters who have faced it... not only class players. Percentages like that must not concern the class player. Yeah, sure, I'm sure that Garry Kasparov could tear apart the Alapin, because he probably knows every line that exists and remembers by memory every game ever played. But, we're not including Garry in this beginners opening seminar. We're talking about teaching good play to beginners and decent openings to play at their level. Let's not be obtuse here!
You didn't carry out the entire mainline, but if you had I could have told you that black scores 51%! here.
14 Aug 06
1 edit
1.f3 e5 (many other ...[text shortened]... can be used here, but your second move you always be...)
2.Kf2!
I used to play that opening against beginners all the time, just to show them that I could play the worst piece of crap opening in the world and destroy my position in two moves, then beat them anyway. It's not as self-destructive as it seems, the king is tucked away fairly securely. I've played it against fairly good players (when meeting for the first time), then watched them sink in a smug over confident manner, assuming I sucked, then they screw up and lose. It really messes their head up.
Around these parts, we call it the douchebag defense.