Originally posted by Tactical PlayI can't agree with you, after all, how many of us are going to make it to master level? Or do you mean something lower than 2,400+ players. Where you are right is that to start with a player should just play moves and find out what works, learning what you are trying to achieve in the opening in general is more important than finding out what the thing you are playing is called. But eventually you are going to need to find out about specific openings - if only to avoid the proliferation of traps a 'booked up' but average club player can throw at you. I agree that you shouldn't learn openings by rote (except in some cases - and these ones count as advanced study), understanding what you're trying to achieve is more important than particular variations.
Don't worry about openings until you are of master level, just play the normal 1. e4 2. Nf3
e5 against e4, d5 against d4, and e5 against c4, and d5 against c4, sensible moves are all you need.
If you took two hypothetically equal players and divided their studies. One studied and drilled in opening variations and ideas another studied and drilled in tactics for the same amount of time, say 6 month. Out of ten OTB games they played each other, I believe the tactician would win 8 out of ten. The opening technician would win his two through some ensnarling trap in a variation the tactician knew nothing about. If the tactical player were smart he would simply open with some innocuous move like 1. g3 and throw the opening player onto his own resources. I recall going through variation after variation of an old greencovered MCO by Walter Korn, visualizing my opponents dismay when he was caught in some forcing variation conjured up by an Uzbeckistan Master in 1930. What did all that study get me? Nowhere. Nobody ever got to the 7th move of that variation. They would diverge in infuriating fashion by pushing their h pawn one space forward for no apparent reason other than to spoil my plans. I'm not saying that opening preparation is a waste of time. I just think that we can utilize our time more efficiently by spending five minutes out of ten studying tactics, two on openings, two on endings, one on strategy. Just a thought.
For Godness sake!!! This is it!: Openings are one of the most imortant things in Chess! It is just to accept that! if youre a godd tactican or STRATEGICAN!! (That is exactly as good as Tactican) You still have to Get out with a good startng position! Thats what the opening is all about! All aspects of Chess is imortant The opening, The Middle Game, And The EndGame!
And to you who wanted an oopening reportoire! as white play d4 and the QueensGambit against d5 agaist knf6 c4 and if e6 then Knf3 the Queensindian did you get that? as black... against e4 then play the Morden Defence! (That is g6 followed by Bg7 holding the Kn on g8) The a6 Version of the Morden! (Morden with a6) if d4 then you also play the Morden defence! To get things starting with the a6 Morden read my thread: Morden Defence? Anyone? it should be at at the Chess forum ather wise search my name or contact me
As i say: The Morden is not the only Chess Road but its mine and I would like some Company!
A even better walktrought of the a6 Morden Tiger Hillarp presents in his new book: Tigers Morden
I Hope i have helpt you and you or someone else will contact me soon! See ya all!😵
Originally posted by The black bishopIs godd a tactician or STRATEGICAN??
For Godness sake!!! This is it!: Openings are one of the most imortant things in Chess! It is just to accept that! if youre a godd tactican or STRATEGICAN!! (That is exactly as good as Tactican) You still have to Get out with a good startng position! Thats what the opening is all about! All aspects of Chess is imortant The opening, The Middle Game, ...[text shortened]... ers Morden
I Hope i have helpt you and you or someone else will contact me soon! See ya all!😵
Edit: If you keep this up, members will be too embarrassed to join your clan.😳
As with war, your plans (ie. openings) are only as good until contact with the enemy. Without an understanding of all aspects of the game (opening, mid-game, end-game, tatics & grand strategy), it would be difficult to become a better player, let alone a master. However, along the path from novice to grandmaster, different emphasis is placed on which aspect to study to improve your game.
Another analogy would be a person who can throw a football a great distance and with great accruacy. This person would be a good quarterback based on his physical skills, but if this person did not place emphasis on learning how to read defenses he would never be able to become a great quarterback.
Originally posted by Tactical PlayI'd say that "logical play will get you through the opening without a scratch!" is ALMOST true but that's not any comfort when you get mated on the 7th move because you did not study that opening trap.
Tactics are the best, logical play will get you through the opening without a scratch!
Even in the relatively passive Caro Kann, black can get mated or become the victim of a strong attack very early on if he is not schooled in the variation.
Also, what is the "logical move" after white decides to play an early h4 in the advance variation of the Caro Kann (after black plays Bf5) Is it h6???? Seems logical enough but that gives white the option of a dangerous pawn sacrifice!! h5 by black was better but was it "logical" if you didn't know the variations?
