As White, do you think it's better to play aggressively or defensively? Or is it not that simple? Same goes for Black, do you think it's better to be aggressive or defensive? Does having the first move as White say or theoretically suggest that White should play aggressively or defensively?
I've been playing "serious" chess for only 5 years now, and I'm still trying to determine my style. I almost always play the English as White, and the French or the Slav as Black. I'm looking for your thoughts, because I'm debating on switching to an aggressive opening or defense. Looking forward to your thoughts.
Originally posted by magnublmThe answer, I suppose, is whichever best fits your style.
As White, do you think it's better to play aggressively or defensively? Or is it not that simple? Same goes for Black, do you think it's better to be aggressive or defensive? Does having the first move as White say or theoretically suggest that White should play aggressively or defensively?
I've been playing "serious" chess for only 5 years now, and I'm ...[text shortened]... ting on switching to an aggressive opening or defense. Looking forward to your thoughts.
Originally posted by magnublmi would say just try to develop your pieces the best you can, and then see what kind of thing youd like to do from here...
As White, do you think it's better to play aggressively or defensively? Or is it not that simple? Same goes for Black, do you think it's better to be aggressive or defensive? Does having the first move as White say or theoretically suggest that White should play aggressively or defensively?
I've been playing "serious" chess for only 5 years now, and I'm ...[text shortened]... ting on switching to an aggressive opening or defense. Looking forward to your thoughts.
i remember hearing some better players on here say not to worry about style untill around 1800, untill then just try to get the best possible move..
Originally posted by magnublmWhat's happening on the board?
As White, do you think it's better to play aggressively or defensively? Or is it not that simple? Same goes for Black, do you think it's better to be aggressive or defensive? Does having the first move as White say or theoretically suggest that White should play aggressively or defensively?
I've been playing "serious" chess for only 5 years now, and I'm ...[text shortened]... ting on switching to an aggressive opening or defense. Looking forward to your thoughts.
Originally posted by magnublmI don't think there could be a necessity for white to play agressively just because he has the first move. the initiative and being ahead in developement, these are the two things that only might demand agression, but being white does not mean you have any of these, so it's upto what's actually going on the board I think.
As White, do you think it's better to play aggressively or defensively? Or is it not that simple? Same goes for Black, do you think it's better to be aggressive or defensive? Does having the first move as White say or theoretically suggest that White should play aggressively or defensively?
I've been playing "serious" chess for only 5 years now, and I'm ...[text shortened]... ting on switching to an aggressive opening or defense. Looking forward to your thoughts.
Originally posted by magnublmI think that as a general rule White should take as much space in the center in the early opening as his opponent allows, always bearing in mind that a space advantage remains so only as long as it can be maintained. Whether one starts with 1.e4, 1.d4 or 1.c4 is a matter of approach and preference. 1.c4 is a flexible opening that White may also be able to transpose into openings other than the English, depending on Black's set-up. Note that extra space on a wing, if that's where White ends up playing, is also an advantage.
As White, do you think it's better to play aggressively or defensively? Or is it not that simple? Same goes for Black, do you think it's better to be aggressive or defensive? Does having the first move as White say or theoretically suggest that White should play aggressively or defensively?
I've been playing "serious" chess for only 5 years now, and I'm ting on switching to an aggressive opening or defense. Looking forward to your thoughts.
The important thing to be aggressive about is making your opening moves work toward the consolidation of an advantage of one sort of another. If you have a space advantage initially, strongly consider increasing it, and make your pieces and pawns work together with every move to achieve this goal. Try also to limit counterplay by your opponent because one-sided aggression may not be enough.
Having said this, I suppose that 1.e4 offers the best chance of kingside play for White. Is this your goal?
Note that there is no "should" opening these days: grandmasters do very well playing 1.e4, 1.d4, and 1.c4.
My own impression is that, if you play 1.e4, you should play the Ruy if you can get it. This seems to be a strong line for White. With 1.d4 you should play the Queen's Gambit, for the same reason. Note that with 1.e4 or 1.c4 your opponent can always immediately put a pawn in the center (broadly construed) with 1...c5 or 1...e5 respectively while getting an asymmetrical position. With 1.d4, he can still immediately play these replies but they probably aren't the best Black can do. (He can take his chances with the Dutch, though, 1...f5.) Note also that with 1.d4, most of the time Black will reply either 1...d5 or 1...Nf6, to which White has the strong move 2.c4 in either case. So, right off the bat, by playing 1.d4 you're setting your sights on the center and (with exceptions) pushing the game into a direction you've presumably prepared for.
I'm still open-minded about what I'll end up playing as White. I've been experimenting exclusively with 1.c4 but who knows.
White, having the first move should attack vigoriously whereas black will need to defend against that attack and equalise before getting their chance.
Between equal players, white wants to win, black to draw. Therefore, white must play aggressively and black defensively but black should always be prepared with the slightest slip from white to agressively counter attack.
If that doesn't make sense to you and answer your question then I am being far to obtuse for my own good. In any case I will take the 1st opportunity to play aggressively with either colour.
Originally posted by Dragon FireSounds good to me, but a little vague. What is White "attacking" immediately?
White, having the first move should attack vigoriously whereas black will need to defend against that attack and equalise before getting their chance.
Between equal players, white wants to win, black to draw. Therefore, white must play aggressively and black defensively but black should always be prepared with the slightest slip from white to agressiv ...[text shortened]... own good. In any case I will take the 1st opportunity to play aggressively with either colour.
Originally posted by Mark Adkinswhat would you say is an aggressive 1.d4 opening?
...With 1.d4, he can still immediately play these replies but they probably aren't the best Black can do. (He can take his chances with the Dutch, though, 1...f5.) Note also that with 1.d4, most of the time Black will reply either 1...d5 or 1...Nf6, to which White has the strong move 2.c4 in either case. So, right off the bat, by playing 1.d4 you're s ...[text shortened]... ter and (with exceptions) pushing the game into a direction you've presumably prepared for...
I think I must have misread "defensively" in the original thread as meaning something else. I agree with Dragon Fire that there seems little point in White playing passively. However, in certain openings (e.g., the Robatsch) White may do better taking control of the center, patiently developing his pieces to control that center (but with a plan beyond this!) and only then using his now well-developed pieces to support a space expansion using pawns.
Originally posted by magnublmI guess I found my answer to my own question at this link:
what would you say is an aggressive 1.d4 opening?
http://tinyurl.com/2t2twl
Here's an excerpt:
"Playing White with 1. d4
* Playing aggressively as White with 1. d4
o After 1...d5: Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Queen's Gambit with Queen's-side castling,
o Against Indian defences: King's-side Pawn storms e.g. Samisch vs. King's Indian.
* Playing solidly as White with 1. d4
o After 1...d5: Queen's Gambit Declined with O-O, Queen's Pawn games without c2-c4.
o Against Indian defences: Queen's-side Pawn storms e.g. Classical King's Indian."
With "Samisch vs. King's Indian", does it mean Samisch *or* King's Indian?
Originally posted by magnublmIt depends on the quality of my opponent. As white I'll play King's Gambit against players a couple of hundred points below me or more. Smith Morra against guys upto 100 below me. Higher than that, I'll try to play a solid Ruy or Sicillian.
As White, do you think it's better to play aggressively or defensively? Or is it not that simple? Same goes for Black, do you think it's better to be aggressive or defensive? Does having the first move as White say or theoretically suggest that White should play aggressively or defensively?
I've been playing "serious" chess for only 5 years now, and I'm ...[text shortened]... ting on switching to an aggressive opening or defense. Looking forward to your thoughts.
As black, I concentrate on development, and if I feel I have an advantage, I'll try to exploit it and start an attack.
It really depends (as always) on what's happening on the board. If I feel I am in a positionally lost game, I'll try to complicate, probably by saccing and trying to open up lines.
For example, in this game, I misplayed the opening, and decided I was pretty much lost at move 12, so I decided to sac the bishop to open the h file into the castled king. I still shouldn't have had enough, but the complications unsettled my opponent and I ended up winning. I reckon if I had just played passively, he would have ground me down.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. bxc3 b6 7. Nf3 c5 8. g3
Ba6 9. Bg2 Bxc4 10. Ne5 Bd5 11. Bxd5 exd5 12. Bg5 h6 13. h4 hxg5 14. hxg5 Nh7
15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. g6 Rf6 17. dxc5 Nc6 18. Qxd5+ Kf8 19.
gxh7 1-0
D
P.S. I forgot half of the original question. I think that as Black you need to fight for the center early on. It's too easy to get crushed with passive openings (e.g., 1.e4 g6) especially at our level. If you choose to respond to 1.d4 with 1...Nf6, then after 2.c4 e6 you had better make sure your subsequent moves are staking a claim in the center either directly (with 3...d5 or 3...c5) or else indirectly (with 3...Bb4 pinning the knight on c3), depending of course on exactly what White does with his third move. Just my two cents.
I guess I don't see the opening being so much about attacking (with the exception of certain gambit lines) as about playing vigorously, especially in the center and with respect to it. You can call the latter "aggression" if you like. Again, I agree with DF that both sides should play vigorously.