Hi everyone,
I'm trying to choose a white opening system, and I wanted to get your opinions. I'm fully aware that there are drawbacks to playing a system as opposed to 1e4 or 1d4, however for practical reasons a system is what I've settled on for the time being. I'd like a system that is at least reasonably respectable theoretically and that I might be able to expand in the future if I begin to play more often and take opening preparation more seriously. I've considered the following and experimented briefly with them:
1. Colle.
2. King's Indian Attack.
3. English with 2.g3 (as recommended in Kosten's "Dynamic English"😉.
4. Reti.
5. Nimzo-Larsen
Do any of you have a preference among these openings? Did I miss any possibilities? In general I like positional chess as opposed to tactical shootouts, although I know that a chess player must be prepared for both.
Thanks for any input you have.
Scott
Originally posted by smrex131-4 are part of the system advocated in John Donaldson's Strategic Opening Repertoire, and fit together nicely.
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to choose a white opening system, and I wanted to get your opinions. I'm fully aware that there are drawbacks to playing a system as opposed to 1e4 or 1d4, however for practical reasons a system is what I've settled on for the time being. I'd like a system that is at least reasonably respectable theoretically and that I might ...[text shortened]... I know that a chess player must be prepared for both.
Thanks for any input you have.
Scott
Originally posted by smrex13Is the Reti a system?
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to choose a white opening system, and I wanted to get your opinions. I'm fully aware that there are drawbacks to playing a system as opposed to 1e4 or 1d4, however for practical reasons a system is what I've settled on for the time being. I'd like a system that is at least reasonably respectable theoretically and that I might ...[text shortened]... I know that a chess player must be prepared for both.
Thanks for any input you have.
Scott
I play the Colle, and I may try the King's Indian Attack. But I can't give you as good advice as you'd receive on the internet, so I won't even try.
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Originally posted by smrex13The queen's indian defence is supposedly quite good, but I don't often get a chance to use it.
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to choose a white opening system, and I wanted to get your opinions. I'm fully aware that there are drawbacks to playing a system as opposed to 1e4 or 1d4, however for practical reasons a system is what I've settled on for the time being. I'd like a system that is at least reasonably respectable theoretically and that I might ...[text shortened]... I know that a chess player must be prepared for both.
Thanks for any input you have.
Scott
Edit: sorry, queen's indian defence is a black opening 😕
p.s. what is the colle system?
I don't think it'll matter that much what opening you use at your rating level, you probably lose your games for dropping pieces, bad coordination and/or messing up your position chasing short term advantages etc. -I know I do. just pick an opening that feels comfortable, and stick to it. you'll gain a lot by building up experience on that one opening.
I have played all of these pretty seriously except the Colle and I can recommend all of them. The Colle is pretty easy to play, and can be very dangerous against people who have no clue what to do. The Nimzo Larsen is an interesting opening, but not really a system. The good thing about this opening is that there is very little established theory, and that forces both sides to just play chess. The English with 2. g3 is a great choice. I have had some of the best results I have ever had using Kosten's book, which I think is the best book on the English ever. The Reti is nice, and you can pretty much play the same thing every time: fianchetto both bishops, Nf3, 0-0, d3 and Nbd2. It's a reasonable opening but I think it's pretty easy for black to play against. The KIA is a great system, and has the advantage that the plans and ideas are pretty easy to learn. I have played all of these so I can recommend some good books:
Nimzo-Larsen Attack - Tait and Jacobs
The Ultimate King's Indian Attack - Dunnington
The Dynamic English - Kosten
Easy Guide to the Reti Opening - Dunnington
Hope this helps. 🙂
Originally posted by smrex13KIA is good because you can use it with 1e4 when you learn more openings later, but honestly don't bother with a system. It may give you something to play every time, but just learn a real opening(most of which have far better results than any of the systems) and resign yourself to having games that diverge from book before you even start. Learn a good opening well, then eventually learn others, not a "system" for anything. Just play by basic principals if you don't know what to do.
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to choose a white opening system, and I wanted to get your opinions. I'm fully aware that there are drawbacks to playing a system as opposed to 1e4 or 1d4, however for practical reasons a system is what I've settled on for the time being. I'd like a system that is at least reasonably respectable theoretically and that I might ...[text shortened]... I know that a chess player must be prepared for both.
Thanks for any input you have.
Scott
Originally posted by smrex13From what I know, all are strong openings and tend to lead to the positional games you say you prefer (particularly the KIA and Reti, which I have a pretty good level of familiarity with). On the other hand, I was once told by an expert level USCF player that the more open tactical openings were better for beginners. Your rating is still provisional, so I have no idea what your real level of play is, but assuming you're around 1300, you may want to reconsider your choices. Strong players have told me over and over again that the fastest way to improve is by studying tactics. There are certainly other ways to study tactics (books, CT-Art...etc.), but why not choose openings that lead to open tactical positions so you can improve that part of your game?
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to choose a white opening system, and I wanted to get your opinions. I'm fully aware that there are drawbacks to playing a system as opposed to 1e4 or 1d4, however for practical reasons a system is what I've settled on for the time being. I'd like a system that is at least reasonably respectable theoretically and that I might ...[text shortened]... I know that a chess player must be prepared for both.
Thanks for any input you have.
Scott
Originally posted by smrex13What about this repertoire:
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to choose a white opening system, and I wanted to get your opinions. I'm fully aware that there are drawbacks to playing a system as opposed to 1e4 or 1d4, however for practical reasons a system is what I've settled on for the time being. I'd like a system that is at least reasonably respectable theoretically and that I might ...[text shortened]... I know that a chess player must be prepared for both.
Thanks for any input you have.
Scott
WHITE: 1.) Guioco Piano
2.) Evan's Gambit
3.) English Opening
4.) Queen's Gambit - Archangel variation
BLACK: 1.)Sicilian Najdorf versus e4
2.)Queen's Indian Defense versus d4
3.)Pirc Defense
4.)French Defense
A firm knowledge of all these opening lines are nice, but then again, chess is 99% tactics and endgame. 1% openings. Today, I drew my computer on the highest level (rated 1700) and I played the Guioco Piano. I think I'll stay with one of Morphy's favorite openings for White. 🙂
Originally posted by UmbrageOfSnowI don't know if that's necessarily the case. I'm playing almost all of my games in systems, and am doing fine with it at my level. I think systems are a good way to excersize good opening ideas, and practice formulating plans.
KIA is good because you can use it with 1e4 when you learn more openings later, but honestly don't bother with a system. It may give you something to play every time, but just learn a real opening(most of which have far better results than any of the systems) and resign yourself to having games that diverge from book before you even start. Learn a g ...[text shortened]... rs, not a "system" for anything. Just play by basic principals if you don't know what to do.
Originally posted by powershakerUmmm, those are about the fartherest from what he's looking for that you could get. He wants an opening system, not a flashy tactical game that'll be over in 15 moves. I'm refering to the ones that you suggested for white.
What about this repertoire:
WHITE: 1.) Guioco Piano
2.) Evan's Gambit
3.) English Opening
4.) Queen's Gambit - Archangel variation
BLACK: 1.)Sicilian Najdorf versus e4
2.)Queen's Indian Defense versus d4
3.)Pirc Defense
4.)French Defense
A firm knowledge of all these ...[text shortened]... ayed the Guioco Piano. I think I'll stay with one of Morphy's favorite openings for White. 🙂
EDIT: Also, from a few seconds of googling, I don't believe there's a queen's gambit- Archangel variation. There's a Ruy Lopez bearing that name.
Originally posted by ark13Ark beat me to it.
Ummm, those are about the fartherest from what he's looking for that you could get. He wants an opening system, not a flashy tactical game that'll be over in 15 moves. I'm refering to the ones that you suggested for white.
EDIT: Also, from a few seconds of googling, I don't believe there's a queen's gambit- Archangel variation. There's a Ruy Lopez bearing that name.
A) From what it looks like he wants one opening to play against everything. In yours you have him playing 1. e4, 1.c4 and 1. d4, not to mention the 1. d4 opening you gave him is completely made up, which I suppose is good from a theory standpoint. He already knows the main lines! Most GM's don't even play all three.
B) He was just asking about white, and you gave him one for black too. Also, you have against 1.e4, the Najdorf, which is a terrible choice for a beginner or non-strong player, then after, you have the French and the Pirc, which are also defences to 1. e4. Certainly learning to play 3 super complicated systems against 1. e4 is a waste of time.
C.) You recommend playing the Queen's Indian against 1. d4, but that's not always playable.
🙁 I don't know what else to say about that post.
Originally posted by ark13Yeah, my chess computer has a White opening called Queen's gambit - Archangel. Sure does.
Ummm, those are about the fartherest from what he's looking for that you could get. He wants an opening system, not a flashy tactical game that'll be over in 15 moves. I'm refering to the ones that you suggested for white.
EDIT: Also, from a few seconds of googling, I don't believe there's a queen's gambit- Archangel variation. There's a Ruy Lopez bearing that name.
Originally posted by !~TONY~!Yeah, true. You're right. But, I sure do love MOrphy's WHite openings. hehe
Ark beat me to it.
A) From what it looks like he wants one opening to play against everything. In yours you have him playing 1. e4, 1.c4 and 1. d4, not to mention the 1. d4 opening you gave him is completely made up, which I suppose is good from a theory standpoint. He already knows the main lines! Most GM's don't even play all three.
B) He was jus ...[text shortened]... t 1. d4, but that's not always playable.
🙁 I don't know what else to say about that post.
I play 1. d4 as white. The opening it ends up in will depend on black's responses. I'm quite happy in the King's Indian Defense (both sides as I play it as black as well) and Accepted and Declined versions of the Queen's Gambit. I will however avoid the Nimzo Indian via 3. g3 and the Catalan.