Questions tagged [opening]
Questions relating to the initial moves of the game and their aims
220
questions
170
votes
31
answers
188k
views
What are examples of very aggressive openings?
One of my favorite openings is the King's Gambit. It is extremely aggressive, and makes for a sharp tactical game without sacrificing too much material. It isn't played much at the highest level at ...
35
votes
5
answers
15k
views
Why is the Ruy Lopez such a common opening?
The Ruy Lopez opening is characterized by the moves:
[fen ""]
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5
Why is this opening so popular? It does not appear to be particularly special/unique for white or black, so ...
- 767
13
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Is there a free online chess repertoire tool?
Is there a free online chess repertoire tool? It can be some place where you register, save variations and comments, and navigate with a board what you do. I was used to chessply, but apparently it ...
6
votes
2
answers
719
views
Conceptually, what makes the Sicilian opening sensible for black?
We all know the Sicilian as shown below, is one of the most famous and commonly employed openings in chess. But compared to the other replies, which tend to be more about fixing the center (such as e5,...
- 3,386
39
votes
17
answers
41k
views
Good openings for a beginner (for white)
I am a beginner in chess and I like to play some of my friends who are basically at the same level. Usually who wins is based on who makes that one amazing (and lucky) move and quite frankly I want to ...
- 1,089
37
votes
8
answers
50k
views
What's a good way to learn opening theory?
I'm a hobbyist chess player and usually play online. While I've seen thousands of great chess games and win a fair number of games online, the one thing that I have struggle with is studying openings. ...
- 743
15
votes
2
answers
638
views
Wrong lines of play to illuminate right lines
De Firmian's Modern Chess Openings is a good book. I like it. However, the book teaches right lines of play. It teaches few wrong lines.
Should one not also study wrong lines—the blunders, the ...
- 4,539
15
votes
7
answers
15k
views
Database of every possible move in chess
Imagine that there is a chess database of every possible move and position. This database contains all possible moves from opening to end game.
If I played using my intuition against a chess engine, ...
- 1,717
38
votes
10
answers
35k
views
What openings are good for the repertoire of a tactical player?
I'm preparing an opening repertoire for a small "open tournament" that will take place in a few weeks.
I think I'm quite decent at tactical play, and I like situations that give me the initiative - ...
- 2,939
27
votes
8
answers
5k
views
Does the first-move advantage for White have real meaning apart from the highest levels of play?
Most games that involve taking turns, with one player going first by lot or agreement, have some sort of advantage to going first. Tic-tac-toe, for instance, is a guaranteed draw for player 1, ...
- 1,459
24
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is black’s compensation in the main line of the Caro Kann?
After move 10 in the main line of Caro Kann, black has already moved its light-squared bishop four times, while white manages to develop quite a bit.
What exactly is blacks compensation for the lack ...
- 1,165
14
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How to decide when is a3/h3 needed?
a3/h3 are frequently used to prevent the bishops from pinning the knights.
I always have a hard time deciding whether to play them or not. Playing them loses moves and tempo while not playing can ...
- 553
13
votes
11
answers
31k
views
What can I play against 1.d4?
I've been playing chess for some time and I've studied lots of theory, but I don't know what to play against 1. d4. I'm searching for something with good chances for black but without much theory.
...
- 1,307
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Suggest a line for a player who does not want to be dragged into the Sicilian
I am a very bad Sicilian player and I am easily played out of book in the Sicilian defense. I need a line that would prevent my opponents fom going into the Sicilian defense. I have tried c4, but ...
- 517
41
votes
15
answers
42k
views
What is the worst opening move, and why?
Grouping of initial moves of a chess game are well known, though I've never seen analysis of the worst possible opening move, any thoughts? If so, please provide more than just a move, but the exact ...
- 4,137
25
votes
9
answers
7k
views
Systematic approach to learning opening/endgame theory?
Some relevant information: I've been playing chess for 4 years, and for 3 in tournaments, although I've only played in about 10 tournaments so far (3 big ones, like the Pan Ams and Chicago Open). My ...
- 4,616
23
votes
3
answers
10k
views
What is a tabiya and what is their importance?
I've heard the term Tabiya used online though I've never really run into it in any chess book I've read. I have an idea of what the term means but I'm not sure I'm correct, so first I'll say what I ...
- 789
23
votes
8
answers
12k
views
Is learning opening theory necessary?
I have never studied opening theory. The closest I've gotten was briefly reading about several openings in books, but never memorizing or using any. While I haven't ever played in tournaments I have ...
- 897
23
votes
5
answers
12k
views
Why do masters open 1.d4 more often than 1.c4?
Why do masters open 1.d4 more often than they open with the English 1.c4?
STATISTICS
According to 365chess.com, 1.d4 is five times as common. Moreover, even if one admits Réti's 1.Nf3 as an ...
- 4,539
22
votes
5
answers
6k
views
What is 'space' on a chessboard?
I know, I know, this sounds like a ridiculous question, but bear with me.
As an example of my lack of understanding, let's take the advanced variation of the French defense.
[title "Advanced ...
- 589
20
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Trading queens in the opening
Which standard openings in chess usually pave the way for an early queen trade in the game? In other words, which opening has a high probability of exchanging the queens in the opening itself? Does ...
- 621
20
votes
11
answers
40k
views
Looking for an aggressive opening for black vs 1. d4
I like the King's Gambit a lot, and even the Latvian Gambit as black (with dubious results), so my style is very aggressive openings with potentially sharp lines and hack n' slash type of tactical ...
- 301
19
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What are black's possible plans in the exchange variation of the Queen's Gambit?
I've reached this position, or something similar, a zillion times as both black and white (main line exchange queen's gambit):
[fen ""]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Be7 7.Bd3 ...
- 4,340
19
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How do I learn a new opening?
Often times, when I find myself going through the lines of a new opening, one that I would like to start using in my games I hit the concrete wall after a couple of days of studying it.
Due to the ...
- 1,431
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Why isn't Bird's Opening at least as popular as the Dutch Defence?
The Dutch Defence is a fairly popular response to 1. d4. So shouldn't 1. f4 (Bird's opening), viewed as a Dutch plus a tempo, be at least as popular?
- 465
10
votes
3
answers
980
views
How can one determine the opening or transposed opening from the existing pawn formation/structure?
I was once told that you can determine an opening or transposed opening just by how the pawns are structured on the board. Is this the method normally used to determine if an opening was transposed ...
- 16.7k
10
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Beginner Openings/Defenses to learn
What are good openings/defenses to study for both black and white for beginners. I've messed around with the sicilian defense and it is not bad, there's just so many variations and different types of ...
- 201
8
votes
5
answers
5k
views
What are the best scoring openings in Chess960?
I don't play Chess960, or Fischer Chess as it is also known. I've seen a lecture or two about it, but I was never interested.
Last week I was a bit bored so I decided to participate in a tournament ...
- 5,754
6
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Should I go for the Traxler Counterattack?
Many of my games as Black feature the Two Knights' Defence.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
Sometimes my opponent will play 4. Ng5, and I usually reply with 4 ... d5. It is not ...
- 6,162
6
votes
8
answers
1k
views
Are there any gambits which yield an advantage for the side down material?
For this question I'm interested only in gambits that:
Are real gambits. That is, the side that's risking the material actually ends up down material + cannot count on winning the material back. This,...
- 26.1k
4
votes
1
answer
700
views
Is there any way to gain equality with the QGD Marshall Defence?
The Marshall defence goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6?!
I played this game recently as white. It was the first time I saw the Marshall in a game and the real contest was over by move 14.
[FEN ""]
[StartPly "...
user1108
55
votes
10
answers
78k
views
Is there a good online opening training software?
There are a lot of websites to train your tactics, but I can't find any for opening repertoire. I am looking for something similar to 'Chess Position Trainer' but online, where I can import a pgn file ...
- 4,301
26
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Which notable players in chess history successfully used dubious openings?
I am reminded of a famous game between Karpov and Tony Miles where Miles played 1...a6 against Karpov's 1. e4 and still won the game.
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq -...
- 8,805
26
votes
3
answers
61k
views
What is the Bongcloud opening?
I have heard the Bongcloud opening mentioned on chess.com, but I have never heard of that. Is this a real opening, and if so, what is it?
user20520
25
votes
7
answers
3k
views
What proofs for refuted gambits are there?
I've stumbled upon this article a while ago, and I've also seen refutations for the Muzio Gambit (Joseph Kling & Bernard Horwitz - Chess Studies on Endings of Games). I'm wondering what other ...
- 772
24
votes
7
answers
12k
views
What is a good French-like defense against 1. d4?
I enjoy playing the French Defence as black against 1. e4, for the following reasons.
It often creates a closed position without wild tactics
It takes white away from the more familiar lines (1... e5 ...
- 1,257
22
votes
7
answers
19k
views
How should rooks be developed in the opening?
The opening is definitely a weak area in my chess game and I always feel like my rooks sit unused until well into the middle game (?). Is that just how things go, or is there a strategy that allows ...
- 323
20
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Bird's Opening and the Dutch Defense
A naturally positional class-C player (c. Elo 1500), I have learned in recent years to push my f-pawn two squares early in the opening, to force myself to play tactical chess. The King's Gambit (...
- 4,539
19
votes
6
answers
11k
views
How to deal with your opponent's queen if your opponent rejects any trades?
If my opponent brings out his/her queen early in the game, I usually attack it with my own queen. The opponent can either accept the trade or reject it. If he/she accepts, I have no questions at all. ...
- 771
18
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Software for opening repertoire practice
I am developing an opening repertoire for white based on d4 and c4. I think this is going all right, but what I am looking for is a chess program that can exercise my repertoire knowledge.
...
- 5,757
17
votes
5
answers
12k
views
Understanding vs. Memorization
Is memorization necessary in modern chess? Whenever I play chess, I always run out of time because I move slowly in the opening; unlike others who move fast in the opening because they have memorized ...
- 433
17
votes
2
answers
803
views
Has AI changed opening theory, and if so, how?
Pre-AI, it's hard to imagine that opening moves had changed much. Following the birth of computer engines, has AI changed opening theory, and if so, how?
- 4,137
17
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Why is 1. Nf3 not nearly as popular as 1.e4 and 1.d4?
The opening move 1. Nf3 is considered as a perfectly sound opening and it is popular, but not nearly as popular as 1.e4 and 1.d4. Here are my thoughts about this:
In most openings, white will make ...
- 8,819
13
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Are there good variations for White against the Sicilian that do not involve an early d4?
If White opens e4 and Black replies c5, that's the Sicilian defense. Typical next moves are 2. Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4, etc.
Are there good variations for White where he DOESN'T play d4?
I've heard ...
- 12.3k
13
votes
7
answers
27k
views
Countering The Wayward Queen Attack
I'm a new player =I just started playing again after an over 10 year hiatus. I'm (sadly) in the 600s.
I've been studying openings and I seem to do better in games where I can use the Italian game or ...
user14142
13
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How does opening preparation work at GM level?
From what I can gather, one studies what the opponent has been playing, and prepare responses for their favourite lines. The problem is, there's no guarantee the opponent will play a given opening. ...
- 26.1k
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are some lines of the Queen's Gambit symmetrical variation for white?
Some people who I play always play the symmetrical variation, and I don't know how to play it for white.
[fen ""]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5
- 229
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What are the latest ideas for Black against the Samisch King's Indian Defense?
I am always afraid of the Samisch variation of the King's Indian. It's the main reason why I switched to Chebanenko Slav (or ..a6 Slav, or Kamsky's Slav). But my opponents seem to be always prepared ...
- 1,119
11
votes
5
answers
44k
views
Is there any good app for learning openings?
My great fail is that I cannot learn opening or initial play.
Normally I only play when I can connect to my mobile app (Chess Free on iOS), and play at a very low level (adjusted as a single bar), ...
- 213
10
votes
1
answer
709
views
Why almost nobody plays ...6...b5 in the Lipnitsky Najdorf?
[FEN ""]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 everybody plays 6... e6 and then ...b5. Is 6...b5 right now a mistake? I don't ...
- 6,816