Whatever opening you explore, I think it is important, maybe imperative, to look at complete games of great Masters, and see what middlegame and endgame themes evolve from the opening.
Catalan Opening: Where Should I Start?
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Feb 27, 2019
0
#43
Based on the advice given in this thread I think I’ve decided I’m going to go for Play the Catalan Vol.1 and 2 -which I can pick up pretty cheaply online and Wojo’s Weapons for an introduction to some of the lines and some master games. If I need to, I’ll then have a look at Bologan’s book. As well as this, I’ll keep a collection of master games that will be of use with relevant themes.
Feb 27, 2019
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#44
Best of luck! Main thing is that you like the type of positions obtained! Meaning they should suit your style....
Feb 27, 2019
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#46
@kamalakanta Now I’ve done some research on forums, people are giving me the impression that Wojo’s Weapons is a very solid, positional repertoire with the aim of frustrating the opponent. I’m not sure if that’s really my style or the approach I should be going for as I move up the ranks.
Feb 27, 2019
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#47
Ideally any opening I go for will be enough to last me until I reach about 2000. So that should be a couple of years at least. I don’t want to just be playing the same old positional grind every single game. I’ll do some more thinking.
Feb 27, 2019
0
#48
novacek hat geschrieben:
@kamalakanta Now I’ve done some research on forums, people are giving me the impression that Wojo’s Weapons is a very solid, positional repertoire with the aim of frustrating the opponent. I’m not sure if that’s really my style or the approach I should be going for as I move up the ranks.
Well, that's the Catalan!?
Feb 27, 2019
0
#49
BL4D3RUNN3R wrote:
novacek hat geschrieben:
@kamalakanta Now I’ve done some research on forums, people are giving me the impression that Wojo’s Weapons is a very solid, positional repertoire with the aim of frustrating the opponent. I’m not sure if that’s really my style or the approach I should be going for as I move up the ranks.
Well, that's the Catalan!?
Exactly. If you don't like this just play the Blackburne QGD (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4). There isn't any way to play the Catalan aggressively.
Feb 27, 2019
0
#50
BL4D3RUNN3R wrote:
novacek hat geschrieben:
@kamalakanta Now I’ve done some research on forums, people are giving me the impression that Wojo’s Weapons is a very solid, positional repertoire with the aim of frustrating the opponent. I’m not sure if that’s really my style or the approach I should be going for as I move up the ranks.
Well, that's the Catalan!?
The games I've seen from the Catalan so far have been positional but I don't find it as much of a slog as some people are describing. I don't mind positional chess at all- it's my style, I'd go as far to say- but I do want some sort of way to play for a tangible advantage. Maybe I've just misinterpreted what people have said.
Feb 27, 2019
0
#51
my137thaccount wrote:
BL4D3RUNN3R wrote:
novacek hat geschrieben:
@kamalakanta Now I’ve done some research on forums, people are giving me the impression that Wojo’s Weapons is a very solid, positional repertoire with the aim of frustrating the opponent. I’m not sure if that’s really my style or the approach I should be going for as I move up the ranks.
Well, that's the Catalan!?
Exactly. If you don't like this just play the Blackburne QGD (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4). There isn't any way to play the Catalan aggressively.
I'm not looking for an aggressive system, particularly. See the comment above. Maybe I'm confusing people- sorry!!
Feb 27, 2019
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#52
Okay, my mistake. Wojo's Weapons looks like almost exactly what I'm looking for to start with. Thanks everyone!
Feb 27, 2019
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#53
novacek wrote:
BL4D3RUNN3R wrote:
novacek hat geschrieben:
@kamalakanta Now I’ve done some research on forums, people are giving me the impression that Wojo’s Weapons is a very solid, positional repertoire with the aim of frustrating the opponent. I’m not sure if that’s really my style or the approach I should be going for as I move up the ranks.
Well, that's the Catalan!?
The games I've seen from the Catalan so far have been positional but I don't find it as much of a slog as some people are describing. I don't mind positional chess at all- it's my style, I'd go as far to say- but I do want some sort of way to play for a tangible advantage. Maybe I've just misinterpreted what people have said.
The Catalan isn't really a way to play for an advantage I don't think. Plenty of lines are dead equal but white has slight pressure in the endgame, which is basically the entire point of the opening. It seemed from your comment that this wasn't appealing to you.
Feb 27, 2019
0
#54
PawnstormPossie wrote:
Perhaps learn to add to your repertoire and use it in certain move orders instead of looking to play it every chance you get.
Yes this is a good approach. I recommend it via 1.c4, which avoids all the lines without Be7.
Feb 28, 2019
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#56
novacek wrote:
Yes the 1.c4 move order seems to be the best. Either that or 1.Nf3
1.Nf3 is less good for this purpose, because of 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4. 2.g3 may be a better move order but that also allows black various other options, hence 1.c4 is the way to go.
Feb 28, 2019
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#57
my137thaccount wrote:
novacek wrote:
Yes the 1.c4 move order seems to be the best. Either that or 1.Nf3
1.Nf3 is less good for this purpose, because of 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4. 2.g3 may be a better move order but that also allows black various other options, hence 1.c4 is the way to go.
Nice point!
Feb 28, 2019
0
#58
Another thing to try, preferably OTB, is to play some blitz games with it. If you have a friend who would defend the Black side, you can start from different tabiyas...e.g., Closed Catalan, Open Catalan etc.
Mar 1, 2019
0
#59
kamalakanta wrote:
Another thing to try, preferably OTB, is to play some blitz games with it. If you have a friend who would defend the Black side, you can start from different tabiyas...e.g., Closed Catalan, Open Catalan etc.
That's a great idea actually. Maybe there are some Catalan-specific tournaments I can play on on the other unspecified chess site that I can enter. If there isn't, I'll ask my coach to help me practice.
Simaginfan, you cannot be serious!
You and I both know that Bologna is NOT a better writter than Salami!
Ah, yer crazy. Tommy Pastrami's book on the Catalan, co-written with his wife, Olive Loaf, is the best.
That reminds me: I gotta' check the spam in my email.........
😂😂