opening frustration

I think the best advice I have read is this;

Everytime you play a game, analyse it ompletely without using a computer program. Then look up the opening variation you played and see where you deviated from "theory" or where a superior variation exists.

Personally I try to analyse a master game or two in the variation which interests me in terms of their handling of the position or an interesting attack or theme. 

Having studied chemistry to PhD level, I can honestly say I have forgotten more than I remember for two reasons;

1) it is redundant knowledge I never use regularly

2) I don't compound the knowledge by studying around the subject enough

I hope that looking at master games as well as books will add more "hooks" to hold the knowledge I try to gain. 

Butcher wrote:

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 What openings and defenses would you (or anyone) recommend?  There is far too much theory out there for a beginner or novice to haphazardly pick up a book and just start somewhere...  I understand Nimsowitsch's book (My System) to be the first and still the best book on chess strategy but obviously not the only book.  with everything out there, Sicilian, Indian, Queens Gambit etcetra and so forth where should one begin...  and, just to be on the safe side lets say top five openings and defenses...  and if anyone is feeling extremely generous with their time perhaps they might even enlighten some of us lesser players as to why they consider their choices better than other available choices...  

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Lousy had a pretty good reply regarding this. Assuming that you already have some knowledge of strategy and tactics, your choice of openings will depend on many things, including your style of play, whether or not (and how much) you want to improve as a player, how much time you have available for study, etc.

 

I would suggest getting a book on openings (MCO or NCO would be ideal; Concise Chess Openings by Neil McDonald is also good) to help you decide which opening to settle on. As White, you can't go wrong with either 1 e4 or 1 d4 (1 c4 is another option). As Black, 1 ... c5 (the Sicilian) and 1 ... e5 are openings that are played at all levels in response to e4. 1 ... e6 (the French) and 1 ... c6 (the Caro-Kann) are also viable. In response to d4, Black can use the solid Nimzo-Indian/Bogo-Indian, the popular King's Indian, the old standby 1 ... d5, etc. There are many good options vs 1 d4.

 

 

Magicmunky, that's really good advice. Studying grandmaster games helps tremendously in learning an opening.

doingme wrote: rickturner7 what book did you look up?

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I was using chessgames.com to beat Nikolae.  I have some of the starting out opening books.  I usually use the sicilian, the italian, or the nimzo or bogo indian, depending upon which Knight is brought out.  I think that covers me to play most people, but I do not know deep or even mildly deep theoretical positions.

What some people do to develope an opening repertoire is to pick a top player they like and who is active. They will then adopt that players openings. This is just one method. However , this isnt always a good idea if your style isnt at least similar to the player in question. Also, if you play a particular opening look for a top player that plays that opening a lot and study their games, check the opening books, study the typical middlegames positions and the endings arising from that opening. All 3 phases of chess are important and no matter how good you are in endings it wont help you if you fall into an opening trap or get mated in the middlegame.

fischer wrote: Butcher wrote:

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 What openings and defenses would you (or anyone) recommend?  There is far too much theory out there for a beginner or novice to haphazardly pick up a book and just start somewhere...  I understand Nimsowitsch's book (My System) to be the first and still the best book on chess strategy but obviously not the only book.  with everything out there, Sicilian, Indian, Queens Gambit etcetra and so forth where should one begin...  and, just to be on the safe side lets say top five openings and defenses...  and if anyone is feeling extremely generous with their time perhaps they might even enlighten some of us lesser players as to why they consider their choices better than other available choices...  

---

Lousy had a pretty good reply regarding this. Assuming that you already have some knowledge of strategy and tactics, your choice of openings will depend on many things, including your style of play, whether or not (and how much) you want to improve as a player, how much time you have available for study, etc.

 

I would suggest getting a book on openings (MCO or NCO would be ideal; Concise Chess Openings by Neil McDonald is also good) to help you decide which opening to settle on. As White, you can't go wrong with either 1 e4 or 1 d4 (1 c4 is another option). As Black, 1 ... c5 (the Sicilian) and 1 ... e5 are openings that are played at all levels in response to e4. 1 ... e6 (the French) and 1 ... c6 (the Caro-Kann) are also viable. In response to d4, Black can use the solid Nimzo-Indian/Bogo-Indian, the popular King's Indian, the old standby 1 ... d5, etc. There are many good options vs 1 d4.

 

 

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 Assuming, for the moment, that I'm a complete nit...  could you expand a bit on what you've said?  MCO/NCO for instance would be? (besides ideal I mean, as in what do the initials stand for?)

I've heard a great amny people suggesting begining with 1.e4 or 1.d4 - but what is that, exactly?  There are no books (that I've been able to locate) with those titles so, I would assume, they are a particular style or theory but called by what name?  And I'm assuming also that this is for playing White... 

 It seems if playing Black you would suggest Sicilian, French, Kings/Nimzo/Bogo Indian...  (which is quite helpful, thank you)  

Butcher, from the sound of things, you need not worry about openings at this point. First, get a good book on the very basics of chess. (Kasparov actually wrote a pretty good one called "Checkmate: My First Chess Book". "Chess for Idiots" isn't bad either. There are many other good ones as well.) After you've learned basic principles, chess notation, how to force mate with each of the pieces & piece combinations (K+B+N vs K is very instructive because of the principles involved), etc., then you can focus on openings.

I agree with you Bobby  :)