One or a dozen Openings?

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natsirt1117

1 day ago

I’m trying to learn openings. But as I look into each one, it’s becoming obvious that some openings are better then others when your opponents do different things.
So here’s my question. Should I learn one opening really well or several openings good enough?

Martin_Stahl

1 day ago

natsirt1117 wrote:

Unless you have an excellent memory and near perfect recall, learn one opening as white and one for black against e4 and one against d4.

You should primarily learn the ideas in the chosen opening and not necessarily the move orders and lines since the vast majority of games are going to deviate from anything you study within 6-8 moves in most games. Study your games after to look for any opening errors and you should be able to grow your depth through that.

natsirt1117

1 day ago

Martin, I don’t think it’s necessary more memorization. Some of these courses on opening, like the London or Catalan are very detailed. How you respond when C Pawn moves to C6 vs C7 as an example. There is a hole lot to learning one opening. The same as learning the basic concept or layout of half a dozen opening for black and white. It seems like both paths will take a month or more.
If that make sense.

Martin_Stahl

20 hrs ago

Opening principles will get you perfectly playable positions in most openings and learning the general ideas of those you choose is often sufficient, at least until players are a lot higher rated. You don't really need to get deep initially and can grow opening knowledge as you get more experience and go over games after.

Very few people lose out of the opening and the games end up being decided on tactical shots, mistakes, and endgame technique/knowledge later in the game, most not die to any influence of the opening.

self_taught_gm

20 hrs ago

Make it three dozen. For example, as white you play 1. e4. You should have responses for Sicilian, Italian, Four Knights, Three Knights/Max Lange, CaroKann, Pirc, Robatsch, French, Scotch, Philidor. Petrovz, Alekhine, Nimzowitsch, St. George, Owen. And so on, for the Black pieces usually it is lot more to know if you play 1 e4.