Chess Articles - Openings
Comparison: 1. e4 vs 1. d4
Posted by Chess Chit ChatThe first move in a game is very important. There is no 'correct' first move. There are though, two 'main' first moves for white, which both have very different game styles. Here I will point out the three most important differences between 1. e4 and 1. d4. King pawn games start with the move e4. Queen pawn games start with d4. Read more »
A Survey of Chess Openings
Posted by Chess Chit ChatChoosing openings for a repertoire can be difficult, even for a Grandmaster. For a player early in his/her chess career, the choices are even more difficult. Is a particular opening suitable for a scholastic or weekend tournament with fast time controls, or only as a drawing attempt against the world champion? Is a particular book really a shortcut to avoiding lots of theory, or is the author trying to sell a book about an opening all strong players avoid for some reason? Read more »
Opening Principles
Posted by Chess Chit ChatThe result of most chess is decided in the middlegame, and some players will emphasize this to the extent of putting almost no study at all into the opening. This is a dangerous approach, however, as to get to the middlegame, the opening has to be passed. Why would anyone want to reach a middlegame, armed with all the knowledge to beat a player rated several hundred points above themselves, in a terrible position? This can be avoided by learning the basic opening principles which I will explain here. Read more »
Guide to Misguided Opening Study
Posted by Chess Chit ChatAt the board, lapses in logic may be punished harshly, making our errors painfully easy to see. Away from the board, logical lapses in our study of chess can have even harsher consequences but the underlying errors are much harder to identify and correct. This is especially true in our study of openings, where even the most intelligent and logical players can buy into approaches that are misguided.
Certain comments are red flags that your approach to opening study may not be as objective and as logical as it should be. See how many of these you've said or thought. Read more »
Beating The Offbeat
Posted by Chess Chit ChatGood opening preparation is necessary for good chess but doesn't it sometimes seem like you get punished for your hard work? You study the ideas, the variations, and the latest games. You're psyched, ready to crush your opponent with your powerful arsenal.
And then your opponent plays something offbeat on move 2.
You're out of book. All your opening preparation is out the window.
Your opponent looks annoyingly happy. He's still in his book, and he's got you rattled. Read more »
The London System - Why Do I Play It?
Posted by Anyone4ChessThe long answer is: I will play the London System sometimes because I risk nothing and gain everything. In my opinion it is the perfect opening to teach students the fundamentals of the game while allowing them to discover through their own games that getting in a early c4 is of great value, leading them into a more aggressive opening. This discovery is made with understanding rather than just being told to make these types of moves. Some coaches use different openings to achieve the same goal however, the result is the same. Read more »