Chess Openings-
Opening Moves in Chess
Overwhelmed by Chess Openings?
Beginners and novices should have simple, forcing chess openings. There are
two things that overpower most chess players when learning their chess openings and defensive
systems.
First, we find that chess opening books contain so much material that it seems you
can never learn enough. To tackle this problem, first turn to the Index and/or
Table of Contents of your chess opening book. Then play through the moves over and
over, then over again until you learn what the variations are. You learn the
variations before you tackle the analysis. If a Table of Contents does not give
the moves you need, go to each chapter and just learn the main moves. After you
have mastered the variations, play over only the main line moves in each
chapter. Again, repetition is the key - again and again. After the main lines
are retained in your mind, start to tackle the notes.
The easiest way to play over chess opening lines again and again is by using a
ChessCentral e-book. There is NO board to set-up, NO lost positions, No more
fumbling through the pages. Click here for a list of
available e-books from ChessCentral
Second, most players want to learn a complete White Opening System or a
complete Black Defensive System. There are probably two ways to look at
this problem:
(a) You don't start out with a complete chess system, and
(b) When you
run into a chess opening variation you can't solve with a White advantage or Black equality,
or can't learn how to play, you give up - and maybe give up on the complete
chess opening or defense.
To solve (a) get a complete repertoire book for White, and
one for Black. Turn to chess repertoire books
in the ChessCentral catalog and pick one
for each side. You are not going to like some of the variations suggested - that
does not matter. Learn what you are given, then (and only then) change to
something you like better. The secret is to learn a complete system - do you
hear me? - a complete chess opening system. Then and only then may you slip in your changes.
To solve (b) be realistic. You are going to run into chess opening variations you don't like.
You are going to have your chess opening or defense fall out of favor. Grandmasters
have that problem all the time. They play a chess opening or defense until they fear
their opponent is well prepared for that particular chess opening. Then they drop it
until it is "hopefully" forgotten. But they usually go back to it since every
major chess opening or defense is good. You do not have that problem. Pick one - I
assure you it is good. Stay with it until you learn it. Don't let one or two
problems in that variation stop you. Learn the best which that chess opening variation has to
offer, and don't worry about a slight disadvantage as Black or equality when you
are White. Research until you are completely confident.
- Ken Smith, Trainer to Bobby Fischer
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