Check out my companion videos on finding/selecting an opening: 1) Learn Chess Openings th-cam.com/video/zBk3Kle2O9k/w-d-xo.html 2) Identifying Tabiyas th-cam.com/video/vH2e21Kw-KA/w-d-xo.html 3) Using Databases/Engines to select openings th-cam.com/video/pZHxxMobHxY/w-d-xo.html 4) (this video): Selecting an opening repertoire th-cam.com/video/pNpPYaLJLb8/w-d-xo.html
This is such a helpful video. Highly recommend watching it all the way through. 1. How much fun is that opening for you? 2. The effectiveness of it at getting you the position you want. 3. Does it fit my style? Overrated 4. Learning fit. Does it fit what you're trying to learn? Does it help you learn? 5. Ease of learning the opening. Some openings you need to learn a lot of moves before learning them. 6. Coordination with your other openings. (Do they all lead to the same pawn structures, etc. If you're trying to learn then maybe you don't want all this) 7. Popularity of the opening. You can play openings that the GMs don't play.
I like that you quote Karpov on style. When I say I am a positional player people ask me why I play 1e4. And I answer that the definition of a positional player Karpov played 1e4 when he was the world champion.
Thanks for commenting. Yes, not sure that's the definition (but there's no official dictionary of chess). I started out as an 1.e4 player and only switched to 1.c4 when I "retired" from serious play about 30 years ago.
Thank you coach ! I’m a beginner who just joined a league that starts next month and doesn’t have decided on an answer to d4 yet. I was considering the slav because of the similarities wit the Caro Kann, but decided to try the dutch instead. I play c4 as white so having something more spicy against d4 might be a good idea.
Thanks, much appreciated. Haven't made as many videos the past few months because I am working on my 13th chess book, about my Chess Tip of the Day on Twitter twitter.com/danheisman
What makes opening theory so important at the top level? My understanding is with high quality play, it's nearly impossible to gain an advantage from the opening these days.
No short answer to this one; let's give it a quick shot. At the top level 1) Much is at stake so every part of the game is important, 2) Every game has an opening so it's always important, and 3) if you are a top player and can get even a small advantage out of the opening you can likely take it thru the rest of the game and be the one trying to win (and get at least a draw) :)
To get to 2000+ FIDE/USCF (other 2000 such as web-based ratings can be quite weaker), you need to be at least decently good at most things (including some opening knowledge), but above all analysis and tactics.
Check out my companion videos on finding/selecting an opening:
1) Learn Chess Openings th-cam.com/video/zBk3Kle2O9k/w-d-xo.html
2) Identifying Tabiyas th-cam.com/video/vH2e21Kw-KA/w-d-xo.html
3) Using Databases/Engines to select openings th-cam.com/video/pZHxxMobHxY/w-d-xo.html
4) (this video): Selecting an opening repertoire th-cam.com/video/pNpPYaLJLb8/w-d-xo.html
This is such a helpful video. Highly recommend watching it all the way through.
1. How much fun is that opening for you?
2. The effectiveness of it at getting you the position you want.
3. Does it fit my style? Overrated
4. Learning fit. Does it fit what you're trying to learn? Does it help you learn?
5. Ease of learning the opening. Some openings you need to learn a lot of moves before learning them.
6. Coordination with your other openings. (Do they all lead to the same pawn structures, etc. If you're trying to learn then maybe you don't want all this)
7. Popularity of the opening. You can play openings that the GMs don't play.
Thanks! Glad to be of service :)
I like that you quote Karpov on style. When I say I am a positional player people ask me why I play 1e4. And I answer that the definition of a positional player Karpov played 1e4 when he was the world champion.
Thanks for commenting. Yes, not sure that's the definition (but there's no official dictionary of chess). I started out as an 1.e4 player and only switched to 1.c4 when I "retired" from serious play about 30 years ago.
Fun
Effective
Style
Learn
Ease of learn
Coordination with other openings
Popularity of opening
thanks, much appreciated.
Thank you coach ! I’m a beginner who just joined a league that starts next month and doesn’t have decided on an answer to d4 yet. I was considering the slav because of the similarities wit the Caro Kann, but decided to try the dutch instead. I play c4 as white so having something more spicy against d4 might be a good idea.
Yes, try it and if it's fun, keep playing it. Eventually you might want to rotate openings to learn more but you want to give each opening a chance :)
This is the best opening video I have watched.You are the best teacher on youtube!
Thanks, much appreciated! Pass the word :)
Great video, Dan. I liked the idea of practicing openings thru speed games. Would you recommend Rapid, Blitz, or Bullet?
Thanks! Whatever is more fun. The opening books, engines, and databases don't care what speed the game was when you look up the opening afterwards :)
Informative advice. Thank you again.
Thanks, much appreciated.
Great video! Thanks, Dan.
Great Information
Thanks, much appreciated. Pass the word :)
Wonderful, thanks a lot.
Thanks, much appreciated. Haven't made as many videos the past few months because I am working on my 13th chess book, about my Chess Tip of the Day on Twitter twitter.com/danheisman
What makes opening theory so important at the top level? My understanding is with high quality play, it's nearly impossible to gain an advantage from the opening these days.
No short answer to this one; let's give it a quick shot. At the top level 1) Much is at stake so every part of the game is important, 2) Every game has an opening so it's always important, and 3) if you are a top player and can get even a small advantage out of the opening you can likely take it thru the rest of the game and be the one trying to win (and get at least a draw) :)
I want to get to 2000 without opening knowledge, just focusing on general principles and the middle game
To get to 2000+ FIDE/USCF (other 2000 such as web-based ratings can be quite weaker), you need to be at least decently good at most things (including some opening knowledge), but above all analysis and tactics.