5 More tips !!
In any position you should be asking yourself these questions :
1. Where are the weakness ...my opponents & mine .... and can I exploit his weakness .....
2. Which are the worst placed pieces ... again mine & his .... what can I move to improve my position ....
3. What is my opponents idea in this position ....
4. What am I looking for in this position ...
5. What is the best way to improve my position ....
Chess Opening Repertoire
Purpose of a 'repertoire' : The purpose of an opening repertoire is to reduce the amount of opening variations a player knows, understands , and masters. The knowledge of certain move-by-move variations is always useful in mastering tactical opportunities, being prepared for traps, and when facing other important reasons. However, the complete knowledge of all variations is almost impossible. Thus, by using the concept of a repertoire and choosing specific lines for Black and White, the player can drastically reduce the number of variations that must be known.
Guidelines for a repertoire
Scheme, for different levels below:
Beginners:
White: 1. e4! (chapter 3.2) with Black : (chapter 3.3) 1. e4 e5!
2. Nf3 Nc6 etc. (R.L) 1. d4 Nf6! 2. c4 e6
(3..d5) QGD [22]
1. c4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 (English, transposing to QGD and others)
Intermediate/ club level:
White (sharp): 1. e4 (or later 1. Nf3) Black:
1. e4 e6! (French) 1. d4 Nf6! c4 e6 Nc3 Bb4 (Nimzo-Indian)
1. d4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 d5 (QGD) or
1. d4 Nf6! 2. c4 [23] e6 3. Nf3 [24] b6 (Queens-Indian)
1. d4 Nf6 c4 e6 g3 Bb4 + (Bogo-indian) 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6! (Grünfeld)
1. c4 e5 (English, 'Reversed Sicilian
White (positional):
1. d4 (Chapter 6).
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 (QGD [25] )
2... g6 [26]
3. Nc3 [27] d5
4. cxd5 Nxd5 Grünfeld [28] ––––––––
Although a large part of the chapter for club level players consist of the 'best' variations for White, opening with 1. e4, also necessary is listing the main best variations for Black to provide a complete repertoire. In addition , this books presents a 'positional' White repertoire for the club player with 1. d4 in chapter 6. Whereby the variations given for White also were selected as the 'best', and where we found 1. d4 might fundamentally be a tiny bit better than 1. e4. In finding the best defense lines, we use the same approach as when finding the best variations for White. Therefore, we can demonstrate that other, suboptimal lines can easily be equalized by Black and therefore are not as good as the main/ advised variations for White. See also 4.1 (General Opening Systems).
BEGINNER's Openings
In this chapter, we will show how to play the openings at beginner level. Although tactics, planning, and other techniques also are important, some elementary understanding of the opening phase is useful at beginner level, especially how to avoid crucial mistakes. So in the next sub-chapter, we demonstrate what disasters can happen if you play the opening in a haphazard way; thereafter we give an effective 'repertoire', that is an opening guideline at beginner-level, with sufficient diagrams to follow these variations. Initially a chessboard maybe be useful for you to go through such variations, but after re-reading the chapter, the diagrams can serve as remembering tools, to make an imprint in your memory, when you play a real chess game.
How NOT to play the opening
To avoid some pitfalls, traps, and to illustrate what happens when a player applies unsound principles to the opening, what follows are some examples not to play the opening . First, we will show an extreme example of how a beginner may handle the opening. Let us assume the game begins with 1.g4?, an overly aggressive move that is not in accordance with the opening principles we discussed in chapter 2.1. This move weakens the king's position and the kingside, does not develop a piece, and does not fight for the center.
Choosing a Move
The game is under way. You are out of the opening and must think for yourself. You have some general ideas about the position, but at the moment it is your opponents turn. You try to guess what he will do .Then he moves. Just how do you set about deciding on your reply ?
Choosing a move is after all the most important process in a chess game. So now you need a method or a program, for organizing your thoughts …..
The Program
The process of making a move can be divided into several more or less distinct stages, which will vary in importance from one case to another. These stages are ….
1. Assessment of the opponents last move. How have things been changed by it ?
2. What immediate threats must I meet ? Find possible defences.
3. What immediate tactical blows are at my disposal ? List the apparently strong moves in the position.
4. Positional assessment, including long-range considerations.
5. What moves are suggested by these positional musings, List them.
6. Compare the “ Candidate Moves “ which derive from 2,3, and 5 and form a short list of two, three or four of them.
7. Calculate variations based on the short – listed “candidate moves” and assess the resulting positions that could arise.
8. Compare these assessments, and so decide on the move you prefer. DO NOT MAKE IT ON THE BOARD YET .
9. HAVE A LAST LOOK AROUND, To guard against traps & blunders. It should be routine to examine all the opponents replies, which could be awkward: checks, captures, mate threats, threats to the Queen or Rooks, threats to pieces by pawns, advances of passed pawns.
10. If you are still satisfied with your choice, make it on the board …