memory techniques

I find it hard to memorize opening lines in which many moves are the same and look like other lines, and I find it much easier when I give each one a funny name (the Pirate ship Defense, the pineapple attack, etc..) to give them individuality. What memory techniques do you use?

here is a good website dedicated to memory techniques.

http://mnemotechnics.org/

Here is a site with tons of links to memory techniques. They also have some interesting new methods.

http://memorymethods.com/

CPT is a really good software for this, you load the openings as PGN and then it tests you for those lines. It has levels like Beginner,Club Player,GM so you don't have to worry if you don't know anything about the opening or if you know it really well.

I don't memorize moves, I just like to play chess.

GM Nigel short said something like, I cann't remember anything that I dont understand. if you are memorizing moves then your doing it wrong. Learn WHY. its a slow and sometimes mind numbing process but it pays off in the long run.

if u get the idea behind the opening, u should remember the line better

ok Training tip: After picking the opening you want to work on select ALL the games that start with that in a large database. It should get you several thousand games. Start with all the games that players win or lose in less than  20 moves. Collect those into a seperate database. select games where the winning side is at least 2000 or higher. Review at least 50 games preferrably 100 game of these games in a fast forward mode, about 1-2 seconds a move. Look for the common tactical mistakes (which are also strategical ones!) If your very motivated start collecting a database of these typical mistakes  [I name the database just that, Typical mistakes-scotch] You also start to learn about move orders, piece development and basic plans. 

You can also find out why some lines arent so bad as you might think too such as the need for h3 in the ruy lopez or why it is needed.

Estragon, The review of games by more advanced players is a good way to refine your openings. The problem I found with that is that the typical traps and tactical mistakes are bypassed in the vast majority of master games. You never see the more advancd version of "oops" moves unless someone puts them in the notes or you happen to try it out against a computer.The reason we see longer term strategical plans nowadays is that the flash attacks of the romatic era have been dealt with at the master level. We have to know what traps and tricks we are avoiding so we can understand why we are playing other moves. It is difficult to see that move X on move 5 is bad until you notice a few games that players just get crushed.

Following this idea is that 1800-2000 players will probably not play overtly bad moves and not miss a simple attack (oh i didnt see you could take my queen in one move) but will make relatively deeper tactical/strategical mistakes that get punished by the stronger player with more tactical awareness, calculation skills and/or knowledge in the opening. I did this because I found that the vast majority of novice games someone deviates early on (by move 8-10 usually) and the move is superficially "ok" but found a lot of games in my database were someone played it and was punished in 15 moves. Building up this base also has the sneaky feature of teaching tactics, target consciousness and reinforcing principles.

The First stage to me in learning an opening is finding these  beginner errors. How are simple mistakes punished, often these are pawn pushes, unnecessary trades, etc.... moves that masters wont make but players at the U1500 level make on a regular basis. Create a database of these tactical mistakes now and you will also have a nice tactical file as well. One of my students faces 5....Nxd4? in the scotch on a regular basis. to give you an idea here is an opening trap that a 1900 player (USCF) fell into he ended up drawing the game because he didnt give up and took some chances 

Another trap against a 1700 player that I played