What do you mean?
Thoughts on the Slav vs the French for a beginner?
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Dec 27, 2020
0
#3
I guess I'm looking for opinions of the pros and cons of both openings for a beginning level player such as myself.
slav is against d4. French is against e4. Are you confusing the slav with the caro kann?
Dec 27, 2020
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#5
No but thank you, I haven't committed to either a d4 or e4 opening as of yet. I kmow the importance of knowing both though. I'm actually playing in a Caro-Kann tourney as we speak. But I just feel most comfortable with these two, and not as overwhelmed as with other openings.
Dec 27, 2020
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#6
You have to have a different repertoire depending on what your opponent plays when you are black. There really isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
The French is fine against e4 and the Slav is fine against d4.
The French is fine against e4 and the Slav is fine against d4.
Dec 27, 2020
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#7
There’s nothing difficult about learning and playing four or five moves of theory to give you a solid foundation. Nobody’s talking about learning 15 moves of theory in the Winawer.
Dec 27, 2020
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#9
@superior - you’re acting as if learning a tiny bit of theory and building a solid foundation are mutually exclusive—they are not. Seriously, how long will it take for you to learn the basics of an opening... a couple of hours? This is the basic French setup, and these are your goals. These are basic mistakes to avoid and this is your basic plan. A couple of hours and you’re not flying blind. Simple. This is in no way incompatible with building a strong foundation.
Dec 27, 2020
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#10
Both the Slav and the French are good, solid openings. Both defenses are broad opening systems which can be played in a number of different ways; from conservative "carefully equalize before seeking advantage" play to aggressive "throw caution to the winds" play.
I’m possibly in a similar place to you having just started playing since childhood dozens of years ago. I’d say it’s worth considering some standard openings for white and some of the solid counters. It is all about establishing a sound base from which to attack or defend. Principles like gaining a foothold in the centre, developing minor pieces quickly, protecting the king early (often by castling) and keeping a good pawn structure...seem prominent. Lots of great online examples to check out on these themes.
Dec 28, 2020
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#12
The slav is a very solid opening. Because you are low-rated, I'd reccomend playing more agressive openings like King's Indian, Benoni... But openings dont matter too much at your level. (Or really at mine)
Since the original poster is rated under 1000, I'll say the same thing I said in another thread earlier today.
90% of his games will be decided by who leaves the most pieces en prise, and the other 10% will be decided by single move tactics. It doesn't matter what opening you play at that level, and studying openings won't help improve your play.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't be striving to play good opening moves. It just means that sticking to any single opening, and learning how to play it properly, is pointless. Get the book Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev. It'll teach you opening principles that apply to every opening, so you can improvise even if your opponent does something completely off the wall. That's what matters at that level.
Worry about picking specific named openings when your rating hits 1500+.
I wouldn't recommend The French Defence for a beginner.
Playing as black, the various Indian defences are good for beginners.
Stay away from the Sicilian defence as black. It's a very good opening, but I don't recommend for players under 1400. Although dabbling in it starting around 1300 is ok.
Caesar49bc wrote:
I wouldn't recommend The French Defence for a beginner.
Playing as black, the various Indian defences are good for beginners.
Stay away from the Sicilian defence as black. It's a very good opening, but I don't recommend for players under 1400. Although dabbling in it starting around 1300 is ok.
The french is fine for a beginner. But I would recommend he plays the Rubenstein against Nc3 or Nd2 for the time being before getting into the Winawer/ Classical theory. Saves a bunch of time for him in study, and the ideas are more clear and simple. Nc3 and Nd2 especially do not come up the beginner level to much until you reach 1600 - 1700
theendgame3 wrote:
NikkiLikeChikki wrote:
There’s nothing difficult about learning and playing four or five moves of theory to give you a solid foundation. Nobody’s talking about learning 15 moves of theory in the Winawer.
Exactly and well said.
@SuperiorConfindentHot showing very troll like behaviour
The individual you are referring to is a completely fake account and an invented personality. Look at his profile. I don't know why chess.com don't just ban someone like this, why they require proof.
I really wonder what the sort of person who does this is like. Is it like a 12 year old or is it a 30 year old in their parent's basement. Could it be a 55 year old with zero life and many mental issues - I guess we'll never know.
Why don't you play the Rubinstein then!?
All the established openings are good. They all have pluses and minuses.
My suggestion is, if you like the openings, play them.
In all my years of seeking answers to chess questions instead of actually playing and studying, here is what I have heard from the chess gods ...
The Slav is too complicated and too passive (in the early going) for beginners, while the French is too cramped. Beginners tend to dislike not having any space to maneuver, more than experienced players who are better equipped to handle it and understand the trade-offs. On the flip side, if you have a strong passion for these openings and they motivate you to study more and learn, then go for it.
The Slav is too complicated and too passive (in the early going) for beginners, while the French is too cramped. Beginners tend to dislike not having any space to maneuver, more than experienced players who are better equipped to handle it and understand the trade-offs. On the flip side, if you have a strong passion for these openings and they motivate you to study more and learn, then go for it.
Im just really getting the ability after 45 years of just pushing the pieces around the board, to finally start being able to truly enjoy the game. I'm not lokking to become an IM,GM or anything up there. I just want to be able give my opponnents a good game. I've been looking at openings and the two I feel most comfortable trying to learn are the Slav or the French. Any thoughts on either for a beginning player such as myself?