What is the REAL WAY to prepare openings for the otb tournament
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"There are so many misconceptions about the openings." ++ Yes. One is that they help.
"No website has them figured out fully" ++ Of course not, chess is not yet solved.
"everyone can learn" ++ It is not useful to do that.
"many unpractical lines that you won't be needing in most cases." ++ Applies to all.
"reached 2100 peak rating of chess.com rapid without studying any openings" ++ Good.
"it was disturbing me very much." ++ No need to.
"don't know any efficient ways to do so." ++ Just play and analyse your losses.
It is OK to make mistakes, then you will remember next time.
"offer bunch of lines for you to memorize." ++ 'Chess should not be memorized' - Lasker
"I always feel like they are somehow outdated?" ++ A book is obsolete while being printed.
"Feels like i have to check database every time to pick proper moves." ++ Yes, at GM level.
"you can't get away without knowing at least some about them." ++ You can.
"Like smith morra gambit I faced recently, I accepted it but couldn't really get much out of it"
++ You can accept and defend, or you can decline with either ...d5 or ...Nf6 transposing to the Alapin variation 2 c3, which you can face anyway.
If you accept, then you must be good at defending.
"my opponent apparently knew what he was doing, knew ideas and stuff."
++ Yes, but that does not matter. Chess is a game of skill, not of knowledge.
For this famous game black had prepared and analysed 8...d5 for years.
White was taken by surprise, but felt honor-bound to accept the pawn.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1095025
Here is another example. White played a line he had carefully prepared. Black was unfamiliar with the opening. After 19 moves white had used 5 minutes and black 90 minutes.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1139797
"what really is a practical and still doable way to learn the most common chess openings"
++ Just play and analyse your losses.
If you are faced with an unfamiliar move, then take time to think.
"for otb tournament?" ++ You cannot really prepare openings. What you prepare does not happen. Say it is a 9-round tournament, so 4-5 white and 5-4 black.
Of the white games say you open 1 e4. As early as move 1 they can play 1...e5, 1...c5, 1...e6, 1...c6, 1...d5, 1...d6, 1...g6, 1...Nf6, even 1...Nc6, or 1...b6 or 1...a6. You cannot prepare openings.
You can prepare by playing practice games against a strong engine to train your tactics.
Most important is to do some physical exercise in fresh air to boost your stamina.
Further good sleep and light meals. You have to be in good shape, not stuffed with theory.
my youtube algorithm just showed me this video: Creating Chessable Opening Book using Lichess and ChessBase (youtube.com)
There are so many misconceptions about the openings. No website has them figured out fully and paid out in a nice way that everyone can learn. Chessbase website has some openings tool but it offers many unpractical lines that you won't be needing in most cases. It seems like no one has this stage figured out for learners.
I literally reached 2100 peak rating of chess.com rapid without studying any openings, and it was disturbing me very much. Like i wanted to study some but... Somehow don't know any efficient ways to do so.
Courses? I am not against them but courses mostly focus on one specific opening and they still offer bunch of lines for you to memorize. Haven't done any courses yet.
Books? I always feel like they are somehow outdated? Feels like i have to check database every time to pick proper moves.
Some openings are just very specific so you can't get away without knowing at least some about them. Like smith morra gambit I faced recently, I accepted it but couldn't really get much out of it, my opponent apparently knew what he was doing, knew ideas and stuff.
Guys please, what really is a practical and still doable way to learn the most common chess openings for otb tournament? I really look forward to your recommendations!