If you want a simple opening repertoire, try the Pirc system: play d3 as White and d6 as Black, and do the kingside fianchetto. Every game you play will look like a King's Indian/Pirc.
Or you can try the Hippopotamus system, fianchettoing both bishops and taking a small center. That usually leaves players unprepared, since they don't have clear targets to attack.
I've had expeiriance with the pirc in he past. just don't have the skill or the know-how to use it. I couldn't handle the early attacks and violence. While this probably has more to do with my lack of skll as a player than the nature of the opening, I don't believe it is the opening for me. Thank you for the suggestion though.
Can anyone give me some advice about the reti opening and a reply to 1.e4?
I've had expeiriance with the pirc in he past. just don't have the skill or the know-how to use it. I couldn't handle the early attacks and violence. While this probably has more to do with my lack of skll as a player than the nature of the opening, I don't believe it is the opening for me. Thank you for the suggestion though.
Can anyone give me some advice about the reti opening and a reply to 1.e4?
I like the French for e4. Its not simple, by any means, but it is a lot less theory driven than the Sicillian.
Oh, and I know you said you are happy with your d4 defense, but if you want to try something new there, try the Dutch Stonewall. It is simple, has virtually no theory to learn, and pretty fun to play.
fun to play??? why
I do like the dutch stonewall but I like the Queens indian even more. =P
For anyone who happens to come across this and are in the same pickle i'm in the stonewall (any dutch line really) has lts of scope for creativity and activity and the theory is all fundamentally solid. It could easily make a lifelong defense to d4.
I prefer the Queens indian, not becasue its a better opening, but because it was the first opening defense to d4 I liked and could use easily. What seemed like natural moves to me in the opening seemed to follow the main lines.
Thats often how I test an opening. I play what seem like natural moves within the openings structure and plan and see how closely I follow the main lines. I find that openings I can follow naturally are easier to learn and fit better with my playing style. THEN I learn the theory. Its not how I do it ALL the time, but it is a help.
Presisely. I have looked at the colle. Indeed, it is a pain to play agaist as black so its definately a useful and worthwhile opening. especially the colle-zukertort. But my biggest intrigue at the moment is the catalan. If anyone could provide me with more information about either of these openings (or even a solid kick toward a good place to start looking for information) it would be very much appreciated
Arutha, you asked for more information on the Colle, especially the Colle-Zukertort. There are several resources I can point you to.
First, you should probably download the "Philosophy of the Colle-Zukertort" download from my Zukertort Download Page. There are plenty of other downloads on that page as well, but the two you should definitely look at are the "philosophy" page and the "Zukertort Wisdom" download.
Next, I would recommend reading an article I wrote for Chessville, comparing the Zukertort to a hybrid.
You can also jump over to the Colle Players forum and ask any question you might have of the crew there. They are a bunch of nice guys.
Finally, you are welcome to email or message me, but it might take me a while to get back to you.
do you want an opening that is practical or one that will help develop you playing ablity. For example the Kings Indian Attack is very practical, you can play it against almost anything and it will lead to very similar middle games. But this also slows your developement as player. On the other hand the two knights defense with 4.Ng5 isn't all that practical there are lot of lines of learn and you will lose games simply because you don't know the lines, but the opening is very rich in ideas and should develop your creativity on the board.
To all beginners, I recommend the Hippopotamus system.
The player will develop one or both Knights and castle where appropriate. As a double fianchetto hedgehog, it's one of the most defensive openings available - but very easy to learn and apply. It also catches many "booked" players off-guard.
To all beginners, I recommend the Hippopotamus system.
The player will develop one or both Knights and castle where appropriate. As a double fianchetto hedgehog, it's one of the most defensive openings available - but very easy to learn and apply. It also catches many "booked" players off-guard.
Thanks but I've been recomended the hippo before and really didn't like it. It doesn't stake any real solid claim in the centre and I'm better with pawns in the middle than bishops. Also, the main time control in scotland is 30moves in 60 minutes with a 15-minute allegro finish. At that kind of time control its much easier to attack than defend.
Thank you also Zukertort. You have been very helpful. I'll check out those sources and if I have any further questions I'll pm you.
Consider the strange merits of the French Defense: Black's pawn formation looks like White's QGD. True, you are a move behind but that also holds a strange quality: Black is calling the shots, not white. Consider: Black is attacking on the second move. This is not a quite opening.
I play the QG as White and the French as Black and have a great time.
The Ruy Lopez as White - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
The Sicilian Najdorf as Black against 1.e4 - 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
The Kings Indian Defense as Black against 1.d4 - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0
Thats my opening repertoire.
I don't intend to take up something like the sicillian dragon. The kind of time something like that would suck up would be immense. I'm looking for a reliable opening that I can learn the basic ideas of and use without lines memorised but more with an understanding of whats going on to make most use of my time available for study.
That's precisely why people take up the Colle. Purdy suggested it because it let people use their time studying tactics rather than lines.
Presisely. I have looked at the colle. Indeed, it is a pain to play agaist as black so its definately a useful and worthwhile opening. especially the colle-zukertort. But my biggest intrigue at the moment is the catalan. If anyone could provide me with more information about either of these openings (or even a solid kick toward a good place to start looking for information) it would be very much appreciated