Learning openings and theory with chess.com

Hi guys,

I'm new to Chess and Chess.com, I'd like to learn the London system for white and French defense for black, I need some form of video/text tutorial and from what I can see, chess.com seems to lack much in-depth instruction like this - is that right? Am I looking in the wrong place?

If Chess.com does not have such videos, where would be the best place to find them?

Hi there, 

seems you're going down a similar path than I have, at least in regards to white. There's a lot of people hating on the London and certainly for good reasons. But it is a nice opening in the sense that it get's you through the opening phase alive against pretty much any reply by black, except probably the dubious Englund Gambit. (Which you should know how to fight against if you plan to use the London regularly... I didn't and I encountered it straight away in my first online game haha, guess where my anxiety initially comes from :)

For a quick intro from which you can build your knowledge I'd suggest Levy's videos:

https://youtu.be/49H728S_VjM

https://youtu.be/ECMMct_jnEM

Youtube in general is filled with great educational content, so I'd suggest you start there. Daniel Naroditsky is obviously a great player to watch on stream or in his videos with hours of games where he explains his moves. 

And lastly, if you wonder why people hate on the London, here's another great coach to learn from with a very vocal opinion on the London:

https://youtu.be/Qy-JX7hoy-g

I must say, I have more fun with chess since I stopped playing the London, because I just get more diverse positions and the game generally feels more active (which it should for white I guess)

But I also perfectly understand why the London and other systems are popular and I also taught it to my daughter for her first games. 

Hope that helps, we can chat more if you're interested ;-)

Introduction To The London System & Jobava London System...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/the-london-system

Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Holy hell, that's amazing! Thank you so much! 

ok good

Just to let you know, there might be 1.d4 e5( Endlu

Endg

Oops

Endglund gambit which can appear when you play 1.d4, there are lines to destroy it because the person playing black is probably try tricks to beat you, I recommend check the forums in chess opening or

Youtube

First, at the beginning, you should not focus on learning openings.  That said, if you insist on going down that route, you have a diamond membership with access to all the videos and lessons, including the ones on the London and French Defense.  Look under the "Learn" section of the site.

If you are going to learn an opening, learn the middlegame too. The opening is supposed to get you to a middle game where you are comfortable playing. Of course, your opponent can do stuff to prevent it but understanding the middlegame will help you create plans to beat your opponent. 

This also includes pawn structures so if you are playing a different opening but get a certain pawn structure, you will know what to do. Chess Coach Andras has a video on the Benoni and French structure if you are interested. 

Also, learn something else other than the London. You will become a better player learning different structures from an opening like the Queen's Gambit than from a one-size-fits-all opening like the London. You can find videos on Youtube that explain the ideas for the opening of your choosing. 

This article will help you memorize your opening lines and with Youtube, it should be no problem

i have a doubt how to guess opponents move?  

and which opening i should use

Some are very common while others are not. You must understand the ideas behind the moves or else, don't play it. Also, I've noticed you have faced Damiano's Defense. Here is what you need to do to punish it

I suggest not focusing on learning opening theory. At 500-600 most games are won or lost because of elementary blunders and simple 1-2 move tactics. Concentrate on that. Make sure you don't hang your pieces and spot your opponents hanging pieces. Be materialistic, guard your pieces as if they were your babies and punish your opponents if they don't do the same.

As for openings, rely on general principles: control the center, develop your pieces, bring your king to safety, develop knights before bishops, etc. Memorizing lines (beyond elementary 2-3-4 moves) is more or less a waste of time at your level.

thank you

https://www.chess.com/lessons/learn-the-openings is probably deep enough for anyone to reach 2000 level if studied as the only opening resource along with enough emphasis on tactics, positional play, endgames etc. It goes into far more detail than you will need to learn until you are at least 1600.

Chess.com has all of that. I'm actually surprised by how few members seem to know about the LEARN section of this site.

Use the side navigation on this website.

Click on:

Learn-> Openings

Click on the opening you want to learn.

Below the introductory paragraph for each opening, there's the word "More", followed by a down arrow. Click that.

It'll expand the page into a full list of explanatory lessons, explaining the fundamentals of each opening.

That will include high-level examples games, too.

Below it all will be a final video lesson (usually around 20 minutes long). Click it to watch and listen.