Help! question about "lines"

Think of it like a tree. The main line I guess would be the strongest (and longest) branch all the way out to a leaf. Along the way, there are various forks where you can play a different line instead.

What is or isn't a main line is usually a matter of current fashion among professional players. E.g. what was a main line 50 years ago is often a sideline today.

Also, a line is a sequence by both players, so both players will have the opportunity to deviate.

The important thing is that you don't get caught up learning any of these specific lines so early on in your "chess career". Just like you said, for the most part, they won't make sense to you.

If you wish to play/understand the opening better, then I recommend starting here: https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-principles-of-the-opening

Yeah, chessoath gives an important point. Have to start with the principals.

When you do learn some opening moves, it should just be a few. Most of your opponents will know a similar amount, so even if you did know 20 moves in an opening, your opponent will likely play a bad, but not immediately losing, move before move 10 (probably before move 5).

The way to beat inaccurate opening moves is... to follow the opening principals better than your opponent. If it immediately loses material to tactics, then of course that, but if it's just a little inaccurate you don't get to "punish" the move typically until the middlegame.

Thanks for the responses everyone. They definitely help - something I've found frustrating is when I try to play a certain opening and my opponent plays nothing like I expect. Basically, making moves that don't correspond to the opening as I studied it. Chess is proving to be quite fascinating. I've been going through the tactics offered here and playing along with some of the challenges - what I'm quickly realizing is all my instincts seem to be wrong! Very humbling.

This is exactly why beginners shouldn't study openings. You don't know what to do if your opponent plays moves that deviate from whatever opening you memorized. Forget about openings. Focus on learning tactics and opening PRINCIPLES. things like fighting for center control, completing development and castling before you start an attack etc. Also study basic endgames, how to mate with rook and king only, the idea of king opposition, learn how to win the lucena position and draw the philidor position. All of these things will be far more beneficial than memorizing a bunch of opening moves.

Pre1236 wrote:

Thanks for the responses everyone. They definitely help - something I've found frustrating is when I try to play a certain opening and my opponent plays nothing like I expect. Basically, making moves that don't correspond to the opening as I studied it.

Chess is proving to be quite fascinating. I've been going through the tactics offered here and playing along with some of the challenges - what I'm quickly realizing is all my instincts seem to be wrong! Very humbling.

Have you ever tried learning something in, say, mathematics, and while you can mimic what your teacher is doing, it doesn't really make sense to you? It's not until you really understand the principles behind what's being done that things seem a lot less confusing and you can begin to really tackle any problem sent your way.

Chess works very much the same way. Far more important is learning the 'why'--the underlying reasoning behind lines. That's the only way to gain adaptability in your play.

Eric and Blarg - thanks for the advice! I've found myself thinking numerous times that what I'm doing, or more likely, what my opponent (the computer) is doing makes no sense. More recently I find myself playing fairly competitively - until the middle - when I realize I have no idea what to do next! This is usually when my opponent makes a move that seems completely non-sensical, which I end up paying for in a few moves. I'm going to keep at it. I picked up Silman's Complete Endgame Course. Sounds like I need to get into it. I put it on the back burner and have been studying openings and pawns.

The study plans section of the website should be all that you need. https://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-directory

Also, don't do this... I don't know either of those endgames yet and I'll tell you what, I don't miss that knowledge one bit. It's affected none (like 1 ever?) of my games and I'm a better player than the person suggesting that you should learn it... That is way too complicated for a beginner.

ChessOath, Yes you are superior to me, your NINE blitz games and FOUR standard games surely proves that LOL! Get over yourself.

Huh? My comment wasn't personal and I don't have to prove anything.

What you are asking is EXACTLY the reason why beginners should not study openings.  What you need to understand are the Opening Principles:

Follow the Opening principles:

1.      Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5

2.      Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key

Ø  Complete your development before moving a piece twice or starting an attack.

Ø  Move pieces not pawns.

3.      Castle

4.      Connect your rooks

Ø    By move 12, you should have connected your Rooks, or be about to do so.

Beginners shouldn't study the opening because they have questions about chess terminology?

How about openings aren't useful because beginners lack basic analysis skills, and because major opening mistakes are easily avoided by following the opening principals.