None, you think there is a magic plan but just blunder checking and solid opening and development principles will get there. And try to consider what your opponent is up to. Following this will cover the vast majority of games, learning specific lines will be a real problem when things go off track, as they usually do. Obviously learning some openings will work somewhat but honestly, the most common and boring reply to follow principles will cover more and trust me, 1200 players are not that polished 🤣🤣
How to reach a 1200 rating on chess[.]com
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TheNameofNames wrote:
Just make sure your tactics are pretty good and you understand the fundamentals. It doesnt hurt to know openings, cant say using the engine ever really helped me alot I learned alot from playing the giuoco, so id say if you arent playing that opening try to steer your games into it, the only openings that dont transpose into are the qgd the caro/french the english, but it taught me to preserve my bishops with moves like h6 a6 etc...creating an escape and plugging the center with the knight and pushing g5 after h6 to break a pin, trading bishops (happens in the london too on e6/e3). I learned the italian counter because people around our rating love ng5 in the italian and it gives away white's advantage and blunders very early in the opening very often. Thats what id say. Learn the fourknights in and out because it has many themes that are in other openings as well and theres alot to learn. I play the berlin as black maybe you could try that too?
I will definitely give Berlin a try, thank you.
TheNameofNames wrote:
Just make sure your tactics are pretty good and you understand the fundamentals. It doesnt hurt to know openings, cant say using the engine ever really helped me alot I learned alot from playing the giuoco, so id say if you arent playing that opening try to steer your games into it, the only openings that dont transpose into are the qgd the caro/french the english, but it taught me to preserve my bishops with moves like h6 a6 etc...creating an escape and plugging the center with the knight and pushing g5 after h6 to break a pin, trading bishops (happens in the london too on e6/e3). I learned the italian counter because people around our rating love ng5 in the italian and it gives away white's advantage and blunders very early in the opening very often. Thats what id say. Learn the fourknights in and out because it has many themes that are in other openings as well and theres alot to learn. I play the berlin as black maybe you could try that too?
As a <1200 player, it hurts to see that 1200 players are not polished. Will try harder.
TheNameofNames wrote:
yeah try the berlin
Is it the Ruy Lopez Berlin Variation, am I learning the right thing?
Dec 22, 2022
0
#7
oh dear god don't learn the Berlin hehe, it is way too specific and strategically complex. I would say the main thing at your level is to try not to play any move that you can't explain. I mean, just be as logical and concrete as possible. Try not to care if it is not what Carlsen or Naka would play! Basically, chess is like anything else worth learning, it will just take time. So, be training yourself to really see the board... the specific openings etc can come later. That is if you really want to improve long term 
For now just play whatever feels more "natural" to you!
TheNameofNames wrote:
supergminthemaking wrote:
TheNameofNames wrote:
yeah try the berlin
Is it the Ruy Lopez Berlin Variation, am I learning the right thing?
Its worth glancing at if you like the fourknights structure with nc6, bc5 its easy for people starting out every beginner should know giuoco thats what i say, youre not a complete beginner either
Thank you so much for taking the time out to reply. Much appreciated, fellow comrade.
Anthrocene wrote:
oh dear god don't learn the Berlin hehe, it is way too specific and strategically complex. I would say the main thing at your level is to try not to play any move that you can't explain. I mean, just be as logical and concrete as possible. Try not to care if it is not what Carlsen or Naka would play! Basically, chess is like anything else worth learning, it will just take time. So, be training yourself to really see the board... the specific openings etc can come later. That is if you really want to improve long term For now just play whatever feels more "natural" to you!
Very good and helpful advice. Next time I'm playing a move, I'll ask myself the reason for doing that, more like as GM Yasser Seirawan says, "Talk to your pieces".
I'll update everyone in this thread once I make it to 1200. Thank you.
Isn’t Berlin like a really drawing position? Personally I play the queens gambit for white, it’s an easy opening to remember and you can punish your opponent if they try to defend the pawn.
Dec 22, 2022
0
#12
hrarray wrote:
Isn’t Berlin like a really drawing position?
Not below 2400.
@blackrookcafe @Ziryab @TheNameofNames @hrarray
I made it to 1200. Thank you for the amazing journey.
Dec 22, 2022
0
#14
supergminthemaking wrote:
TheNameofNames wrote:
Just make sure your tactics are pretty good and you understand the fundamentals. It doesnt hurt to know openings, cant say using the engine ever really helped me alot I learned alot from playing the giuoco, so id say if you arent playing that opening try to steer your games into it, the only openings that dont transpose into are the qgd the caro/french the english, but it taught me to preserve my bishops with moves like h6 a6 etc...creating an escape and plugging the center with the knight and pushing g5 after h6 to break a pin, trading bishops (happens in the london too on e6/e3). I learned the italian counter because people around our rating love ng5 in the italian and it gives away white's advantage and blunders very early in the opening very often. Thats what id say. Learn the fourknights in and out because it has many themes that are in other openings as well and theres alot to learn. I play the berlin as black maybe you could try that too?
As a <1200 player, it hurts to see that 1200 players are not polished. Will try harder.
Imo under 2300 is not consistent at all. As a 2200 player I'm not consistent and make mistakes
Dec 22, 2022
0
#15
Enjoy the game and analyze your mistakes you will reach there eventualy
Dec 22, 2022
0
#16
Also I would recommend maybe some basic endgames like King and pawn, Rook endings and the principles, etc.
Dec 22, 2022
0
#17
supergminthemaking wrote:
@blackrookcafe @Ziryab @TheNameofNames @hrarray
I made it to 1200. Thank you for the amazing journey.
Congrats!
Dec 22, 2022
0
#18
TheNameofNames wrote:
Just make sure your tactics are pretty good and you understand the fundamentals. It doesnt hurt to know openings, cant say using the engine ever really helped me alot I learned alot from playing the giuoco, so id say if you arent playing that opening try to steer your games into it, the only openings that dont transpose into are the qgd the caro/french the english, but it taught me to preserve my bishops with moves like h6 a6 etc...creating an escape and plugging the center with the knight and pushing g5 after h6 to break a pin, trading bishops (happens in the london too on e6/e3). I learned the italian counter because people around our rating love ng5 in the italian and it gives away white's advantage and blunders very early in the opening very often. Thats what id say. Learn the fourknights in and out because it has many themes that are in other openings as well and theres alot to learn. I play the berlin as black maybe you could try that too?
Woah! that's much information is one paragraph. I have some questions and comments.
1. "I learned the italian counter because people around our rating love ng5 in the italian and it gives away white's advantage and blunders very early in the opening very often."
-What do you refer to by "the italian counter?" thre are many lines gasint the knight attack, which I play.
2. " it gives away white's advantage and blunders very early in the opening very often." "
No. It doesnt. if you are referring to stockfish not loving it then you should consider that fact that the endigne is not very good at accurate evalulations. Ng5 is a perfectly fine move. Many gandmasters have and are still playing it today. Once again, I play this opening.
3. "Learn the fourknights"
Okay. Some people will not like this, but the four knights is too easy for your opponent at any level. Agaisnt an ~1200 rated player you want to play openings where your opponent can easly go wrong without being dubious. Of course, if you insist, the four knights isnt losing and is a perfectly fine opening.
4. I play the berlin as black maybe you could try that too?
I fully agree with @9 / #9. The berlin is full of theory.
Remeber that the person your talking too is playing rapid and doesnt have acess to the master games database unlike daily.
Also: you are 1300.
You don’t even need to know theory for those positions, just use opening principles.
As someone who:
1- Knows a little bit about openings
2- Solves Puzzles.
3- Analyses Lost Games.
How can I reach 1200 rating on chess[.]com?
As in,
1- What positions should I learn by heart?
2- What openings should I learn?
3- What counter openings should I learn?
Kindly, note that chess[.]com is going to pair me up with people around the same rating, i.e. 1100-1300. So, what are the most common plays and counters/traps, should I read about?