Chess Openings

  

Chess Openings


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Tim Bredernitz    (2006-06-18)
Chess Openings

Hi, I'm wondering what openings other players have experienced success with. I've primarily used the Ruy Lopez, but I've grown tired of it. I haven't really explored any queen's pawn openings, and I'm wondering which ones are effective. Thanks.


Amir Bagheri    (2006-06-19 14:53:39)
1. d4

The move 1.d4 offers the same benefits to development and center control as does 1.e4, but unlike with the King Pawn openings where the e4 pawn is undefended after the first move, the d4 pawn is protected by White's queen. This slight difference has a tremendous effect on the opening. For instance, whereas the King's Gambit is rarely played today at the highest levels of chess, the Queen's Gambit remains a popular weapon at all levels of play. Also, compared with the King Pawn openings, transpositions between variations are more common and critical in the closed games. White develops aiming for a particular formation without great concern over how Black chooses to defend. Both these systems are popular with club players because they are easy to learn, but are rarely used by professionals because a well prepared opponent playing Black can equalize fairly easily.


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-06-19 15:13:45)
Chess Openings

Hi Tim.

What do you mean with Ruy Lopez ? There's IMO no opening better than other, it first depends on you play Black or White, who is your opponent (strength, favourite openings...), time controls..

Maybe you should specify your question... What opening against what move etc...

PS : I hope Amir will take a look at Wikichess, his opinion on chess openings would be very interesting to know ;)


Wolfgang Utesch    (2006-06-19 15:18:50)
Chess is a drawn game!

Hi, with perfect play on both sides, chess is allways a drawn game - even 1.e4 or 1.d4 (or any others). I'm really sure! The ways to come into theoretical drawn endings are just too many (for the defender). But who is playing perfect? Still waiting for the 32-pieces ending tool ;-), Wolfgang


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-06-19 16:19:58)
Go is not a drawn game...

Not for tomorrow, hopefully !

But programs are killing chess little by little for sure... Maybe then we'll play Go, which has the advantage not to be a drawn game (we even don't know the result for sure with a 7.5 komi)... or maybe we'll play big chess :)


Amir Bagheri    (2006-06-19 17:57:15)
Ruy Lopez

Tim, i am now playing a Ruy Lopez in my game vs Nigel Davies. I will try to show that that old opening still have some surprises...


Tim Bredernitz    (2006-06-19 23:02:26)
Thanks

Thanks to all, especially Amir. I'm curious as to your game number, and how you use the old Spanish game. Also, Wolfgang makes a good point. I'm not sure the exact stats, but I'm pretty sure almost half or maybe more of the games played at the master level and above end in ties. Chess is a game of creating opportunities and executing against mistakes. Once a player gets to a certain skill level, I'm sure that it's rare that they make mistakes, so its harder for the opponent to win. One side will usually pull out the draw. Thanks again, Tim


Amir Bagheri    (2006-06-20 15:33:57)
Sicilian Annoted game

Tim, here is a game that I have annoted hope it will help http://www.chessville.com/Bagheri/Short-Karpov.htm


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-06-20 16:05:08)
Sicilian opening & Kasparov

I quote from Amir analysis : "But if you want to win, the Sicilian is really the best choice."

I fully agree, I'll just add: but Sveshnikov sicilian :)

Actually, (not a surprise) you just have to see how Black pieces are conducted by Garry Kasparov in sicilian opening to understand what lines to follow, why it is the best choice... and why he became the best player of all times.

He simply always wanted to win, never draw... It is an illustration of a quote in this interesting (but failed) movie by Guy Ritchie, "Revolver" : "To win against a weaker opponent, you have to extend the game field."

Finally, it's the exact opposite of what Bobby Fischer said : "I don't believe in psychology, I believe in good moves". That's not enough IMO, chess openings are a psychologic battle that reflect the state of mind and will. It often decides in a way the result of the game, not by moves, but by the intention.


Dinesh De Silva    (2006-06-20 16:48:35)
Re: "Revolver" movie......

Thibault, I saw the movie "Revolver' too. It was very interesting...... a kind of psychological thriller. If I remember correctly, the last few memorable words of the movie were: "To Pull Off The Greatest Con Of All"......where the casino empire boss is conned/fooled into shooting himself!


Thibault de Vassal    (2006-06-20 17:17:19)
Re: "Revolver" movie...... cinema UFO !

Yes :) ... I saw it in french version... It was really IMO one of the biggest deceptions of the year... probably because I expected a lot, when seeing this fantastic trailer.

This film should have been one of the greatest chess (games in general) relative movies. There was all matters, and many interesting philosophical thoughts... maybe not supported enough by the movie. And I suspect director Guy Ritchie of having voluntarily suicided the movie during the shooting... Luc Besson or other reasons... How to explain such fantastic pictures, then such obvious faults all long. The screenplay surely was better than the result.

Finally, cinema press judged it as totally pretentious and it was a commercial failure. That's a pity, really.


Amir Bagheri    (2006-06-20 17:22:16)
Confused

I saw that movie too and I have to admit I was lost a bit....

I am looking for a movie though maybe someone here saw : "Searching for bobby fisher"

Please let me know.


Wayne Lowrance    (2006-06-22 03:44:19)
Chess openings

Nothing could be farther from the truth.. Bobby was right, makes good moves and you dont needs to worry about phoney baloney. Bobby was right no first move is as strong as e4