This week’s question could be useful to all readers wondering about their opening choices:
To the Chess Doctor –
I have a problem that can not wait until the end of the pandemic. I have recently gotten over 1700 USCF and figured it was time to choose my openings more carefully. At a lower level anything goes, and the games are generally decided by tactics. But now I’m occasionally encountering players around 1900-2000, and the faults in my openings are showing. They know the lines better and I’m getting crushed every game.
This leads me to my question: how should I choose my opening repertoire if what I’m playing right now isn’t working?
There are various ways to choose a repertoire, and all of them depend on your style and personality. Let’s take a closer look at some various styles and according opening choices:
First of all, there are players who love to attack. If this describes you, the clear choice is often 1. e4 all the way! Playing against the Sicilian (1… c5) should be your wheelhouse, and you should go for sharp lines with 2. Nf3 and 3. d4. Also of note: against Pirc/Modern lines with 1…d6 and 2…g6, I would consider lines with d4, Nc3 and f4 going for the throat. Against the French (1… e6), attackers will often enjoy playing 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3. Here is an analysis board that shows all of these sharp lines (and more) for attackers:
It is also important to look at openings from the black standpoint. For an attacker, against 1.e4, the natural choice is, of course, the Sicilian. For many people, I would personally recommend the Najdorf. While there are not as many options against 1. d4, 1. Nf3, 1. c4, etc., if you enjoy attacking the Dutch defense is a good option that works against, well … just about everything but 1. e4! Specifically I recommend the Leningrad variation, which has a good attacking basis. The King’s Indian is another good option, and learning both will make you a tricky opponent to face.
Again here is an analysis board to show what I’m talking about:
Moving on, aggressive/attacking is not the only style on the chessboard. While there are even more specific categories than the ones I give to simplify it I will also give a repertoire for positional players.
As white I could easily see a positional player playing both 1. d4 and 1. e4. A positional player could also be defined as more technical: they aren’t looking to win with a blistering attack, but in slow, grinding fashion. Here are my recommendations:
And finally, here are some choices for a positional player as black. Against 1. e4 there are a few possibilities. For one, the classical 1… e5 is a good option. Also the Caro-Kann is quite solid and can reduce white’s attacking chances to the minimum. Apart from that I’m not really sure what to suggest. Against 1. d4 there are so many options. The classical QGD is a good choice. Here’s the final analysis board:
While this is not a full repertoire I hope it is a good start. There are so many different styles out there, and thus I recommend that you research these openings and more to see which is the best fit for you. Good luck reshaping your opening repertoire, it is not an easy job! If you disagree with one or more or my choices let me know in the comments. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.
As usual, click the button below to submit a question of your own or email me your questions. I look forward to hearing from you!
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