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Topic: Overhauling my opening repertoire
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I am spotting loopholes in my current opening repertoire.
I always open with 1 e4 as White.
If Black plays 1...c5, I respond by playing a Grand Prix with 2 Nc3 and 3 f4.
If Black plays 1...e5, one of the following openings will arise:
1. e4 e5 2. f4
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 0-0
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
I chose these openings because one of the first chess books I read recommended playing 1. e4 for at least a year, until I was familiar with the game. I think I have become strong enough to consider playing other openings.
I do not study opening theory, prefering to understand the concepts and plans for the most important variations in each opening. However, I don't seem to understand the concepts and plans for the openings I am playing, except for the Ruy Lopez. In addition, I am often faced by less common moves such as 1...e6 and 1...c6, which I am less prepared for.
Even worse, as Black, I don't have an opening repertoire. I just react to White's openings, and I often find myself in passive or inferior positions, where it is difficult to catch up.
Therefore, I'm considering an overhaul in my opening repertoire. As White, I will need to find 2-3 good openings, and as Black, I will need an opening in response to 1 e4 and another opening in response to 1 d4.
There are several factors involved in choosing openings.
Firstly, I am looking for openings which do not require me to study lots of opening theory to play well. As mentioned previously, I prefer to understand the concepts and plans of the opening, instead of just memorizing moves. However, I do not mind learning the important variations in the opening, as the variation often determines the concepts and plans.
Next, I want openings that I can easily steer myself into in the early stages of the game. When playing 1. e4 as White, it is easy for Black to sidestep my intended Ruy Lopez and steer the game into an opening he is familiar with. I want to make it difficult for my opponent to avoid the opening I wish to play.
In addition, I need openings that suit my style. I am quite weak with tactics, and therefore should avoid openings where both players try to attack each other's Kings. As Black, I don't like openings where my position is cramped - I need space for positional manuevering. My style is based on Jeremy Silman's Imbalance theory. I prefer semi-open positions where I can play for a strategic goal, such as occupation of a square or file, or utilisation of a passed pawn. One of my favourite positions in the Ruy Lopez is when I play a4 to create weaknesses in Black's position. There are other positions where I sacrifice a Knight for two wing pawns to gain a passed pawn and control of a hole in the opponent's position.
I would appreciate it if you could suggest some good openings for me to play. When you recommend me an opening, please include some brief information about the opening's concepts, plans and variations. Links which offer such information are welcome.
As White, I am looking at two openings: the English opening with 1 c4 where I have the straightforward goal of controlling the d5 square and establishing a Knight there, and the King's Indian Attack, which I have heard is an attack which requires very little theory to learn.
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Hi
Chessgames.com is a great free resource for openings and games..
Hope this helps...
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hi white 
| Firstly, I am looking for openings which do not require me to study lots of opening theory to play well. |
I don't really believe such opening exists  You don't need to learn any opening at all as long as your opponent stays in the main line, but as soon as he strays into a variation of a variation..new rules apply to the position and everything you know about the opening goes down the drain..
| Even worse, as Black, I don't have an opening repertoire. |
..and this is just bad. As black, you practically get to choose which opening will you play, and you have the chance to surprise the white, and you're not using it??  You should work on this urgently..
Also, if you're playing 1.e4 you have to be ready for *anything*, and I really mean anything at all. For example, what would you do if this happens:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 (russian game)
not to mention the french (1...e6) and caro-kann (1...c6) you already mentioned. Peopla WILL play these things, and you need to know how to handle them, or you WILL loose. And I'm saying this from my own experience.
Knowing the main idea of an opening simply isn't enough, you have to know every little (subsub)subidea, alternative plans etc..
I suggest you take a computer chess program of some sort and try out different openings and see which one suits you as a player.
You can try Arena:
http://www.playwitharena.com/
direct download link:
http://www.playwitharena.com/download/arena199beta2.zip
I would also recommend Harry Schnapp's little opening book for Arena:
http://www.playwitharena.com/download/books/h-schnapp-v01__little.rar
all of these were recommended to me by my very good friend (zoki74 here on QA) and are very useful 
Good luck with your research and don't give up! 
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I agree with lecterror.
As white, you move first (choosing are we gonna do kings pawn, queens pawn etc) but black chooses the opening. There are openings you can do as white, that you can sometimes ignore blacks response with little effect, but overall you have to know the ins and outs. I would, as anyone4chess recommended, use a chess database (Chessgames.com being the most popular) and just look at games with an opening that you wish to try, and see how the masters act and react to different moves. You can also try programs, or get the main lines FEN position and create an open game to practice the main line (after the moves are done so you forced them to play the opening) etc.
Good luck
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I know that though White moves first, Black usually chooses the opening, particularly if I open with 1 e4. That's why I want to overhaul my White opening repertoire so I get to choose the openings I play. For example, if I want to play an English Opening or King's Indian Attack, there's not much Black can do to sidestep my preparation.
I understand that every opening will require some knowledge of theory to play well, especially at the highest levels of chess. However, some openings require more theorotical knowledge than others - for example, the Sicilian Dragon is one of the most theorotical openings. I am looking for openings where I just need to know a few main variations and their concepts and plans to start playing with fairly good results. Obviously, after sticking with my new opening repertoire for a year, I will be more familiar with the openings and can study them further.
I know that not having an opening repertoire with Black is a bad thing, and that's why I wish to find some good openings.
Could you recommend me any specific openings which you think would suit my style, as outlined in the first post? When you recommend an opening, perhaps you could post some information about it, or provide links to such information.
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People here might recomment things, but I still think it's the best for you to see individual openings for yourself and choose those that suit you.
For black, I'd recommend King's Indian defense as a responce to 1.d4 it seems like something you might want to take a look at, it's all about positional play and you're not cramped. On 1.e4 I play the french defense, but it is usually a bit cramped so you might not like it as much..
I wouldn't know what to recommend to play as white, I never play 1.e4, and I play 2.c4 (QGD) after 1. d4 d5.
p.s. sorry for any mistakes in this post, it's very late and i'm semi-asleep..
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