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Well said me thinks.  That's another great aspect of our game, there is something for everybody in the different opening's available.  I'm sure it seems incomprehensible for some that there are those of us that would venture openings like the Owens (just an example) when there exists plenty of more respected openings like the Najdorf, double e-pawn and so forth, but some enjoy the road less traveled.  By the way, if you don't enjoy facing unusual openings while still thinking they are junk, you might ask yourself why.  Like everyone else, I enjoy winning, so if my opponent plays what I think is garbage then I'm quite OK with that!

I personally enjoy the bizarre as well as mainstream openings.  The only ones I don't enjoy are those that are dull (which is of course relative).

Yes, I cannot understand these players who play the same limited opening repertoire their whole life - what is the point? Enjoy the game!!

TalJechin wrote on 05/23/06 at 10:54:02:


Well, when i said "main lines" I meant things like playing open sicilian vs. closed, or Ruy Lopez vs. Gioco Piano - not necessarily to the latest improvement in the 29th move of the Sveshnikov/Najdorf/Dragon/Marshall attack/Gruenfeld/Moscow/Botvinnik (pick your chioce) which should indeed be left for the 2600+ crowd to enjoy

Ptero 

My 2 cents worth theory is that because (I believe) that the best way to know an opening is by playing it, and the more experirnce with it - the better,   people score slightly better against 1.e4 than against 1.d4 simply because they have more expeience playing against 1.e4. (I'm not sure what this has to do with the previous comments  , just came into my mind while reading this thread). 
But this is not the reason I play 1.d4 - It's that every time I think great! lets start playing 1.e4! I just look at the mountain of theory waiting there (Indeed if one wants to play the main lines and not the second rate ones) and the prospects of getting my a** kicked severely before I start getting hang of the lines - and I just give up my 1.e4 toughts right away  

I think a lot depends on your situation and style. I am an e4-player since I can remember, however I now vary my openings much more. I still play e4 80% of my games, but now also play c4 or d4 as a first move. I also do it as black btw.

What I noticed is that eg with the open sicilian as white I really didnt need that much theory I could just play it without having to go through copious amounts of books. When I had finished my game I would compare it with the various "bibles" and check what I could have done better. Since I just played the game I will have better understanding why a certain move is better than another. I applied this to other openings as well and it seems to work since I start beating stronger players.

[quote][What do you have against 1. c4, Frendo? /quote]

Whoops, missed that one!  I'd certainly prefer 1.c4 to 1.g4 or quite a few of the others I mentioned.  I can't actually ever recall playing the English, but it's not my favorite opening to face, so I certainly respect it.

lnn2 wrote on 05/22/06 at 02:14:41:


Seems strange to me. As a hopeless 1.d4 palyer, I don't feel uncomfortable against 1.e4 when playing 2000-2300 players (I'm about 2150 at the moment  ) 
As 1.e4 is the most common first move in all levels, you I'm afraid you may have a serious problem with your chess if you feel uncomfortable against it  .

Ptero

to a certain extent, i think most players *intuitively* find either 1. d4 or 1. e4 more comfortable, all the way up to GM level, there are few who can play both well (the ones that do are strong GMs who are World Champions, or played at a very high level, like Timman, Beliavsky etc. ) Therefore, for most people it is best to stick with your intuition and specialise in either one!

But my experience has been that when one reaches a certain level, say about 2000-2200, it is inevitable that one encounters serious opening difficulties with the Black pieces against stronger opposition, especially against the move which you don't play as White. As a 1. d4 player myself, i am more uncomfortable facing 1. e4 than 1. d4. Therefore, started to switch around openings against 1. e4, to find one that is really suitable... eventually trying all (!) the defences to 1. e4 before settling down on certain favourites. But even though i have researched all these defences to 1. e4 as Black seriously, i don't think i can play the same 1. e4 positions as White well. MnB once said it is possible to hate an opening with both colours and thats completely true. Still, i guess if after looking at all the positions as Black and you find that White is better everywhere... it is not impossible to switch?!