Poll
Poll Question: Would it be helpful to play the classical openings?
bars   pie

Yes    
  9 (60.0%)
Maybe a little    
  3 (20.0%)
No    
  3 (20.0%)




Total votes: 15
« Created by: exigentsky on: 05/25/07 at 07:11:44 »
Normal Topic Playing the Classical Openings (Read 3214 times)
exigentsky
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Re: Playing the Classical Openings
Reply #7 - 05/30/07 at 21:46:51
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Thanks for everyone's help. I will learn the basic classical openings at longer time controls.
  
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Re: Playing the Classical Openings
Reply #6 - 05/25/07 at 20:46:37
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I fully agree with Ptero. If the main goal is improving, then long time controls - maybe even corr chess - is absolutely necessary. I would also say, that it is important to play different types of openings. It is even strongly to be considered, to incorporate one gambit - say the Marshall Gambit 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4. The idea of course is to get an allround development and work hardest on the weakest sides.
But if you want to stick to blitz and rapid, just play what you like best.
  

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Ptero
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Re: Playing the Classical Openings
Reply #5 - 05/25/07 at 10:23:39
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exigentsky wrote on 05/25/07 at 10:02:44:

However, I prefer standard. Blitz is fun too, but it's like going to McDonald's instead of a good restaurant.

BTW: thibdb13, what openings do you play vs d4 and e4?


I'm afraid the "good restaurant" has to be long time control OTB play. I have played hundreds of "standard" games on ICC; they are much closer to Blitz than anything resembling real OTB play.   
  
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exigentsky
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Re: Playing the Classical Openings
Reply #4 - 05/25/07 at 10:02:44
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Quote:
Well I would just stick to your openings unless there is a very good reason to change eg you don't like playing these positions or if you are encoutering difficulties in particular lines. The Bogo is seriously underestimated.

I'd also suggest that if you are going to make changes that you just look at one opening at a time rather than undergo a massive revamp in one go !

Finally, I would say you could do worse than to study some game collections to see whether any of these new openings contain ideas that you would like to play. 

See you on ICC !


I don't intend to remain on a classical repertoire, I just thought that learning to play those openings decently might make me a better chess player. Certainly I will have to face positions more similar to the classical openings than any Dragon and I need to be able to play those as well as their evaluation would suggest. Right now, I'm a lot like thibdb13 and do not handle those positions as well. However, I believe that hypermodernism and classical positions are both valid and so I should be able to play both well. Moreover, I should not be afraid of moving into more classical positions just because they are not what I'm used to. It's just something I need to work on.

Also, on ICC, I play both blitz (8 min 10 sec increment) and standard (20 min 20 sec increment or more). However, I prefer standard. Blitz is fun too, but it's like going to McDonald's instead of a good restaurant.

BTW: thibdb13, what openings do you play vs d4 and e4?
  
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Re: Playing the Classical Openings
Reply #3 - 05/25/07 at 09:46:59
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Assuming you're playing blitz on ICC, you play such a huge number of games that experimenting with different openings is hardly a big issue, surely? I'd say you should give literally every opening a try at some time in blitz.

But perhaps I'm misunderstanding. Does ICC have functions other than blitz?
  
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thibdb13
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Re: Playing the Classical Openings
Reply #2 - 05/25/07 at 08:50:20
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Classical openings can be interesting to follow: they allways contain ideas (thematic moves) that might be usefull in other openings. But I think it is very difficult for someone playing hypermodern to adapt to the classical openings. Personnally I do not feel comfortable at all when answering with e5 on e4 and usually lose these games even if I was not worse in the opening: I am just not good in these situations Undecided Maybe the philosophy is too different Huh
  

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ANDREW BRETT
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Re: Playing the Classical Openings
Reply #1 - 05/25/07 at 07:57:57
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Well I would just stick to your openings unless there is a very good reason to change eg you don't like playing these positions or if you are encoutering difficulties in particular lines. The Bogo is seriously underestimated.

I'd also suggest that if you are going to make changes that you just look at one opening at a time rather than undergo a massive revamp in one go !

Finally, I would say you could do worse than to study some game collections to see whether any of these new openings contain ideas that you would like to play. 

See you on ICC !
  
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exigentsky
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Playing the Classical Openings
05/25/07 at 07:11:44
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I started with the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon and Nimzo/Bogo (but odd and not that great Nc6 variation) when I started playing chess more seriously, almost three years ago. Thus, I know next to nothing about the Slav, QGD, or Ruy Lopez. Now, being a little over 2000 on ICC, I'm wondering if I should still learn and play these more classical openings to get a better chess education. 

I don't know if this matters, but I am neither tactical or positional but rather a balanced mix. I just try to play the best moves and focus on activity, dynamics and initiative. Moreover, I seem to be better in hypermodern positions where my center is not committed and many pawn breaks are possible. I am also quite good in positions where wing play is essential, and the center is more or less under control, such as in the English attack from the Najdorf. Thus, I may have some weaknesses in fully utilizing or fighting against a classical center with the associated piece configurations. (for example a Scotch game) Although, I have improved in this area since learning the French. Would classical openings help? What should I do?
  
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