I also think that it is very handy to have some surprise weapons in addition to one's usual opening repertoire, particularly as Black. The most effective surprise weapons are those which don't have a large body of theory, but are tricky and still contain some venom, particularly if the opponent is unprepared.

Some examples: 

The 3...Qd6 Scandinavian is nowadays slightly too theoretical to be a surprise weapon, but it can be a very effective back-up if one is willing to learn the theory. 

The repertoire advocated in "Tiger's Modern" is quite a good surprise weapon, mainly because it forces White to rely on his own resources in the early opening, but again to play it successfully one has to put in quite a bit of effort to understand the often unusual positions.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 (which is covered in this forum) is another good line, since it is solid yet tricky, although I wouldn't recommend this as a main defence to 1.d4. 

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4!? is an excellent surprise weapon, particularly for advocates of the Nimzo/Bogo, and does not have any direct refutation. 

Finally, King's Indian players can consider the setup with 4...0-0 and 5...c6!?, which was analysed in Yearbook 64. Even very strong players are sometimes thrown by the positions which arise from the variation, since the structures are not like those in the King's Indian. Note, however, that against the Fianchetto variation this will transpose to a type of Grunfeld Slav.

As shown above, I don't think it is all that difficult to find good surprise weapons to add to one's armoury, although I do believe that in order for them to be effective, the person playing them still has to understand them.

slates wrote on 08/24/08 at 20:34:11:

The other way round, for the time being.

slates wrote on 08/24/08 at 20:34:11:

In more than 25 years I have been faithfull only to one opening (not the IZ) and even here not 100%.

slates wrote on 08/24/08 at 20:34:11:

You never know what will happen in say 2010. If you need or want to make the IZ your first choice, how much time will it take you? So the IZ is a backup for you.

ANDREW BRETT wrote on 08/24/08 at 10:57:10:

I don't agree and I know from experience. In 25 years I have played the Scandinavian Marshall, the Ruy Lopez, the Alekhine, the Accelerated Dragon and the Classical French as Black plus a few minor tries (the Pirc really is not for me). Usually I am better prepared than my opponents. And guess what? Having a bad memory it is near to impossible for me to learn move sequences by heart!

ANONYMOUS3000 wrote on 08/24/08 at 01:12:56:


I agree that reserve options are imperative, but I disagree that the average amateur should study them as deeply as his main repertoire. My approach always has been more relaxed. Being a curious guy I hit upon some interesting idea quite often I would like to play one time or another.
For instance I like the orthodox KID (with ...Nd7) as well, but never tried it. I will keep it in my sleeve for the future. So first thing I notice is that White has four, maybe five main systems against the KID: the Classical, the Fianchetto, the Four Pawns and the Sämisch; maybe the Averbach. Forget the latter; I will focus on it when the time is ripe. Against the Sämisch Black has a wide choice, there must be something nice against it. The Four Pawns is very dangerous, but Black can change the type of play by transposing to the Volga. No need to delve yet.
So the Classical and the Fianchetto remain. Guess what? Black can use a transposition via the Old-Indian 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Nd7 and 4...e5 (avoids the early exchange of queens; if that is not an objection 3...e5 is more precise). Subsequently Black can play ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...0-0. So I have spend some time to figure out some transpositional problems (there are only few) and how nice, a future repertoire against 1.d4 has taken shape. When necessary it will not take too much time to develop it to my main repertoire. I only need to keep an eye on critical lines and new developments. If these developments go to fast I drop the whole idea (that happened to the Perenyi Gambit in the Open Sicilian; around 1995 I was highly interested, now I find it too compicated).

Last year I had lost confidence in my beloved Iljin-Zjenevsky. I turned to the QGD orthodox with ...h6 and ...dxc4 and ...a6. I haven't got the chance to try it. As I have regained confidence in the IZ it will remain my backup. Last year it took and in the future it will take less than a week to upgrade it. That KID-system above is not even my third option btw.

Zatara wrote on 08/24/08 at 04:35:14:


Thank you for the advice!

However, I am also wondering about what would be the best criteria for which variation to choose. For example, if you are looking for a second defence to 1.e4, then should you choose an opening that leads to similar types of games to your other defence (for example, both relatively tactical or relatively positional), choose a opening that complements your current repertoire (e.g. something sharp and something solid), or to play something a bit less theoretical (e.g. play 1...c6 instead of 1...e6 as a second defence)? 

Greetings,

I noticed that on the "Repertoire Suggestions" section of Chesspublishing.com, Andrew Martin gives the following advice:

"Have back-up openings to all your main lines. I remember Botvinnik suggested that the average master should have 2-3 lines, well prepared, against each first move and a couple of different approaches with White . That's obviously going to be difficult for the average player to keep up with, but I would say some reserve options are imperative."

What would be the best way to go about learning new variations to broaden one's opening repertoire?