Bibs wrote on 06/19/20 at 22:55:03:

Maybe the idea doesn't seem so terrible to Seirawan because that's what he used to do when he was a beginner.

Recommending a fianchetto to beginners seems like an absolutely terrible idea. Atrocious.

No chance to learn about open play. 
Weak f7 square? Open lines? Time? 

In response to OP's question, I do sympathise with your frustration with the answers you obtained on the forum. A lot of posters do not seem to understand the category of an intelligent adult chess learner who also wants some specific lines (say up to 10 moves) as a comfort crutch. I was that but help I received was not on this forum but elsewhere esp those aimed at intelligent junior chess. Without ranting on, let me suggest this very simple albeit incomplete repertoire by Dr Dave from Devon Chess (UK) which is aimed ta the IQP position W & B and will serve your friend well into the 1800s-2000s and will satisfy the so-called iconic sacrosanct "Markovich" Doctrine.
http://exeterchessclub.org.uk/chessx/pdf/JuniorRepertoire.pdf
check out also the rest of the website.
I do agree with advice on getting your friend to play through annotated games. I suggest Valeri Beim's book on Morphy's games (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/585452.Paul_Morphy)
Good luck!

Monocle wrote on 06/15/20 at 18:41:53:

By the way, that game transposed to an old main line of the Steinitz Defense in the Ruy Lopez.  7...Qe7 was suggested by Tarrasch, according to Reuben Fine.

hicetnunc wrote on 06/15/20 at 16:10:59:


"The Argentinian GM, Daniel Campora, has been playing it ...."
As far as this is relevant for someone with an ELO of 1200 - 1400 it's actually an argument contra the recommendation - to play the Steinitz well you need a high level of understanding. That's exactly what I meant when I wrote "good luck liberating your position"; the friend of the OP obviously lacks the necessary chess skills.
I always like it when someone tries to contradict me with an argument that instead backs my standpoint. 

MNb wrote on 06/14/20 at 12:09:31:


after ...exd4, you'll get a semi-open position in the Steinitz. Frankly, if somone doesn't have much time for chess, I think it's a very valid choice. I'll back it up with some authority argument as well : it has been recommended by N.Davies too  https://chessimprover.com/another-forgotten-line-the-steinitz-defence-to-the-ruy...

But I get your point that it's not a great opening for long term growth. I agree.

As regards what precise openings to teach, I suggest that the best approach might be to think of it in these terms: equip a potential star with a weapon and supply an average player with a shield!

"Your only task in the opening is to reach a playable middlegame. (...) I can recommend the following: simplicity and economy." GM Lajos Portisch

A suitable "shield" opening for White, one that an average player can play with confidence for as long he or she wants to play chess, is the Colle System, basically 1 d4, 2 Nf3, 3 e3, 4 Bd3, 5 0-0, 6 Nbd2, always answering Black's ...c5 with c3, and preparing to break with e3-e4 at an appropriate moment. This opening is very much in accordance with Portisch's advice quoted above. Admittedly there are one or two lines for Black that require a different treatment by White, but there is far less to learn than with a 1 e4 repertoire.

Other almost universal "system" openings that might also make suitable "shields" for the average player with little time or inclination to study chess theory might include other QP games such as the London System, the Torre and the Zukertort, as well as the King's Indian Attack and even possibly the English.

For Black one could consider (against 1 e4) the Caro Kann or the French (perhaps the so-called Fort Knox variation) and (against 1 d4 and all other Closed Openings) the the Orthodox QGD set-up or the Slav, or even the fairly recent idea of "the Sniper" with 1...g6, 2...Bg7 and 3...c5 against almost everything.

I suggest that this approach also helps players who, although clearly intelligent, have encountered problems remembering complicated tactical lines. 

I would always encourage a coach to devote some sessions to exploring and playing "thematic" practice games with the Two Knights Defence 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6, since it is rich in tactics for both sides. Players should be shown for instance the Fork Trick 4 Nc3?! Nxe4! and all the possible continuations; the Fried Liver 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Nxd5?! 6 Nxf7!? (or 6 d4!?); the Traxler 4 Ng5 Bc5!? 5 Nxf7 Bxf2+!; the main line 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Na5!; the Fritz 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Nd4, the Max Lange Attack 4 d4 exd4 5 0-0 Bc5 6 e5!. 

After a few such sessions, it will rapidly have become clear whether a student has difficulty in remembering precise details. I suggest it would be fruitless to persist in trying to encourage such a player to persevere with playing such sharp and complex lines; they need the "shield" of a "system" opening if we are going to expect them to maintain an interest in the game and make gradual progress.

I suggest it is also worth keeping in mind that even young players soon start showing signs of a preferred "style", often based on their character and temperament.