How does one master the opening?
Submitted by
NM on Fri, 09/05/2008 at 2:51pm.
1. How can one master the openings? I am a former National Master and life Master at Quick chess. I have also beaten many GM's in rated blitz and quick chess. My approach to mastering the openings begins with mastering the pawn structures. Pawn structures are the skeletons that dictate the opening or the defense. The Sicilian Pawn skeleton has a distinct methodology which dictates play. The same goes for the Stonewall opening or the King's Indian Attack, all of the openings and defenses have pawn configurations that are unique to that particular opening. Hence, the pawns are like the small artillery from which the heavier weapons are positioned behind. One must understand the pawn structures of a particular defense which will eventually dictate the plans and strategies available. Variations on opening theory therefore result from experiments from high -level players with regards to new plans devised in the standard pawns positions of that particular opening. Learn the anatomy of the chess opening and defensive skeletons my friend and then you are on your way to mastery of not just the opening, but of the artestry of developing opening theory. Coach Rene' Phillips www.thechessgym.com
How can I learn transpositions? Transpositions are changes in the plans of openings that have identical pawn skeletons. For instance, players who employ the exchange variation of the Caro Kahn can also transpose to a similar variation of a Queen's pawn opening known as the London System. The London System is a Queen's pawn opening that could be reached by the following move order: 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3. e3 cxd4 4. exd4 e6
The same position can be reached by playing the exchange variation of the Caro Kahn defense after the moves: 1.e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 e6! Here the identical position is reached and the player of the White pieces has arrived at a position familiar to him that requires plans and strategies akin to those he usually sees from the London System, thus another argument for learning the skeletons of the different openings and defenses. Coach Rene' Phillips www.thechessgym.com
3. What is the meaning of an inbalance in chess? Let's start by defining balance in chess. Balance is a term in chess to refer to equality whether that be positional, material, or in development. Equality in the opening can be evidenced by the position after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6... and so on and so forth. Both the players of the White and Black pieces have equal development, equal material, and a similarly static, even position. An imbalance can thus be achieved if White continues with 6. Bb5 Bd7 7.0-0 a6 8.Bxc6 bxc6. The position now is unbalanced. Material though still even has given way to several other factors: 1. White has the better pawn structure 2.White's King is safely tucked away 3. Black has yet to castle 4. Black's pawn skeleton is damaged
Black however has some imbalances in his favor as well: 1.Black has the 2 Bishops which will prove to be an advantage in the middlegame 2. Black has a half-open b-file on to which he can later deploy a Rook or pair of Rooks(doubled) 3. White has the only the e-file which is shared by Black 4. Black can use the doubled c-pawns as battering rams against the White d4 pawn.
Imbalances are what players strive for in order to attempt to secure an advantage. The exploitation of an imbalance is the step process that leads to reaching and building upon an advantage. Coach Rene' Phillips www.thechessgym.com