Every tournament player should have
a sound opening repertoire. He has to decide what to play from either
(white/black) side and prepare a line against each of opponent’s replies.
Example:
A player decides to play 1 e4
from white side. To plan a repertoire from white side he will have to consider
all possible replies to 1 e4 that his opponent can play from black side.
Against 1 e4 the opponent has following main replies:
1 … e5 the Open Game
1 … c5 Sicilian Defence
1 … e6 French Defence
1 … c6 Caro Kann Defence
1 … d5 Scandinavian Defence
1 … Nf6 Alekhine Defence
1 … d6 Pirc Defence
1 … g6 Modern Defence
These are the most popular ways
to meet 1 e4.
He will have to choose a line
against each of the above systems. If he decides to play the main line against
Sicilian for example, he will have to prepare a line against each of black’s
choices like Scheveningen, Dragon, Pelikan, Najdorf, Taimanov, etc. because
black can play any one of these variations against him. If he decides to play
English Attack against Scheveningen, he will have to prepare against each of
black’s set ups against English Attack.
From black side, he will have to
prepare a line against the most popular first moves 1 e4 and 1 d4. If he
decides to play French Defence against 1 e4 for example, he will have to prepare
lines against all the variations that white can play against French Defence. In
addition to this he will have to prepare against less popular first moves like
1 c4, 1 Nf3 and also against sidelines like 1 f4, 1 b4, 1 b3, etc.
How to choose lines
It is completely your choice.
Normally choice of openings will be based on:
1 Your playing style: Are you comfortable in closed positions? Do
you like to take risk to get attacking chances? Would you mind sacrificing
material while conducting attack? Are you good in endgame? The answers to these
questions will help you choose openings. Normally a player should choose
openings that suit his playing style.
2 How much time you can devote: Some openings are highly
fashionable while others are not so popular. Some of them require exact move
orders and memorizing of variations while a few others can be played by
applying your chess understanding. You don’t need to memorize lengthy
variations. If you know the typical playing methods and plans in such openings,
you can face any tough opponent. For openings like Sicilian Dragon and King’s
Indian you will have to spend a lot of time on opening preparation. These lines
demand exact move orders. Sometimes you play theory until move 30. You need to
update your knowledge frequently and continuously.
Another important decision is
whether to play main lines or sidelines.
Popular lines are played by top
Grandmasters and normally take time to prepare and involve too much of theory.
They are popular because they give good results at that level. Normally you
will get different types of positions with so many variations in these
openings. They take time to prepare but give you good results even at a higher
level.
Less popular lines (sidelines)
have a surprise value and you don’t need to spend hours learning complicated
variations. But if you play the same sidelines always, most of your opponents
will know what you are going to play. You will find it boring if you play the
same type of position every time. Sometimes sidelines can be a good choice at
school level and also at club level. If you choose good sidelines that are not
unsound traps, you can try them even against senior players. There are some
Grandmasters who always play sidelines, even at the highest Grandmaster level.
So they can’t be bad.
As you become a stronger player,
you can widen your repertoire by learning more than one line against each of
opponent’s choices.
Your coach can actually help you
in choosing and preparing openings.
