Surviving the Opening

AGENDA

1. Questions for the Audience
2. What are the openings?
   1. “workshop”
3. The World Championships
   1. What do they tell us?
   2. How can I learn from this?
4. Summary
   1. Being prepared
   2. How to prepare
   3. Questions

Surviving the Opening

What does that mean?

Getting to the “middle game”

In a position I like, and understand, with a plan, and pieces in the right places ready for action.

This should reduce the chance of a blunder by me!

It will need preparation!

Questions for the Audience

1. How many openings are there?
2. What do I like to play?
   1. As White?
   2. As Black?
3. Why?
4. Are there openings that scare me?
5. How would I describe the openings I play?
   1. Safe?
   2. Gambit?
   3. Tactical
   4. Positional
   5. Other words?
6. Do I know the “book” moves for my openings?
   1. What are its goals/ideas?
   2. “strengths” and “weaknesses”
   3. Where should I put my pieces?
   4. Have I played through “grandmaster games” of the openings I use?
7. Do I have a plan for all/most responses?
8. Have I written it down?

What are the openings?

Let’s categorise them

And make sure that we have a plan to deal with surprises!

Or maybe have surprises for our opponents!

Examples:

Evans Gambit

Danish Gambit

Categorise the openings that matter to you – know their names – and how they work

Dangerous – Safe?

Strategic – Tactical?

Traps and Surprises?

 

Make sure that I know which ones can affect me

Who is World Champion? What’s his grade?

The World Championships

9-28th November 2018

12 games all draws and 3 play off games

< >Sicilian Rossolimo

Queen’s Gambit Declined Bf4

Sicilian Rossolimo

English

Sicilian Rossolimo

Petrov

Queen’s Gambit Declined Bf4

Sicilian Sveshnikov

English

Sicilian Sveshnikov

Petrov

Sicilian Sveshnikov

English

Sicilian Sveshnikov

Sicilian Kan

Some conclusions?

Contest focused on a few openings

Safe secure mainstream

An example:

What’s the Rossolimo about?

Double Black’s pawns,  and a solid centre

Aim for an attack on the King/f4

 

Opening few moves:

Colle

Ruy Lopez Berlin

Nimzo-Indian

Queen’s Indian

QGD Bf4

Caro Kann

Sicilian Sveshnikov

Sicilian Rossolimo

Petrov

Previous events

 

2013 versus Anand

< >Reti (Nf3, g3, Bg2, d4, 0-0, b3,Bb2, c4)
Caro Kann
Reti
Ruy Lopez Berlin
QGD
Ruy Lopez Berlin
Ruy Lopez Berlin
Ruy Lopez Berlin
Nimzo Indian
Sicilian Moscow
Grunfeld
Ruy Lopez Berlin
QGD Bf4
Sicilian KIA
Queen’s Indian
Sicilian Kan
Ruy Lopez Berlin
QGD Bf4
Ruy Lopez Berlin
Grunfeld
Ruy Lopez Berlin

 

2016 versus Karjakin

< >Trompowsky Attack
Ruy Lopez   (not Berlin)
Ruy Lopez Berlin
Ruy Lopez (not Berlin)
Giuoco Piano
Ruy Lopez (not Berlin)
Slav/QGA
Colle
Ruy Lopez (not Berlin)
Ruy Lopez (Berlin)

Being Prepared for a match/game

Do I know what my opponent plays?

 

Can I use an opening I know and understand?

As White?

As Black?

General rules:

< >Develop pieces
Move pieces once towards centre
Castle
Have a plan!
If in unknown situation take care of pieces, watch the captures and checks

Summary - How to Prepare

Start simple!

Choose an opening that I am interested in understanding and using

That will occur frequently is most useful

Look at a book about the opening

Look at some games by one player (ideally)

Try to understand the themes – where the pieces go – and what they do

< >Are they exchanged?
Do we try to keep them?

Try to understand the Pawn Structure

Do I still like the opening?

Try to play blitz games using the opening

Repeat lines - it may be that after reviewing you discard!!