What do you look for in an opening?

When I first started playing chess, I really liked the Colle because I could get out of the first 10 moves without having a losing position.

Now it seems the opening gets your pieces developed in a way that you like. I no longer like the Colle because it is way too passive and closed.

What is it about your opening that you like?

Do you play different openings depending on the strength of your opponent?

I think of the opening position as a 32 piece endgame 😛

After many decades of playing chess I've realised that the positions I like best are those with a blocked or rigid centre where I can probe for weaknesses. The openings which suits me best in this regard are the Caro Kann, the Kings Indian where White plays an early d5 and some lines in the Old Indian, for example:


As White I play quite tactical openings, but they don't suit my style of play so well and I have a much better record with Black, which makes me popular in League matches! I once played 11 Blacks out of 12 games in one season (I was the captain of the team so could swap myself between board 1 and 2 as appropriate). It would have been 12 but the person I kept switching places with complained that he had forgotten how to play Black.

@eladar said
When I first started playing chess, I really liked the Colle because I could get out of the first 10 moves without having a losing position.

Now it seems the opening gets your pieces developed in a way that you like. I no longer like the Colle because it is way too passive and closed.

What is it about your opening that you like?

Do you play different openings depending on the strength of your opponent?

I don't take a lot of notice of my opponent's rating.
I like to play the French as black in reply to e5 or the Kings indian or Nimzo indian to d5.
As white I never open e5.
No particular reason, I'm just more comfortable with Queens pawn openings

s/5/4/g

@mynameisklint

So why not play yoir best style as white? You already play it 11 out of 12 times, have you forgotten how to play the white pieces?

You can open 1.e5 in Omega Chess 😉

Good thread.
I don't pay much attention to the actual openings because I am only 1700 online so I put a pawn in the center then develop to good and safe squares and I defend my center pawn with a pawn which leaves me with passive but solid positions and I look for weaknesses and a counter-attack.
In the 1970's they called that style "Tacking"
I have tried to be more aggressive in the opening but it doesn't work for me.
I have to see what my opponents are trying to do so I can react.

@Eladar

Creation.

Reti, with white. Black - French, Sicilian or Queen pawn as dictated by white...

Stick to what the Panzer's know.

I like 1.e4, although that means I have to deal with the #&($ Sicilian.

Maybe I should switch to 1.Nf3. 😛 But then, no Scotch Gambits.

Not played a Scotch Gambit in decades ;-|

I'll look at my bible just to refresh my cluttered brian...

@eladar said
Do you play different openings depending on the strength of your opponent?

Apart from blitz NEVER look at your opponents
grade. Just lay the best move you have.

In blitz it's fun to play unsound sacrifices
for that imaginary Brilliancy Prize in your head.

@ketchuplover said
I think of the opening position as a 32 piece endgame 😛

That deserves a thumbs up!
My biggest failing when I was playing serious OTB chess was
neglecting pawn structure and the inevitable end game slog.

@wolfgang59

I used to lose OTB on dark & light square control if I lost a Bishop but I know you mean Wolfgang...

@wolfgang59 said
That deserves a thumbs up!
My biggest failing when I was playing serious OTB chess was
neglecting pawn structure and the inevitable end game slog.

Are there no attacking victories in your games?