Skip to content
TheChessWorld.com
TheChessWorld Facebook TheChessWorld Twitter TheChessWorld Pinterest TheChessWorld YouTube
  • Start Here
  • Play
  • Learn
    • Training Techniques
    • Openings
    • Middlegame
    • Endgames
    • General Information
  • Tournaments
  • Academy
  • 21-Day Course
  • Store
    • TheChessWorld
    • iChess
    • ChessTeacher
    • Modern Chess
    • Roman`s Chess Lab
    • Foxy Series
    • Grandmaster Magazine
    • ChessLecture
    • ICC
  • Contact
TheChessWorld.com
Close

5 Tips for Preparing Your Openings

WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
10.23.2017
Category: Openings
Tags: chess training, chess weaknesses, middlegames, opening preparation, openings, theory preparation,
5 Tips for Preparing Your Openings

Openings and preparing them. Nowadays it is common knowledge that good game preparation plays a major role in achieving success in over-the-board tournaments. Opening preparation has become a habit for any active player and many spend an impressive amount of hours before the game trying to find the right opening idea in order to get the opponent out of the known territory.

The surprise factor is very important in chess; your opponent might not find the best plan or sequence of moves over the board. And, even if he/she does, he/she will probably use a lot of time in order to do so. You will most probably have a time advantage for the rest of the game. And, knowing the position, it will be easier for you to continue once the known theory is over.

How should you prepare for a game?

First, look up your opponent’s name in the database in order to get the list of games he/she has played over time. You can perform this search from a specific starting position. For example, you may only want to see what he/she plays against 1.e4. But, we suggest you start with all games.

Now comes the tricky part, what to do with all this information?

1. Openings: Order the games by date

Start looking at the most recent games first; it is very probable that your opponent’s repertoire has changed over time. And, there’s no use in worrying about openings played a long time ago when they haven’t been employed at all recently.

2. Play through the middlegame

While it’s true that it’s the opening you want to prepare, the middlegame will give you a sense of the type of player you’ll be confronting. You’ll know if he/she likes to attack and create complications out of nowhere or prefers a quieter, more positional play.

This will help you make the opening choice; you’ll probably want to get your opponent in positions he/she is not comfortable in and you consider your chances are better. For example, if you have noticed that your rival doesn’t like to be attacked or has tactical flaws in the games, you can try to play a sharper or more complicated type of position.

3. Openings: Find his/her weakness in opening

If by looking at your opponent’s games you notice that he/she scores rather bad against one specific line, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to consider playing that line yourself.

There is a high probability that he/she doesn’t feel comfortable in the resulting positions. Or, they simply don’t suit his/her style. If it doesn’t suppose learning a huge amount of theory in a short time and you notice that your rival always plays the same line, this can be a good option for the game.

4. Check your own games

It is safe to assume that your opponent will be going through the same process you are. We also know that you are well aware of the games you’ve played and the lines in your repertoire, but not all your games will be available in the database. That’s why it’s good to be well informed about the amount of information available about you and try to guess what your opponent might be going for judging from your available games.

This is also useful if you are surprised over the board (for example your opponent uses a line he/she has never played before). Remember what you’ve played in the games that are listed and play a different line than the one your opponent has probably prepared.

5. Openings: Get to know your opponent

Game preparation is not only about finding a suitable opening. It is also about understanding how your opponent plays and thinks. This is why, after you have decided on the opening, it is a good idea to spend a few minutes looking at the full games. Try to find the weaknesses, strengths, and patterns in his/her play. This will help you over the board when it will become natural to you to guess his/her next moves. You can also try to make the game uncomfortable for his/her. For example, if you’ve noticed a weak point in endgames, you can try to push the game in that direction.

We hope that these tips will be useful in your future game preparations. And, that they will help you improve your searching technique.

Thank you for reading!

Find this post useful? Share it?
Become a Chess Player You've Meant to Be!
TCW Academy is the fast, fun & convenient way to become a MUCH better chess player.
Join Academy Today!

Related Posts

  • Olympic Secrets For Club PlayersOlympic Secrets For Club Players
  • 4 Best Openings for Black in ‘Must-Win’ Situations4 Best Openings for Black in ‘Must-Win’ Situations
  • Complete Ruy Lopez with GM Marian PetrovComplete Ruy Lopez with GM Marian Petrov
Related Products
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Login
1 Comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
ayush gupta
10.24.2017 07:15

ouotanding article sir thanks forthe news and website on the regular basis.

0
Reply
Join the FREE Road to 2200 Masterclass (and learn how to Attack Like a Chess Master)
We value your privacy
Supercharge Your Chess in 21 Days!
Join Academy Today!
TheChessWorld.com
http://pogonina.com/
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • F.A.Q.
  • Partnership
  • Blog
  • Grandmasters
  • Jobs
Chess Resources
  • TCW Academy
  • The Store
  • 21 Day Course
Top Resources
  • Opening Lab
  • Mastermind
  • Chess Mastery Series
  • Academy
100% Secure Purchase
Customer Support +1 (410) 656-9104
Email Us [email protected]
Contact Us
Facebook Twitter Mail Pinterest Youtube
Copyright 2007-2023 • TheChessWorld.com • All Rights Reserved
Cookie Policy | Acceptable Use Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all the cookies.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
wpDiscuz
wpDiscuz