Chess Players- Seeking Advice on Opening Moves.
By Roddy Dryer
@RJamesDryer (46)
Groveland, Florida
April 11, 2017 2:16pm CST
To begin, I'm not any sort of competitive player. However, I've been playing since I was in my teens (now in my 50's) and once I get the game under way, I have better luck in spotting some positions and pins and such I can take advantage of. Oh, and just so you know, if I even get a hint you're better than me I'll sacrifice my queen for yours without hesitating.
But my ever-present weakness is getting the ball rolling. Sure, I'll open with A2-A4 usually, but it seems I need to get past the five-to-ten moves before I'm where I'm comfortable. Too often, when playing someone good, I've already committed some serious goofs.
Does anyone have an idea or series of moves I should consider (or stop overlooking) in order to fight the good fight right out of the gate?
1 response
@connierebel (1557)
• United States
12 Apr 17
I don't like playing against people who lose their queen just to take mine, LOL! The computer does that, and it is very frustrating.
As far as opening moves, I don't really have any suggestions. I always open with the king pawn. Then usually I try to get my king bishop and knight out so I can castle. There's an old book by Fred Reinfeld called "How to Play Winning Chess," that does a really good job of explaining the opening moves, and he gives examples from great chess masters of the past, too.
1 person likes this
@RJamesDryer (46)
• Groveland, Florida
18 Apr 17
I'll usually open just the same way and for the same reasons. I think I should just admit that there must be a certain mindset for chess (competitively speaking) and I don't have it. I learned to play decades ago and haven't improved much at all despite books, online courses and constant games against computers and others. I'm okay and have been lucky now and then, but I want to be competition good. But I'm not even close. But hey, there are plenty of things I want to be good at and I'm not.
@connierebel (1557)
• United States
20 Apr 17
@RJamesDryer I'm definitely not nearly competition good. In fact, I haven't played in a very long time, so I'm quite rusty. I used to really enjoy the game, and got pretty good at it, but I don't really have anybody to play with now, and when I'm on the computer I'm usually doing something more productive like earning money.
