Hi everyone,
what is, in your opinion, the best beginner/intermediate opening for white? I'm interested in Scotch Game or Ponziani but maybe there's something better to learn.
Do a beginner/intermediate player needs to study all variations or the main line is sufficient to start?
Thank you!
"opening for white?"
* Black is more important than white. As white you can play one of your black defenses in reverse.
"Scotch Game or Ponziani"
* Both are OK, Scotch more than Ponziani.
"Do a beginner/intermediate player needs to study all variations"
* No, not at all. Just play and analyze lost games.
Maybe, you can find something useful at https://lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/what-books-to-read-for-improvement-rating-1400-1500-fide.
"... I am not a big fan of weaker players memorizing lots of opening lines they will never play. However, it is quite a different issue to spend a small amount of time learning how to play your openings a little better each time they occur. A long journey begins with a single step. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2005)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627023809/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman50.pdf
"... Overall, I would advise most players to stick to a fairly limited range of openings, and not to worry about learning too much by heart. ... the average player only needs to know a limited amount about the openings he plays. Providing he understands the main aims of the opening, a few typical plans and a handful of basic variations, that is enough. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
"... As [First Steps: 1 e4 e5 is] a First Steps book, I’ve tried to avoid encyclopaedic coverage. In any case, you certainly don’t need to remember every single variation and all the notes before playing the opening. Take in the first few moves and the key ideas, and then try it out in your games! ..." - GM John Emms (2018)
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7790.pdf
"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ... It is especially critical not to continually fall into opening traps – or even lines that result in difficult positions ... Read many annotated game collections ... By looking at entire games, the aspiring player learns about openings, middlegames, and endgames all at one fell swoop. Playing through annotated games spurs improvement as the reader learns how good players consistently handle common positions and problems. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf
Play openings that give you the initiative and attacking chances like the King's Gambit which was good enough for the strongest female ever Judit Polgar. Or the Giuoco Piano with d4.
At this level you're learning how to play dynamically and building up experience. There's time for more boring stuff when you're older and wiser.
Colle
@Matzvi said [^](/forum/redirect/post/O2njdRd9)
> is sufficient to start?
For the start, you have to start. Play rating games.
You have not played a year. Start playng.
Ruy Lopez.
Black can't counterpunch with d7-d5 against your c4 bishop, since it is on b5. (And it is the best opening, since for some strange reason, Black voluntarily chooses to play 1...e5 and 2...Nc6. I always lost with Black, and won a ton with White, but at my level they play Sicilian or Caro-Kann, so I play 1.c4 to grab space and get them out of their comfort zone = let them play the defense they know and love).
"Does a beginner/intermediate player need to study all variations, or is the main line sufficient to start?"
Play quick games with your opponents, see what variations they like, and study them.
Why study a line you'll encounter once in 150 games, right?
Gambits have refutations; I highly recommend an opening instead.
You need to choose between "the best" and "I'm interested in"; that's the hardest part.
Good luck!
"... If you look at games played by grandmasters, you will sometimes find that White does not start with 1 d2-d4 or 1 e2-e4; instead he plays 1 c2-c4, 1 Ng1-f3 or even some other move. How, you may wonder, does this fit in with what I have been saying above? The answer is that grandmasters are cunning beasts, and starting with 1 c2-c4 or 1 Ng1-f3 doesn't mean that they aren't aiming at controlling the centre -- they are just doing so in a subtle way. ... I would recommend that you avoid these subtle opening systems; they depend on a knowledge of a wide range of openings, and this can only be acquired over a period of time. ..." - Learn Chess by GM John Nunn (2000)
Oh wow, click bate. I have yet to see a beginner memorize opening names.