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how do i get myself to just quit being lazy and learn a new opening

I’ve been playing the same passive opening for over a year now and I’ve recently noticed that it’s getting harder and harder to win games. I want to have a more aggressive opening so I can achieve better results but I’ve always found myself giving lazy excuses so I haven’t yet even started... what can I do? And I have to be able to play the opening fluently after about a month...

I’ve been playing the same passive opening for over a year now and I’ve recently noticed that it’s getting harder and harder to win games. I want to have a more aggressive opening so I can achieve better results but I’ve always found myself giving lazy excuses so I haven’t yet even started... what can I do? And I have to be able to play the opening fluently after about a month...

You need to keep up with the new opening even if you lose 10 in a row. 99% people don't have this grit. Be the 1%, and you'll see the change. Make a rule: If you play your 'passive' opening again, you must play the next 20 games with it.

You need to keep up with the new opening even if you lose 10 in a row. 99% people don't have this grit. Be the 1%, and you'll see the change. Make a rule: If you play your 'passive' opening again, you must play the next 20 games with it.

"... The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)
"... 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
"... 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

"... The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2005) "... 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 "... 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

#1
"I’ve been playing the same passive opening for over a year now" * It takes at least 10 years to understand an opening.

"it’s getting harder and harder to win games" * That has nothing to do with the opening.

"I want to have a more aggressive opening so I can achieve better results" * Results will not be better.

"I haven’t yet even started" * Good for you.

"I have to be able to play the opening fluently after about a month" * Dream on.

#1 "I’ve been playing the same passive opening for over a year now" * It takes at least 10 years to understand an opening. "it’s getting harder and harder to win games" * That has nothing to do with the opening. "I want to have a more aggressive opening so I can achieve better results" * Results will not be better. "I haven’t yet even started" * Good for you. "I have to be able to play the opening fluently after about a month" * Dream on.

For me at least, getting beat like a rented mule (repeatedly) motivates me to try something a bit different.
.
(I'm working in a new one right now. Started with going thru about 80 annotated GM games and playing the key positions a few times every day vs stockfish. Looking forward to surprising a few people with it)

For me at least, getting beat like a rented mule (repeatedly) motivates me to try something a bit different. . (I'm working in a new one right now. Started with going thru about 80 annotated GM games and playing the key positions a few times every day vs stockfish. Looking forward to surprising a few people with it)

@Mind-Mosaic-007 the English is a great one, it is actually the one I play every time I am white!

It should not be to hard for you to get used to because it is easy to get in to.
I had a hard time learning new openings because I would do some work on it and then go play 5 or 6 games hoping to get some practice with it, but my opponents would always divert away from the opening.
For an example the scotch, before you even get to it the opponent can change it to like 8 other openings.

If you really want to learn the English I highly suggest the line of 1c4 2Nc3 3Nf3 4g3 5Bg2.

at first when I was learning it I would play this against every thing the opponent did. really the only time I wouldn’t is if my opponent played 1d4 against 1c4.
If they do this just take the pawn and they will likely take back with there queen, and then just continue with the moves that I mentioned above.

Hope this is of some help.

@Mind-Mosaic-007 the English is a great one, it is actually the one I play every time I am white! It should not be to hard for you to get used to because it is easy to get in to. I had a hard time learning new openings because I would do some work on it and then go play 5 or 6 games hoping to get some practice with it, but my opponents would always divert away from the opening. For an example the scotch, before you even get to it the opponent can change it to like 8 other openings. If you really want to learn the English I highly suggest the line of 1c4 2Nc3 3Nf3 4g3 5Bg2. at first when I was learning it I would play this against every thing the opponent did. really the only time I wouldn’t is if my opponent played 1d4 against 1c4. If they do this just take the pawn and they will likely take back with there queen, and then just continue with the moves that I mentioned above. Hope this is of some help.

Of course now that I have played it for months I now don’t play the same way against every thing my opponent does, now that I have done more research in the best move for each response I don’t do it anymore
, but I can promise that you will have a great position after those moves. And of course after those moves just develop the rest of your pieces. One thing that can be good is to expand your pawns on the queen side.

Of course now that I have played it for months I now don’t play the same way against every thing my opponent does, now that I have done more research in the best move for each response I don’t do it anymore , but I can promise that you will have a great position after those moves. And of course after those moves just develop the rest of your pieces. One thing that can be good is to expand your pawns on the queen side.

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