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How do you find your play style?

You are just overthinking.

There used to be this idea that there were three types of players.

  1. Risk takers, the high powered offensive player, that likes wide open games.
  2. Positional players, counter attackers, who want to minimize risks and losses, and who attempt to create small positional advantages.
  3. Universal players, capable of both styles.

But the reality is that very few people fit neatly into a box. Almost everyone is universal. Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov, for example, when compared to Kramnik or Giri, would be considered attackers. They were much more offensive minded. But if we compared Bobby and Garry to Tal, then their style becomes much more positional. We might even consider them cautious.

There are always extremes like Tal and Kramnik, but most people are somewhere in the middle.

You are just overthinking. There used to be this idea that there were three types of players. 1. Risk takers, the high powered offensive player, that likes wide open games. 2. Positional players, counter attackers, who want to minimize risks and losses, and who attempt to create small positional advantages. 3. Universal players, capable of both styles. But the reality is that very few people fit neatly into a box. Almost everyone is universal. Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov, for example, when compared to Kramnik or Giri, would be considered attackers. They were much more offensive minded. But if we compared Bobby and Garry to Tal, then their style becomes much more positional. We might even consider them cautious. There are always extremes like Tal and Kramnik, but most people are somewhere in the middle.

You don't find a style - your style finds you. It's something you develop with experience and increasing competence.

I don’t really have a strong specific opening I know really well

That's fine too. Versatility or being a "jack of all trades" is a style as well. And there's nothing that says your style can't change over time either. Perhaps one day you'll settle on a particular method of play that suits you but personally I don't think trying to find your style is helpful in chess or any other area of life. It's something that you develop naturally over time.

You don't find a style - your style finds you. It's something you develop with experience and increasing competence. > I don’t really have a strong specific opening I know really well That's fine too. Versatility or being a "jack of all trades" is a style as well. And there's nothing that says your style can't change over time either. Perhaps one day you'll settle on a particular method of play that suits you but personally I don't think trying to find your style is helpful in chess or any other area of life. It's something that you develop naturally over time.

I just had it from the start, it's created based on how you re feel inside and which board vision you have, if you re Attacker like Me, You will search for opportunities to express that part of your style, but if you know , that attack can bring more damadge to your position, then you will be carefiully see and chack holes in your defence. so By Main root questions to how your feels inside, you may Create your Style

I just had it from the start, it's created based on how you re feel inside and which board vision you have, if you re Attacker like Me, You will search for opportunities to express that part of your style, but if you know , that attack can bring more damadge to your position, then you will be carefiully see and chack holes in your defence. so By Main root questions to how your feels inside, you may Create your Style

I found my style of play by constantly experimenting with a variety of openings and a variety of position characters, that is, I tried to play both positional and aggressive styles, and interestingly, positional or aggressive style, it also happens to be different after analysis and after numerous games, you begin to understand which positions you prefer in spirit and also understand from the point of view The point of view of practice that brings you the most points

I found my style of play by constantly experimenting with a variety of openings and a variety of position characters, that is, I tried to play both positional and aggressive styles, and interestingly, positional or aggressive style, it also happens to be different after analysis and after numerous games, you begin to understand which positions you prefer in spirit and also understand from the point of view The point of view of practice that brings you the most points

@swarminglocusts said in #3:

This is something I have reverted to teaching... Play the opening that fits your style. I studied openings more than anything else for 10 years. What do you prefer...

  1. Fighting from the beginning queens gambit Kings gambit Rug Lopez
  2. Counter attacking such as Sicilians and English
  3. solid Carl Khan and French
  4. Hyper modern such as the Kings Indian attack and Alekhine, Bird Attack etc.

Lets start here.
@forsoothplays said in #10:
Actually, I've just taken a quick peek at your games. Overall it looks like your opening repertoire is fine, but I would probably go back to the Najdorf Sicilian myself instead of the Scheveningen. (A matter of preference.) On the other hand, it does appear that you struggle with the Nimzo, and some of your games give me a bit of an aggressive vibe. Have you considered the Grünfeld or the KID for black? Both of those defenses to 1.d4 pair well with the Najdorf/Scheveningen Sicilian.

Good i like such suggestions ! If you permise me to add some words about this : QG is a well offensive opening, but it's better to learn the theory since it's THE popular opening. Ruy Lopez is a good choose but it's a little risky now for offensive players since it's like a draw opening in High level... The italian can work pretty well for your style, and the English too, but i recommend you the hypermodernist way in the English, with the Reti Fake center with pawns c4-b4. With black, grunfeld, and Alekhine, but be careful to not give a huge positional advantage to your oponent, especially when you face a positional player.

@swarminglocusts said in #3: > This is something I have reverted to teaching... Play the opening that fits your style. I studied openings more than anything else for 10 years. What do you prefer... > > 1. Fighting from the beginning queens gambit Kings gambit Rug Lopez > 2. Counter attacking such as Sicilians and English > 3. solid Carl Khan and French > 4. Hyper modern such as the Kings Indian attack and Alekhine, Bird Attack etc. > > Lets start here. @forsoothplays said in #10: > Actually, I've just taken a quick peek at your games. Overall it looks like your opening repertoire is fine, but I would probably go back to the Najdorf Sicilian myself instead of the Scheveningen. (A matter of preference.) On the other hand, it does appear that you struggle with the Nimzo, and some of your games give me a bit of an aggressive vibe. Have you considered the Grünfeld or the KID for black? Both of those defenses to 1.d4 pair well with the Najdorf/Scheveningen Sicilian. Good i like such suggestions ! If you permise me to add some words about this : QG is a well offensive opening, but it's better to learn the theory since it's THE popular opening. Ruy Lopez is a good choose but it's a little risky now for offensive players since it's like a draw opening in High level... The italian can work pretty well for your style, and the English too, but i recommend you the hypermodernist way in the English, with the Reti Fake center with pawns c4-b4. With black, grunfeld, and Alekhine, but be careful to not give a huge positional advantage to your oponent, especially when you face a positional player.

Thanks for your advice @forsoothplays, I haven’t really played the Grunfeld or the KID as black, so I will try to learn them as well. I actually originally played the Najdorf, but switched to the Scheveningen because I had a lot of trouble because I mixed up my lines a lot, but if this can make my play better then try to the Najdorf again.

Thank you all for helping me out!

Thanks for your advice @forsoothplays, I haven’t really played the Grunfeld or the KID as black, so I will try to learn them as well. I actually originally played the Najdorf, but switched to the Scheveningen because I had a lot of trouble because I mixed up my lines a lot, but if this can make my play better then try to the Najdorf again. Thank you all for helping me out!

When I try to learn a new opening I try to play 3-5 live games and see what lines I see. I assess how I like it and its frustrations Then I research the opening on YouTube (Derek Kelley), or google what you can find of a specific line with a name, or just use StockFish here. If you learn an opening learn the middle game plans as well. Otherwise when your opponent steps out of your line you are not in deep water.

When I try to learn a new opening I try to play 3-5 live games and see what lines I see. I assess how I like it and its frustrations Then I research the opening on YouTube (Derek Kelley), or google what you can find of a specific line with a name, or just use StockFish here. If you learn an opening learn the middle game plans as well. Otherwise when your opponent steps out of your line you are not in deep water.

OP, you might find taking this "chess personality" quiz of interest.

I think this is the one I took a few months ago, and my results matched up pretty well with self-perception after many years of play.

https://www.chesspersonality.com

OP, you might find taking this "chess personality" quiz of interest. I think this is the one I took a few months ago, and my results matched up pretty well with self-perception after many years of play. https://www.chesspersonality.com

@swarminglocusts said in #3:

  1. solid Carl Khan and French

I am always surprised that people think the Caro-Kann is solid. Just think of one of the mainlines 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe5 Bf5 (Capablanca variation) where white usually pushes his h-pawn quickly and we see opposite castling. Same sharpness can be found in many lines of the advance variation like 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 .... and please keep in mind that 1. e4 c6 is essentially a gambit opening :-) Here is why ... 1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Qa4+ or Bb5+ Nbd7

Just right now I'm studying a Caro-Kann DVD from Marco Baldauf (only available in german) and I just finished a chapter about his recommendations against the Panov-attack which is 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 and now against both Nf3 and Bg5 the reco is the Be6-system. The chapter was really complex and full of sacrifies of e.g. an exchange or a pawn for dynamic play.

Really solid stuff for black against 1. e4 is maybe the Petroff 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

And regarding the general question in the title of this discussion: What does "your play style" mean? Positions in which I get the best results or positions which I enjoy? This is not necessarily the same: You may be good in dry possible positions which you find boring but your most enjoyable opening may be 1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4 3. e4 :-))

@swarminglocusts said in #3: > 3. solid Carl Khan and French I am always surprised that people think the Caro-Kann is solid. Just think of one of the mainlines 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe5 Bf5 (Capablanca variation) where white usually pushes his h-pawn quickly and we see opposite castling. Same sharpness can be found in many lines of the advance variation like 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 .... and please keep in mind that 1. e4 c6 is essentially a gambit opening :-) Here is why ... 1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Qa4+ or Bb5+ Nbd7 Just right now I'm studying a Caro-Kann DVD from Marco Baldauf (only available in german) and I just finished a chapter about his recommendations against the Panov-attack which is 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 and now against both Nf3 and Bg5 the reco is the Be6-system. The chapter was really complex and full of sacrifies of e.g. an exchange or a pawn for dynamic play. Really solid stuff for black against 1. e4 is maybe the Petroff 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 And regarding the general question in the title of this discussion: What does "your play style" mean? Positions in which I get the best results or positions which I enjoy? This is not necessarily the same: You may be good in dry possible positions which you find boring but your most enjoyable opening may be 1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4 3. e4 :-))

@FourtyTwoFields said in #19:

I am always surprised that people think the Caro-Kann is solid. Just think of one of the mainlines 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe5 Bf5 (Capablanca variation) where white usually pushes his h-pawn quickly and we see opposite castling. Same sharpness can be found in many lines of the advance variation like 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 .... and please keep in mind that 1. e4 c6 is essentially a gambit opening :-) Here is why ... 1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Qa4+ or Bb5+ Nbd7

Just right now I'm studying a Caro-Kann DVD from Marco Baldauf (only available in german) and I just finished a chapter about his recommendations against the Panov-attack which is 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 and now against both Nf3 and Bg5 the reco is the Be6-system. The chapter was really complex and full of sacrifies of e.g. an exchange or a pawn for dynamic play.

Really solid stuff for black against 1. e4 is maybe the Petroff 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

And regarding the general question in the title of this discussion: What does "your play style" mean? Positions in which I get the best results or positions which I enjoy? This is not necessarily the same: You may be good in dry possible positions which you find boring but your most enjoyable opening may be 1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4 3. e4 :-))

There is theory and then there is practice. Both of these openings have drawing possibilities. But these openings are tough to crack in my opinion. Too many GMs have used it to say it is refuted.

@FourtyTwoFields said in #19: > I am always surprised that people think the Caro-Kann is solid. Just think of one of the mainlines 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe5 Bf5 (Capablanca variation) where white usually pushes his h-pawn quickly and we see opposite castling. Same sharpness can be found in many lines of the advance variation like 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 .... and please keep in mind that 1. e4 c6 is essentially a gambit opening :-) Here is why ... 1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Qa4+ or Bb5+ Nbd7 > > Just right now I'm studying a Caro-Kann DVD from Marco Baldauf (only available in german) and I just finished a chapter about his recommendations against the Panov-attack which is 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 and now against both Nf3 and Bg5 the reco is the Be6-system. The chapter was really complex and full of sacrifies of e.g. an exchange or a pawn for dynamic play. > > Really solid stuff for black against 1. e4 is maybe the Petroff 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 > > And regarding the general question in the title of this discussion: What does "your play style" mean? Positions in which I get the best results or positions which I enjoy? This is not necessarily the same: You may be good in dry possible positions which you find boring but your most enjoyable opening may be 1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4 3. e4 :-)) There is theory and then there is practice. Both of these openings have drawing possibilities. But these openings are tough to crack in my opinion. Too many GMs have used it to say it is refuted.

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