What can I do better in this opening?

I tend to play very similar openings based on magic words I hear from Hikaru, like "bastion" and "e4". I always feel worse with black out the gate though, does anyone have suggestions? Thanks

avoid playing the f-pawn because it is a weak pawn.

instead, play the French defense and the Caro kann which are very solid and quite easy to memorize

Best regards

@CSKA_Moscou said in #2:

avoid playing the f-pawn because it is a weak pawn.

instead, play the French defense and the Caro kann which are very solid and quite easy to memorize

Best regards

Thanks. My thinking at the time was to allow my knight breathing room to natural develop, which only worked out because of tricks and blunders, so I'll take that on board!

@NashTeached said in #3:

Thanks. My thinking at the time was to allow my knight breathing room to natural develop, which only worked out because of tricks and blunders, so I'll take that on board!

indeed, this move of the f-pawn is very tempting to install Knf6, but I recommend that you play Kne7 instead because you can then aim for g6 or even f5. the loss of the f-pawn makes your center and your e-pawn risky, the best alternative is to play defensively without trying to break white's pawn structure, because if you castle you can be safe

@NashTeached Very early in the game you played 2. ...Nc6. By doing this, your knight now blocks your c-pawn, which had the chance to participate on the fight for the centre. A better idea would have been to play 2. ...c5 and only then play your knight to c6.

This is a common concept in several openings and may be one of your next steps in growing your (positional) chess understanding.

Good luck on your lifelong chess journey.

@derkleineJo said in #5:

@NashTeached Very early in the game you played 2. ...Nc6. By doing this, your knight now blocks your c-pawn, which had the chance to participate on the fight for the centre. A better idea would have been to play 2. ...c5 and only then play your knight to c6.

This is a common concept in several openings and may be one of your next steps in growing your (opsitional) chess understanding.

Good luck on your lifelong chess journey.

That's a good point. Now that I think about it, I didn't want to weaken d6 for a bishop or knight retreat. However, having a bishop there puts it on some poor diagonals and if he'd immediately taken with the knight, I'm guessing that would have caused issues. Thanks

@NashTeached said in #6:

[...] Now that I think about it, I didn't want to weaken d6 for a bishop or knight retreat. However, having a bishop there puts it on some poor diagonals and if he'd immediately taken with the knight, I'm guessing that would have caused issues. [...]

Sadly I don't understand what you mean. There will not be any piece on d6 in the near future (since white's pawn on e5 covers that square) and there is no opponent knight to take anything in the position.

@derkleineJo said in #7:

Sadly I don't understand what you mean. There will not be any piece on d6 in the near future (since white's pawn on e5 covers that square) and there is no opponent knight to take anything in the position.

Sorry I just meant after I played f3 to get my knight out to F3, I wanted a retreat square for my bishop after I bring it back. Not sure that's sound theory though

-- I don't think I've ever moved the c pawn but I know that's the caro kann so I might try it in future

@NashTeached Always snag the free pawn on move 5 is something Hikaru might say... :)
At our level playing with Black is no disadvantage - even 2000's don't know all the theory & can become uncomfortable in unfamiliar situations, so try to get good at tactics & counter-attacking.
Play 960 Chess, never be scared of an opponents rating & have fun!