A question about chess-openings?

Question

As a chess player, do you have to pick which openings that you want to use mostly? About how many openings do you really need?

I've gone to wikipedia and there are thousands of chess openings. I don't know which opening is affective. I need your personal opinion. Thanks.

Answer 1

You obviously don't want to spread yourself too thin. If you are new at playing chess, you might not want to play any "official" openings. Use basic principals...develop your pieces, don't bring your queen out too early, don't expose your king, etc.

If you're better, then I don't really know, since I'm only an average player. I do know that most experts settle into certain "opening systems" because they get used to the intricacies of those systems. The fact that different masters settle on different systems is a testimony to the fact that they all have their merits AND flaws.

Answer 2

There are thousands of possible openings, but over time the pros have tried them all and figured out that there are really only a couple that work better than others.

I think if you watch professional chess games, the first 10 or so moves are always the same, because people figured out over time the best way to start the match.

After the first 10 moves then the board is opened up, and different strategies take over.  You really only have to learn the same first few moves as everybody else, then you're on your own...

Answer 3

You need to do some serious reading on openings. I suggest you buy a copy of "Modern Chess Openings, 15th edition", edited by Grandmaster and three time U.S. Chess champion Nick De Firmian.

You can order it online from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or buy/order a copy at a good bookstore in your area. Here's a link to the book:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/displ...

Answer 4

Yes, you pick.  

What you need is technically none.

However it is good to have an opening as white and a reply to the most common defenses.

Then as black you might consider a defense to 1.e4 and 1.d4

Using me as an example I played the Scotch if he responded to e4 with e5.  I had variations I used in the French, Sicilian, Caro-Kann, Alekhine, and Pirc.

As black I used the Alekhine and at the end the Tchigorin.

Technically, however, you can just make good moves.