Tag Archives: studying openings

Master The Mindset #4: Play With Confidence

Master The Mindset, University, , , ,

In a practical over the board game it is of great importance to play sufficiently quick and also to play with confidence. It pays off to have some knowledge of the opening of course so as to be able to play it with the wind in the sails and also have a feel for the more critcal phases of the game when you really need your time to think. At the same time you have the responsibility – playing white – to make a fist against the black position, and – playing black – to try and equalize, while having some positive imbalance of your own to build on.

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Question #3: Should I Also Study The Opening From My Opponents View?

Q & A, University

Greg asks:

When seeking to learn an opening, of what value is it to obtain material focused on the opening from the opponent’s view. For example, if I wish to play the French Defense, is it useful to study “anti-French” books?

Hi Greg,

The danger with many opening books, is that they are simply not objective. If you have a book for instance called: “How to win with the French”, then you can bet the author is choosing and describing the material in such a way that the inevitable conclusion must be that the French is a very good opening.

Although this does not hold true for every opening book out there, it is something to keep in the back of your mind. Therefore, as a system of checks and balances, it does make a lot of sense to study what White can do in turn to take the French apart. So books that show readers how to do that (“How to beat the French.”) are very useful to study as well.

If you do, you will benefit, because you’ll have a more objective and realistic view on the French, its possibilities and impossibilities, and the risks you can take.

By the way, I’m interested: are you contemplating to play the 3…Bb4 or 3…Nf6 lines against 3.Nc3?

Au revoir!

Waldemar,
Speaking French