Understanding The Openings

Understanding an opening is a goal that is much more realistically achieved than the memorization of its lines. Understanding is a better help when you find yourself on unknown territory because you can base your choice of move on basic principles of play, and those of the opening. Don't forget that you may be able to outmemorize your opponent, but it's impossible to outmemorize a chess game. There will always be a moment when you are on your own. Another point is that in chess it's about the understanding of positions, not the remembrance of opening names. It does not help you to know that this or that opening is called such and so. It makes it easier to talk about it and discuss with other players as it's all part of the jargon, but this kind of knowledge will not help you to play better chess. So even though it may look impressive if someone knows all the names of the chess openings and their side lines, it does not reveal anything about his playing strength.

Having a chess opening repertoire involves a lot of discipline. You have to make important decisions about the different systems you want to play and once you have done that, you have to elaborate on them. This elaboration is a life time thing, so don't bother getting it right the first time. Grandmasters are constantly adjusting and expanding their repertoire. The main thing here is that you actually start playing and maintaining your repertoire.

What's the use of a chess opening repertoire if you don't play it? Or if you play it briefly and then make a switch? If you don't play your repertoire, you will never learn to properly understand an opening or get some useful practical experience with it. Also you will not benefit from the fact that you know it.

You must play a certain repertoire for at least a year. Then, if you simply have become too curious or feel drawn to other openings, make a switch. But at least you will be carrying something worthwhile with you throughout the rest of your chess career. Of course, you can also overdo it. This over-identification with your opening lines may lead to bad results, especially if you don't try to learn from earlier opening mishaps and fix your repertoire. Don't lose this kind of reflective flexibility.