Opening module discussion

I thought we should keep discussion of the opening separate from the discussion of the main module, as many of us are not purchasing the opening module. I personally ordered the opening, but may cancel it as I don't want to learn the freaking Sicilian.

well, for a long time i thought the same, i was scared by Sicilian. I played first Alekhine, than I moved to Modern/Pirc against. 3 years ago I started to play Accelerated dragon and my results improved seriously. true, I still lose regularly to 2100+ rated players in Maroczi, but this have more to do with the difference in strength (i am around 1800) and to the fact that I do not like Maroczi very much, so I was reluctant to spend too much time learning it. Anyway, half of the time my opponents play all types of AntiSicilians and this increase dramatically my results . However, against a stronger player or in a must-win situation I am no longer confident to play Accelerated Dragon so I am trying to have an alternate opening. Kan and Taimanov seems nice, except that the same Maroczi cannot be avoided (albeit in a slightly different version). So i will give Najdorf a try. Also French (the backup opening proposed by ICS) may be interesting, if I will find Najdorf too demanding.

Good to know you have good results with it, and the antiSicilians!

BDK Gary Kasparov did an excellent 3 part video training session using the Fritz Chessbase format which would be invaluable as a study aid to starting the Najdorf.

PM me if you're interested in getting it and I'll let you know where and how.

Bilbo: thanks dude. I think for now I'll stick with the Caro Cann I am finally starting to like it.

Blue Devil Knight wrote:Bilbo: thanks dude. I think for now I'll stick with the Caro Cann I am finally starting to like it.

Unless you do wish to get involved with wild tactical games. I reckon caro is a good choice. Also I feel it me be more fitting with positional concepts of ICS course.
Good luck

I never have the courage to vary from my pathetically limited opening selections. Being a tactical player (failing at strategic playing-- hence why I am here), I tend to like tactical lines where my opponent can give me something.

I wish I could just practice openings with someone so that I can gain some good confidence with other openings.

Hopefully this course will give me a bit more confidence.

Hey guys, what about the Petroff defense, i was playing so confortable knowing taht sometime i'll learn the openings here and i'll be well prepared, till i was playing and they played the petroff to me ...e4 e5, Cf3 Cf6 ...and...I came home and i realized it was not included in the lessons O.O, haha they have all other openings beside e5 but when it comes to e5, they send you directly to the ruy lopez and what if they play Cf6

and philidor defense too

The d4 repertoire seems to be more complete but still you need to fill in the gaps on your own. Some of the shortfalls are made up later in the course (for example the transposition from the Scandinavian to the French) and others you will find in the "small print"

The ICS "How to Learn the Openings" monograph outlines the process which I've found to be a very effective way to introduce the missing variations.

Ohhh ok thank you a lot ,
Which transposition are you talking about?
and what do you mean with "small print" ? and with the "monograph"
I'm very confused jaja

In the Scandinavian (black repertoire) there is a short note that if white advances the e-pawn instead of ed that Black can transpose to a French Defense (this is what I mean by small print). Towards the end of the first year the Advance French System is added to the repertoire so you can add the transposition moves into the French.

You will find similiar gaps in the the white 1.d4 repertoire, for example you will need to develop your response as black if White goes into a Catalan as you strive for a semi-slav.

The monograph basically tells how to approach openings study, collecting games, what's a model game, etc. The openings review at the end of the first year where ICS provides dozens of games for review along with model games and a review of the first three months 1.d4 repertoire is a practical example of how independent opening study should be done.

These are good reasons to follow the 1.d4 repertoire if you are just starting out.

Ohhh thank you. Yes now i understod what you meant with the transposing. Yes you're right, of course you should figure out some gaps like those., and yes i supose yes, although i would not like to play scandinavian since the beggining if i had studied the french already, but then you can force him to the advance variation of the french which may be can be confortable for the player with the black pieces.

And yes, i imagine that d4 repertorie also has some gaps.
I also understood what you meant with the monograph, yes, one is supposed to do all of those tasks to understand better the opening.
jaja although i disagree with the idea of playing d4 as you are starting since i think, that e4 can lead to several different positions, open, closed, semi-open, and therefore you learn more, and you learn plans and how to be confortable in different kind of situations , as with d4 sometimes it is more difficult to reach a great variety of positions with different center for example , both are great finally.

supermoy wrote:
jaja although i disagree with the idea of playing d4 as you are starting since i think, that e4 can lead to several different positions, open, closed, semi-open, and therefore you learn more, and you learn plans and how to be confortable in different kind of situations , as with d4 sometimes it is more difficult to reach a great variety of positions with different center for example , both are great finally.

"Best by test" according to Bobby Fischer. I merely meant that the d4 repertoire seems more complete and there is more overlap with the instructional material.

yes, actually, seeing things from that point of view, d4 is better since the course gives a more complete repertorie . Glad to discuss with you

PawnCustodian wrote:The d4 repertoire seems to be more complete but still you need to fill in the gaps on your own. Some of the shortfalls are made up later in the course (for example the transposition from the Scandinavian to the French) and others you will find in the "small print"

The ICS "How to Learn the Openings" monograph outlines the process which I've found to be a very effective way to introduce the missing variations.

Hi All,

I wanted to ask the ones that have the complete opening module - this document "How to Learn the Openings" is marked as "Part I" and is "to be continued"... however I could not find the continuation in the course.
Do you know if a Part 2 exists, and where can I find it? Thanks in advance

I hope you get an answer soon. This forum has been progressively dying :-/

BorgQueen wrote:I hope you get an answer soon.  This forum has been progressively dying :-/

It's never been quite the hub of activity so that's not exactly fair.

I have the whole course, don't see a follow up.

But "part 1" ends with a "will continue..." after talking about 'model games'....and it launches into those model games so maybe it's just misnamed as 'part 1'?

I dunno mate... it used to be a hell of a lot more active than it is now ;-)