Basic Strategies

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by George Kane on April 7, 2010 at 9:21pm

A long time ago, when I was a chess player, I preferred to play in all-master tournaments. I especially liked to play against aggressive, attackin, sacrificial players. When playing other masters, I played solidly and classically, and I was especially fond of strong Pawn centers. I was willing to initiate complications, but among masters, I could often wait for my opponent to do so. Sometimes the game would peter out in simplification without much of a fight, but that was not a problem because my opponent was a strong player whom I respected. As White I played the most classical lines of Queen's Pawn openings, and as Black I defended Closed Ruys and Nimzoindians. In large part my repertoire was based on a study of Spassky.

But I also played in open tournaments, and often faced weaker players who were eager to trade off pieces to simplify the position and play for a draw. So I could not defend double King's Pawn as Black, but played less well-known Sicilians, and against Queen's Pawn I played the Modern Benoni. These are openings that do not allow the opponent to reach an easy draw or a position with no fight in it.

I'm not sure if I answered your question or not.

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on April 8, 2010 at 7:05am

Irrespective of particular offenses or defenses is there a basic strategy to follow after each player has developed equally well in the center and castled?