Going against good advice
Steve on Apr 28th 2008
Two Russian Igors (IMs Foygel and Khmelnitsky), have both advised me against changing my opening repertoire, which has remained basically unchanged for several years. They both felt that changing my openings would be counterproductive, because as an adult with a “real life,” I have relatively little time for chess study and play.
But with the Team 45 45 League’s T37 tournament starting up this week, I found myself with no enthusiasm for reviewing any of my standard opening choices.
After some reflection, I decided that I’m ultimately in this hobby to have fun. And, therefore, deciding to try some new openings because I’m bored or frustrated with what I’ve been playing requires no further justification.
So there! 
Of course, in my Round 1 game (I was Black) my opponent opened with 1.f4, so neither my old nor my new prepared lines were much help. But I came out of the opening OK and was heading toward an approximately equal endgame when my opponent blundered it away.
Filed in Chess | 3 responses so far
Blue Devil Knight May 2nd 2008 at 01:57 pm 1
You are a lot better than me, but as an ~1050 USCF player my coach told me to mess around with a lot of openings to build general chess experience, intuition about different pawn structures.
I have found that at ICC (~1400) I can play pretty much any opening and do fine, or at least not lose because of the opening.
The pathology is when people switch around, looking for a magic bullet, not realizing it is their middle and end game skills that are killing their game. I can’t remember where, but someone called it ’switchers syndrome.’ I definitely had it once.
ZwaartePaard May 27th 2008 at 06:07 am 2
Yes, its a hobby so changing openings is entirely up to you. Go for it !!!
Personally, after returning to chess in the last year after 20-ish of chess inactivity, I am still searching for openings that I feel comfortable with ( and enjoy ! ).
As Black I seem to have found a niche with the Pirc as it offers variety according to the White response ( and I have a couple of excellent books and a DVD to assist me ). I also fell in love with the Dutch on those occasions where I meet 1.d4 or 1.c4 ( or 1.Nf3 ! ). Flexible, is the word.
As White I still struggle, having tried and rejected the Spanish ( too complicated and theoretical ), toyed extensively with the Bishop’s and found it enjoyable, but still not perfect ( though I admit, I enjoy the fact that it avoids the Spanish and sometimes surprises ). I still use it, but have now looked at the Bird ( so will enjoy your game, though I see it is a ‘Lenigrad Bird’ rather than the ‘Classical’ that I play ) where I can possibly re-use my Dutch knowledge.
I have an inclination to try the English as well, and will at some time when I feel improved enough as a player, actually open 1.d4 and feel that I am a real chess player !
One thing that is good about the Bird is that the middle-game positions are interesting. I feel I am extending mt ‘chess feeling’ when playing them, whereas sometimes 1.e4 e5 can feel ‘played out’or over tactical.
Subjective, but its a hobby !
Steve May 27th 2008 at 07:52 am 3
Zwaarte—Thanks for your comments.