Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Part I: Inefficient Opening Study

I’ve noticed that many chess players struggle with the same common issues, so this is part 1 of a series on common issues and how to fix them. Today we’ll look at inefficient opening study and the single biggest change you can make to feel confident and prepared in the opening.

You often hear, "Don't study the opening until you're rated X." Taken literally, this clearly doesn't make sense. What are you supposed to do? Arrive at the board and go, "Wow, all my pieces are on the first rank behind my pawns, what a trip! What shall I do? Move a knight? Or perhaps a rook pawn? What about a center pawn?!"

No, given that every chess game starts from the same position, you're going to have some "theory" if only from your own previous experience. So no opening study isn't a serious option. The real question is how you study the opening (and how much, compared to other kinds of studying).

What I've found is that some players do spend too much time on the opening, but the bigger issue is that even with all that time, they don't have a functional opening repertoire. Their opening study isn't effective. So rather than studying the opening less, I prefer to think in terms of studying the opening more efficiently.

The key step I've found to get your openings on track is to create your own opening files. "Opening files" sound somewhat mysterious and intimidating, but they're actually extremely simple and easy to create. An opening file is just a document of what you're planning to do in the opening.

I started making opening files because I got frustrated that my openings weren't improving. I'd be playing blitz, my opponent would do something, and I'd think, "Oh, it's that opening I always screw up." Then I'd screw it up. Then I would look up what I was supposed to do. Fast forward a few weeks and someone would play the same thing. "Oh it's that opening I always screw up..."

Rinse and repeat. Just looking up the line wasn't enough to make it stick. It was only when I started documenting what I learned in files that I was able to remember it. That also allowed me to deepen my opening knowledge over time. When someone played that same line against me again, I wouldn't just review the same starting move I was supposed to play, I'd add a little more to my knowledge.

If you only had to remember one opening line, it might work to just keep it in your head, but when you consider that you'll eventually want to remember hundreds or thousands of pieces of opening knowledge, it's not realistic to keep them all in your head. You have to document them somehow.

It could be a ChessBase database, a Google doc, or even a page in a physical notebook. But if you're just getting started I'd recommend using Lichess studies because they're free and easy to use.

Can’t you just use a file or course created by someone else? You can, and I think getting information from outside sources is a great idea, but there does seem to be something magical about creating your own materials. It forces you to really think through and understand everything in your file. It also helps to see the big picture. It’s not just about individual lines, but how they combine to form a cohesive repertoire.

How to Start a File

If you’re starting a file for an opening you already play: Open a fresh Lichess study (or whatever medium you’re using) and enter everything you know about the opening. All the lines you have prepared and your reasons for playing them.

If you’re learning a new opening from scratch: Experienced opening researchers can figure things out on their own using the engine and database, but for most people it’s helpful to start with a source that can show you the major points. This could be a book, course, or coach/friend who already knows the opening. It’s much easier to get started if you have a guide who can help you get your bearings.

There’s a big caveat here though: most opening books and courses are way, way, way too long. You really don’t want to spend a huge amount of time learning thousands of lines or reading hundreds of pages before you even try the opening. Ideally you want to learn the key ideas and a few common lines, then start playing the opening in practice games. So hopefully your source has a kickstarter guide or similar that you can start out with. If not, you’ll have to use your judgment about what’s most important.

How to Update a File

This is the key step. The whole point of having opening files is to facilitate a process of iterative improvement. I like to follow the “One Move Rule” for updating my files. Every time I play the opening in a game, I update my file to the first move I would have played differently. The reason for this is it’s the smallest possible unit that allows me to expand my knowledge every game. This keeps things manageable and makes it more likely I’ll remember my preparation.

You can add more than one move if you really want to. In particular, some moves only make sense in connection with a specific follow-up. But resist the temptation to add too much. It’s better to add one move that you remember than ten moves that you forget.

If you’re following a book or course, you can check to see if the line you’re working on is covered. If not, use the engine, database, and your own judgment to make a decision about what you want to play.

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Here’s an example of a file I’ve been working on. It’s for a weird gambit in the Petrov Defense that I decided to prepare for blitz after I saw Baadur Jobava had been using it successfully. I spent about half an hour creating the file initially, then updated it after various blitz games. It’s still definitely a work in progress; some lines are just stubs and it could use a lot more explanations. Nonetheless, I’ve already scored several wins against titled players using this line.

Another nice feature of this approach is your file will naturally focus on the lines you encounter in practice. I started out trying to prepare this gambit, but I found many of my opponents avoided the main line with moves like 3. Nc3, so now my file has more detail on those lines.

I hope this approach helps you get your openings under control. Give it a try and let me know how it goes.