The challenges of learning the opening So you have decided to embark on the frivolous journey of learning the opening? You learn a few openings and watch well over 10 hours of opening videos. You quickly realise, there are too many openings to learn and too many things to memorise. You go to yourself: "How could I possibly learn all of this? I have a wife, kids and a full-time job!" You begin searching the internet for answers. Then you come across a solution: Learn an "opening system!" What a great way to get out of the opening unscathed with all your pieces developed, your king safe and with good middle-game prospects!
An introduction to opening systems A "System" opening is normally for the player with the White pieces. It involves a series of moves that leads to a certain opening formation. Often, white will play the same opening moves regardless of what black plays. Here the beauty of playing an opening system (if you can call it beautiful) is that we are learning a formation that we want to achieve, rather than memorising a set of opening moves.
System opening advantages: 1. Saves time on the clock - A lot of strong blitz/bullet players will adopt opening systems as a way to bypass the opening as quickly as possible. As we will play the same set-up over and over again, there is no worries about learning an specific move orders.
2. You reach positions that you are comfortable with - As you are playing the same opening over and over again, you will quickly become an expert in the opening system.
3. Less memorization of specific move orders - Instead, you are looking to play a set-up rather than learning lines
System opening disadvantages: 1. Not very aggressive - Sometimes playing a system usually means you will not be playing an aggressive opening. Often, a lot of systems will avoid any confrontation in the opening and instead just aim to get its formation set-up. As a result, play in the opening, can become quite stale and dull. 2. "Single-player chess" - As you are playing the first seven moves without too much regard for black's play, you can fall into the trap of not thinking objectively about the opening and not thinking objectively about what your opponent is doing.
All of the following are fine openings that fulfil our key opening principles: 1. Fighting for the centre 2. Developing our pieces to good squares where they work harmoniously 3. Our kings are usually safe in opening systems - Some systems even prioritize king safety first
