What is opening theory?
Chess opening theory simply refers to a position that has been explored by theoreticians, Grandmasters, or computers. Opening theory is one of the most studied areas of chess and is essential for anyone aspiring to be a talented chess player. Knowing certain openings can give you a winning advantage right from the start, as well as alert you to any traps that your opponent may be setting for you. Knowing how much opening theory to study is often a big concern for new players, and with good reason. There are endless variations and lines to follow, which can seem daunting. However, for beginners I would recommend first learning and understanding opening principles rather than diving into concrete theoretical study. It is more important to understand why certain moves are made in chess openings rather than necessarily knowing what the ‘best’ or ‘correct’ move is. Memorizing lines of specific openings can prove futile once the opening phase of the match is done, especially if your opponent goes off book with their responses.
History
Chess openings have been involving since the game was invented with the most popular ones changing with time. Certain openings extend back hundreds of years, such as the Sicilian Defense, which dates back to 1594. Originally, openings were only ever studied and analysed by players, but with the introduction of computers, computer analysis now plays a significant role in the study. In certain openings, lines have been analysed for over 30 moves, which would have been extremely difficult without computers. Their use has enabled the game to progress, allowing players to discover what the best moves are in certain positions and enabling opening theory to evolve. The Oxford Companion to Chess (by David Vincent Hooper and Kenneth Whyld) lists 1,327 named openings and variants. This list is not exhaustive and there are many more with varying degrees of usage.
Gambits
A specific style of chess opening is called a gambit. A gambit is a chess opening where a player sacrifices material with the aim off achieving a subsequent positional advantage. Gambits can be accepted or declined, resulting in many variations of a gambit arising and having to be learned in order to be prepared and ready if they are used against you. Two terms that are used to describe gambits are ‘sound’ and ‘unsound’. Gambits are sound when they provide adequate compensation for the lost material. An unsound gambit is one where it does not provide enough compensation for the sacrifice. Two of the most famous gambits are called the Queen’s Gambit and the King’s Gambit. Both employ the tactic of sacrificing a pawn. The Queen’s gambit is an example of a ‘sound’ gambit, and its aim is to temporarily sacrifice a pawn to gain control of the centre of the board. The King’s gambit is an example of a ‘unsound’ gambit that is no longer as extensively used as it once was, due to the fact that it sacrifices the kings safety as well as a pawn on move 2.
Importance
Chess opening theory is a crucial for any player to progress in chess. At a lower Elo it is not as important, but as you rise through the ranks it becomes apparent that application of openings is required if you are to win. If you are not well versed in openings it can lead to you playing into your opponent’s plan and walking into so called ‘traps’, putting you at a disadvantage from the start of the game. As such I will be starting a series on different chess openings which will include the basics of the opening as well as different lines they can take, and how to be successful with the use of them.