3 ms·
I've been playing on FICS recently. I've always been an average player - good enough to beat my friends but usually lose against anyone who has 'studied' the ga
by Tycho 16y ago
I've been playing on FICS recently. I've always been an average player - good enough to beat my friends but usually lose against anyone who has 'studied' the game. However I decided to try a new strategy: knock them out of their opening book at the earliest opportunity. Spectacular results so far: beat a player rated 300 Elo above me in 9 moves! Probably a fluke though, but still it generally seems to give me a much better chance (I don't have the patience to learn the opening theory).
- Charuru 16y agoMy favorite strategy is also the all in zerg rush. Works wonders even at higher levels.
- jacquesm 16y agoI played competition chess for a bit I once nearly got a chessboard thrown at me for that trick ;) As you say, it works wonders and it throws 'book players' of their game like almost nothing else. Suddenly they have to play instead of regurgitate.
- nanijoe 16y agoYou were most assuredly playing against below average players. Most of the early part of a chess game is spent trying to establish an 'opening line' and can transform several times depending on what moves both players make. So, you as white could set out trying to play the English and find your self ending up with the QGD. If you don't learn the theory behind the openings (whether by reading or by observation) you will remain a below average player for a long time