The Ruy Lopez is a good option for beginners.
Italian, Spanish (Rui Lopez) or London system
bro the ruy lopez has more theory than physics, with many tricky variations💀 it is definitely not beginner friendly.
What do like the most and why, me personally Italian clears
None of the above!
The London is garbage unless you are a GM. Below the GM level, London players have a 1 track mind. They think they can dictate the game and play the same moves no matter what except the LSB. The assume d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, h3, Nbd2, c3, and Bd3 except if Black fianchettos the Bishop, then Be2.
A person who truly understands the London does not play it systematically. They understand when to play h4 (where h3 is a complete waste of time), when to play c4, when it is dubious (vs Dutch), when it is outright bad (vs Modern - 1.d4 g6 2.Bf4? Bg7 3.e3 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 (or 4...Nd7 and 5...e5 leading to a different but also really good game for Black) 5.h3 e5! 6.Bg3 (best, others are worse, the most common and horrific 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qxd8 Kxd8 8.Bg5 is even worse) and Black has a very slight edge.)
Italian? Ruy Lopez? Hard Pass! I quit playing 1.e4 as White (Will transpose to certain KP openings, like 1.d4 e6 2.e4 or 1.d4 g6 2.e4). Black? 2...Nf6! Forget 2...Nc6 - No thanks!
What do like the most and why, me personally Italian clears
None of the above!
The London is garbage unless you are a GM. Below the GM level, London players have a 1 track mind. They think they can dictate the game and play the same moves no matter what except the LSB. The assume d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, h3, Nbd2, c3, and Bd3 except if Black fianchettos the Bishop, then Be2.
A person who truly understands the London does not play it systematically. They understand when to play h4 (where h3 is a complete waste of time), when to play c4, when it is dubious (vs Dutch), when it is outright bad (vs Modern - 1.d4 g6 2.Bf4? Bg7 3.e3 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 (or 4...Nd7 and 5...e5 leading to a different but also really good game for Black) 5.h3 e5! 6.Bg3 (best, others are worse, the most common and horrific 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qxd8 Kxd8 8.Bg5 is even worse) and Black has a very slight edge.)
Italian? Ruy Lopez? Hard Pass! I quit playing 1.e4 as White (Will transpose to certain KP openings, like 1.d4 e6 2.e4 or 1.d4 g6 2.e4). Black? 2...Nf6! Forget 2...Nc6 - No thanks!
I play a lot of scotch tbh, in my opinion it's flexible and you get some fun, sharp positions
I have never heard of Wormald Variation.
What does it look like?
@Compadre_J The Wormald has never really seemed to be in vogue. It's one if those anti-theoretical White options trying to reach a Closed Lopez type of position without having to spend years learning and updating one's opening theory. The characteristic move is 5. Qe2:
One potentially interesting feature is that in some lines White can angle for O-O followed by Rfd1, which might disconcert someone playing the Black side routinely.
I have never heard of Wormald Variation.
What does it look like?
this is an example of a game i played with it i think theres a chessable course out for it now as well
I have never heard of Wormald Variation.
What does it look like?
this is an example of a game i played with it i think theres a chessable course out for it now as well
sorry heres the game
@Compadre_J The Wormald has never really seemed to be in vogue. It's one if those anti-theoretical White options trying to reach a Closed Lopez type of position without having to spend years learning and updating one's opening theory. The characteristic move is 5. Qe2:
One potentially interesting feature is that in some lines White can angle for O-O followed by Rfd1, which might disconcert someone playing the Black side routinely.
i play it otb alot as well as online and have alot of good wins with it even beating an NM otb and it holds up at my level 2100 online peak even though it has less theory
The Ruy Lopez is a good option for beginners.
really? spanish? for a beginner?
for beginners mainly italian and london
I have never heard of Wormald Variation.
What does it look like?
this is an example of a game i played with it i think theres a chessable course out for it now as well
sorry heres the game
who in their mind would play h6 on the 8th move(correct me if im wrong, i don't know this sideline)
I have never heard of Wormald Variation.
What does it look like?
this is an example of a game i played with it i think theres a chessable course out for it now as well
sorry heres the game
who in their mind would play h6 on the 8th move(correct me if im wrong, i don't know this sideline)
its not a mistake just not very good either it was a 2100 though so he was just trying to stop my knight from coming in very odd though
I do not prefer London system because improving players play it automatically, plus as a beginner one will get a narrow set of positions, and novice players should probably experience different positions if they seek improvement.
Both Italian and Ruy are good options. Ruy Lopez theory? Who cares on a beginner level, some random 600, or even 1 200 level player will not exploit if you make a weak pawn or something similar that often. They will beat you if you hang a rook and then a piece. And by the time people starts punishing you, you should be reviewing your games and figuring out what went wrong anyway, which should in turn make you stronger.
I have been playing Ruy since I restarted playing chess in 2020. Plus, when I was a kid, I probably played one of the 2 as well (I always played 1.e4), without knowing the names of those openings. Learning curve is pretty forgiving there.
Are those 2 the only options? No, the only thing I would really avoid playing as a beginner who seeks improvement (at least playing as a main thing, trying out something is fine) are system openings like London System, because of their repetitive nature and the tendency of beginners to play them automatically, and some losing gambits as they teach hope chess.
What do like the most and why, me personally Italian clears