Lessons
Defeating "Pet Openings"

Defeating "Pet Openings"

CHESScom
Chess.com Team
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Learn how to keep your cool and refute odd openings!

Did you prepare your openings, but are having trouble with annoying sidelines? This course will help you figure out how to refute those tricky sidelines and give you guidelines that you can use to beat variations that you’ve never seen before. Remember, if it’s not something you’ve seen before, it’s probably not good! Own the Owens Defense! Lick the Latvian! Conquer the Colle and much more!

  • Learn the refutations of many tricky, but bad openings!
  • Learn how to handle opening surprises with confidence!

 

Introduction

This course will provide remedies to some of the annoying pet openings that your opponents use against you. In this introduction, I'll provide some generic advice that you can use whenever your opponent takes you out of familiar territory.
5 Challenges

Coping with Orangutans

The Polish Opening, also known as the Orangutan, is an opening where White tries to grab queenside territory while using a bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal. The best reaction is to take hold of the e5-square and never let go!
8 Challenges

The Grubby Grob

1.g4 is the worst opening for White, but nevertheless has a small cult following, including at least one Grandmaster. Grab the entire center and hold on to it!
4 Challenges

Grounding the Bird

With 1. f4, White is aiming for a Reversed Dutch Defense or a stonewall attack or perhaps a queenside fianchetto attack.
5 Challenges

Avoiding Nimzo-Larceny

The Nimzo-Larsen is an ambitious strategy that starts with a queenside fianchetto. The main battleground will be the e5-square.
4 Challenges

Be ready for the Reti

We've already seen how to handle 1.Nf3 followed by b3. Suppose White wants a Reti, and plays 2.c4 hoping for 2...d5? We confront this strategy by erecting a strong pawn chain.
4 Challenges

Defending the King's Indian Attack

The King's Indian attack is a popular opening among amateurs because it is formulaic and very easy to play. White does not occupy the center immediately but uses a fianchetto to castle on the kingside.
3 Challenges

Conquering the Colle

The Colle is a simple system where White plays d4, Nf3, e3, Bd3, O-O then either c3, b3 or e4. Many move orders are used to reach the position, but 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 (or e6) 3.e3 e6 (or Nf6) 4.Bd3 is common.
3 Challenges

Living in London Town

The London system is a formation where white plays d4, Nf3 and Bf4, then e3, Bd3 and O-O.
4 Challenges

Tripping up the Torre

The Torre Attack is similar to the London System and can be handled in the same manner. The move order will be a bit different because white threatens to capture the Knight with the Bishop and break up black's pawn structure.
5 Challenges

Beware the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit has a poor reputation in professional play, but in the hands of amateurs, it can be quite dangerous.
2 Challenges

Van Geet Opening

1.Nc3 is not the sort of move to inspire fear. Black just needs to be familiar with one variation.
5 Challenges

Staring down an Elephant

The Elephant Gambit has become quite popular in amateur circles in recent years. It isn't a very good opening but it can be quite tricky so you want to limit Black's counter play.
4 Challenges

Destroying the Damiano

The Damiano Defense is one of the worst openings that Black can play. No serious players use it, just a couple of eccentrics who simply refuse to see the bankruptcy of Black's position.
7 Challenges

Licking the Latvian

The Latvian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5) is one of the wildest and wooliest chess openings. It is constantly being refuted and then resurrected by its fans. I offer a very simple solution that guarantees White a small and easy-to-use advantage.
3 Challenges

Owning the Owen

The Owen Defense can get very complicated if White wanders into one of the sharpest lines. Black plans a fianchetto on the queenside with 1.e4 b6, but neglects kingside development.
4 Challenges

Defeating "Pet Openings"

Openings
16 Lessons
No Videos
70 Challenges
Released 11/3/2008

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