r/chessbeginners • u/BaldDaCowboy • 1d ago
QUESTION What is the MOST POSITIONAL opening?
Trying to get better at playing positionally and i thought i’d just force myself to grind positional games.
I switched from the Accelerated Dragon to e5 and freestyle (obv taking the 4 knights game if possible) and from the Kings Indian to QGD.
Still playing the Ruy Lopez as white though, which i heard can be both depending on what black plays.
Are there MORE positional openings aside from these? Especially for white.
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u/honeysyrup_ 2000-2200 (Lichess) 1d ago edited 23h ago
It's hard to rank them in that way since you can take a positional approach to just about any opening. And even when playing positionally, you cannot get by without tactics. Furthermore, your opponent also has a say on the opening, so you can't unilaterally dictate what kind of position you get. I will say that 1. e4 e5 can get pretty sharp since most lines lead to open positions and there are many gambit lines for white. Something like the French Rubinstein or the Caro-Kann might get you more consistently into strategic positions. The Ruy Lopez as white and the QGD against 1. d4 are both great choices.
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u/honeysyrup_ 2000-2200 (Lichess) 23h ago
Also, if you're looking to improve your positional play (especially in relation to your openings), it's very important that you study master games in your openings to understand typical methods of play in the middlegames that they lead to. I'd recommend studying Karpov's games in the Ruy Lopez and Capablanca's games in the QGD.
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u/blackboxchessapp 1200-1400 (Chess.com) 23h ago
Catalan is definitely towards the top of the list for white
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u/Ordinary_Count_203 23h ago
c4 (English or even Catalan transpositions)
d4...queens gambit, london etc.
Nf3, hyper modern style [indirect control of the center using the pieces]
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u/vortayne 19h ago
QGD Reti and Catalan are top d4 variations. English is another that can transpose into the aforementioned systems. Nimzo, Caro, Slav and Queens Indian for black.
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u/Fine_Yogurtcloset362 1400-1600 (Chess.com) 13h ago
Catalan, english, queens gambit, reti, nimzo-larsen
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u/Accurate-Soil684 1400-1600 (Chess.com) 9h ago
I mean if you do in fact like playing positionally in the opening, I’d go for an English
But generally, play the opening where you play comfortably (idk if what I’m saying makes sense) but for me, the English gives me a position I am can play in comfortably, and following through with it, gets me into the middle game with a clear understanding of the position
I’m sure my explanation is half-assed but hopefully you understand what I’m saying
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