How I Learn Openings FAST

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Book mentioned: PERPETUAL CHESS IMPROVEMENT by Ben Johnson
Original outro music by Nela Ruiz
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[@henrikedvardsson5320]

Another great, helpful and clearly explained video! For me, as not being a bit older and not remembering as easily as I used to, this whole topic makes me feel hopeful. Maybe I can make up for not remembering endless branches and variants, understanding the WHYs may help me still evolve.

[@yrtepgold]

Yeah, Main ideas help me when trying to understand side lines. Once I understood that the London opening is about trying to control the e5 square, the opening got a lot easier for me to understand. The dark bishop, the f3 knight, the d4 pawn... everything is aiming at e5. However with this sideline, black is trying to change the focus of the board away from the traditional e5 square and make it about the b2 pawn. At least, that's how I've come to understand it.

[@GregTurismo]

I agree it is very hard to memorize openings. The issue I have is everything looks familiar, but every move feels like a landmine.

[@noamzilo6730]

Title and intro: how to learn openings fast. Actual video: analysis of an entire middlegame

[@ChessVisualisationAcademy]

Another great instructional video, thanks, it's not just the lines explained but actually the whole concept, the way of thinking that you've explained that I think will improve my chess-improvement journey. Excellent, currently working through all your instructional videos like top tips. Brilliant.

[@darren8269]

Another helpful and well thought out video. Thanks Kamryn 👍

[@donwp]

Very well laid out. You're a talented instructor. Liked and subscribed.

[@Timberius]

This was the best instructional video I've seen. Thank you. Subscribed for sure.

[@Tydie.]

Best video ive seen on openings... its nice and slow for us amateurs. Thanks

[@roeydaz]

Haven’t seen this line on the London….the ‘crazy knight’ defence! 😅 Thanks Kamryn for another cool video!

[@joshuamphande2272]

Awesome vid, very clear ideas👍 You hav my vote

[@BenCD30207]

Love these videos, and as an educator, I greatly appreciate the practical advice for adult learners!

[@AndreasFroehliPoker]

That was a great instructive video!

[@trombonemunroe]

Great breakdown of comprehension through analysis; thank you.

[@zendragondrew]

Crazy knight variation, haha. I always play this against the London and nobody has thought to play c4 in that spot. Looks interesting, thank you for the video.

[@davidblue819]

I try to do that too, but when I hear what a good player has to say about that line his explanation will be very different from mine. My explanation may be just wrong, or I might even have the moves wrong, There may be more modern moves based on ideas for the opponent that I had not thought of. I might even have the moves messed up, based on misreading the book and not seeing why certain moves have to be played in a certain order. I like what you are saying, but I still think the big problem with understanding openings rather than memorizing them is that understanding is not easy. Often, even when I think I've understood I haven't.

[@broku83]

Great video and tips, however I very rarely seen the "crazy Knight" variation against London, but it is helpful to know what to do. Thank you 😊

[@kewnst]

thank you this makes more sense then SAC THE ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK lol. i needed the way u described how to study openings. thank you.

[@jimmccann3856]

Good video. What opening database do you use?

[@rays2794]

Great explanation!

[@jkham131]

Well explained. Thanks

[@jason9199b]

Love this thank you.

[@thechuckberryfan98]

Thank you for this content 😊

[@executivelifehacks6747]

Perhaps as much as learning the "why", learning mnemonics/heuristics for what to move when and where is useful. I also use the London system, and have converged on the London and the KID/Pirc as my go-to for white and black. I use Banzea's London, and Ramirez's Counterblow. I seem to remember you use the KID also? If so, any comment on Gawain's KID vs Ramirez's Counterblow?

[@stephanegodts9052]

Merci beaucoup pour ces explications excellentes 👍👍👍👍

[@DevAngelo]

Thank you!

[@andrewf7822]

Great, thanks.

[@Rouleau84]

That is a very beautiful opening :D

[@ginocote]

Hi, i found a way for the black Queen to escape with Stockfish engine. After Rook to b8 and W Knith b3, the black play Bishop f5, if White play pawn e4, after Rook b3, if Queen take the Rook with the Queen, the Bishop take e4, And ouble atck attack the Knith, if you take the Rook with the Pawn, black while escape, now the black put the Rook on b7. With the Bishop sacrifice their's 3 differents ways to play and escape the Queen. After Rook to b3 if you take with the Queen Bishop take e3, if you take the rook with the pawn, Black Queen while escape. The computer finish the game by a draw. I hate or Love Computer engine 😂.

[@112233JORDAN]

I hear everyone say "understand, dont memorize" but it really is a case of do as I say not as I do. Even at the very top, they "confuse move order" indicating that they were playing off memory more so than understanding the position. Most titled players seem to prep memorized theory for each color and go down several lines for about 20 or so moves.

[@bmarcel7598]

Hi, thanks for the video. At 6:26, instead of three moves for the knight, what if we do three moves with the bishop before he moves the d pawn : Bc7, ...Ba5, ...Bc3...? Thank you.

[@Jpeg-music]

I think there are some issues there like : Bc7 Bb7 ; Ba5 Bxd5 ; Bc3 Qxc3+ ; Qxc3 Bxg2 ; no moves to protect white's h rook. Instead of Bc3 white could defend its g pawn with Kf1, f3 or Nf3 but it gives black the time to play Rb8. And then when Bc3 comes, Qb2 ; Qxb2 Rxb2 leaving black ahead with no castle for white and a dangerous rook on rank 2. Maybe I missed something though ;)

[@tw5718]

After they lose their knight, cant the trade pawns then?

[@mattlambert3118]

How often do you get that line? I've seen it before when I was trying to figure out how to go about destroying London players, but it doesn't seem like a line black would ever play. Like, who is going to play c5 and get their queen out without knowing what they're doing? I'm honestly curious though since I don't play the London with white and I don't know. I could see how it might be good to study for a London player even if you don't get it often just because of how the London is.

[@chessforfunonly1586]

What is your FIDE Elo, Kamryn?

[@slliks67]

Subbed

[@quarionilphukiir3583]

I've yet to see c4 in this line, meaning I have a 100% score with this variation as black.

[@ilseolive1128]

I really learn a lot from your videos. But what I oftdn struggle with is when my opponent doesn't play the moves thar you (any instructor) uses. Then all the 'advice' goes out the window and I feel 'lost'. I then try to stick to basic rules but instead I often need to defend my pieces which puts a spanner in the works....

[@SacTheQueen]

Please make videos about Endgame too.

[@isaakvandaalen3899]

When you understand your openings you don't need to memorise them because if your opponent plays inaccurately the refutations just make sense to you. Like: "Uhh what is that move? I am threatening X and that move does not stop me."

[@johnharrison7176]

Understand then there's no need to memorise

[@charbelcs]

on 6:53 why dont we just castle and then B-knight to d2 ?

[@karimhimeur1848]

You are my best teacher ❤️ 💕 💓 💖

[@krystofon]

should ba named how to do the London opening but whatevs

[@yogi9631]

Old age now so can't remember much. Would be good to have a good memory combined with understanding the tactics of the game. But sadly memory is poor and fading....

[@NameLastname-rt2mx]

Russian old school, thanks for the video

[@carlosbautista8045]

both

[@DavidEmerling79]

I do not consider the London System a good example to make the point about UNDERSTANDING the opening instead of MEMORIZING moves. The London is not really an opening as much as it is a system - as the name suggests. That's because white can pretty much move the pieces to predetermined squares without much concern with what black is doing. That's the nature of a system. The King's Indian Defense can be considered a "system," as well. The same cannot be said, for instance, of the Scotch Opening, whether you're on the white or black side. Sure, there are some deviations and a little wiggle room for creativity, but there are lines in the Scotch where you better know *exactly* what you're doing. There is often only one good move. All other moves are theoretically and demonstrably inferior. The game can take a terrible turn in no time. This is particularly true if you're in a Scotch Gambit. There's no system with these types of openings. The are lines of play that you better know. The path that avoids disaster is quite narrow. Memorizing the best moves will save you a ton of time on the clock instead of trying to figure them out by "understanding the opening."

[@2complex43]

I'm getting Beth Harmon vibes