Top 10 Openings

Just ten that I have enjoyed playing over the years.

1. Giuoco Piano, Bernstein Variation

My first real opening, and a lesson that greed is a sin in chess, if nowhere else.

2. Queen's Gambit, Rubinstein Variation

Wonderful vigorous opening in the style of Pillsbury: sieze the centre, aim at the King, fire!.

3. Trompovsky Opening

My introduction to closed openings, a little weird wonder and an advert for Knight power, which I sadly had to abandon when it became fashionable.

4. English Opening, Staunton system

The drift to the West continued; no need to memorise lines, just a flexible start to a pawn roller that can hit you on any part of the board.

5. Sicilian Defence

When I started with this opening, I couldn't believce my luck: lots of chance to win and it didn't fizzle out like 1...e5 does. And having been so struck by the English, it made sense to play it as Black...

6. Modern Defence

...except that the Sicilian is a headache to learn, and you keep falling into 'pet systems'. Not with the Modern! I love this opening, no-one knows or cares about the theory, and a great way to play for a win as Black.

7. King's Indian Attack

Another bright idea: a pet system to play as White, using all the moves I usually play.

8. English Opening, Botvinnik system

After an intermission of several years where I didn't really play chess, I felt on my return like playing something a bit more assertive than all this creepy-mousy stuff. So there was born the new DrDave, playing the the Wrestler's Gambit: step towards your opponent, get hold, and twist until they break...

9. Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

I still don't believe a word I read about this outrageous gambit, but I've had a lot of fun with it.

10. King's Gambit

A bit more assertive than the English Opening, and an attempt to play more tactically... An opening that made me realise how wobbly club players are: give them a shove and they fall over. Also a lot of fun, but you never get to play it, and there's an awful lot of theory to keep up.

Honourable mention: Two Knight's Defence. I've never played it seriously since I was a junior, but I recommend it to all the juniors. A glorious scrap!

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David Regis