From Beginner to Intermediate: Evolving Your Openings
The journey from beginner to intermediate chess player is one marked by rapid growth, hard lessons, and countless moments of discovery. One of the most transformative shifts in this journey comes from evolving your approach to the opening phase of the game. For beginners, the opening is often a chaotic scramble to get pieces out quickly; for intermediate players, it becomes a strategic battleground filled with ideas, plans, and long-term thinking.
In this article, we’ll explore how your opening understanding should evolve as you climb the chess ladder—from memorizing basic principles to adopting specific openings that align with your style. You’ll also learn the common pitfalls to avoid and the strategic thinking that starts to emerge at the intermediate level.
Why Openings Matter—But Not Too Much
Before diving into the evolution of opening play, it’s important to set expectations: openings matter, but not more than tactics and endgames at the beginner and intermediate levels. That said, playing bad openings can lead to early disadvantages, and playing good ones can help you develop faster.
The key isn’t memorizing long lines but learning why certain moves are played. As your understanding deepens, your openings become more than a way to survive—they become a springboard to victory.
The Beginner’s Phase: Learning Principles, Not Lines
When you’re just starting out (roughly up to 1000–1200 rating), your main goals in the opening should be:
1. Control the Center
The central squares (e4, d4, e5, d5) are the most important real estate on the board. Controlling them gives your pieces freedom and flexibility.
Typical beginner moves:
e4 or 1. d4 as White
…e5 or …d5 as Black
2. Develop Pieces Efficiently
Bring out your knights and bishops quickly. Don’t move the same piece twice unless necessary.
Golden rules:
Knights before bishops
Don’t bring your queen out too early
Castle early
3. King Safety
Get your king to safety with castling and avoid weakening your position with early pawn moves.
4. Don’t Hang Pieces
Tactics trump openings at the beginner level. Playing a “correct” move is meaningless if it blunders material.
Recommended Beginner Openings:
These openings emphasize development, center control, and simplicity:
Italian Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4)
Scotch Game
Queen’s Gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4)
London System (1. d4 and 2. Bf4)
Tip: Don’t memorize move orders. Focus on understanding why each move is made.
The Transition Phase: From Principles to Plans (1200–1600)
As you approach the intermediate level, your opening play should begin to transition from simply following rules to understanding plans and reacting to your opponent’s ideas.
Here’s what begins to change:
1. Move Order Nuances
You’ll start to learn how different move orders impact the game. For example, playing 3. Nc3 instead of 3. Nf3 in the Queen’s Gambit Declined can lead to a completely different game.
2. Recognizing Opening Traps
At this level, you’re likely to fall into traps—or spring them. Learning common traps teaches you both tactics and positional awareness.
Examples:
Fried Liver Attack
Blackburne Shilling Gambit
Queen’s Gambit Declined Traps (e.g., Elephant Trap)
3. Opening Repertoire Begins to Form
You’ll start favoring certain openings that match your personality and results.
Ask yourself:
Do I prefer open or closed positions?
Do I like tactical fights or slow maneuvering?
Popular Intermediate Openings:
Ruy López (Spanish Game) – rich with strategic depth.
Sicilian Defense (1. e4 c5) – dynamic and tactical.
French Defense (1. e4 e6) – solid and counterattacking.
King’s Indian Defense – aggressive against 1. d4.
Queen’s Gambit Declined – classical and reliable.
Tip: Pick one opening against 1. e4 and 1. d4 and stick with them for a while. Consistency breeds understanding.
From Memorization to Understanding
Intermediate players often get stuck trying to memorize variations. But this can be counterproductive unless you grasp the strategic goals of each line. Instead of memorizing 15 moves, understand the ideas behind those moves:
What is each side aiming for?
What are the typical pawn breaks?
Which pieces often get traded, and why?
What weaknesses can I target?
Example: In the Sicilian Defense, Black gives up central control early but counters with …d5 or …b5 later to fight back. Knowing this makes your game plan clearer even if your opponent deviates.
How to Study Openings as an Intermediate Player
Now that you’re no longer a raw beginner, your opening study can become more structured:
1. Use Opening Databases
Free databases like Lichess Explorer or ChessBase show you what grandmasters play and what works at your level.
2. Study Model Games
Choose an opening and watch how strong players handle it. Annotated games teach you not just what to play, but how to think.
3. Use Chessable or YouTube
Interactive platforms help reinforce learning through spaced repetition. Choose one opening course and complete it slowly, testing each chapter in practice.
4. Analyze Your Own Games
Ask:
Did I get out of the opening with a good position?
Was I lost by move 10? If so, why?
Did I follow my plan, or react randomly?
Common Opening Mistakes at the Intermediate Level
1. Playing “Fancy” Lines Without Understanding
Avoid trying to play sharp gambits or obscure traps unless you understand the risks. Style is good—recklessness is not.
2. Changing Openings Too Often
Don’t switch your openings every week. Stick with one or two and get deeper over time.
3. Forgetting the Middlegame
Even if your opening is solid, you must know what kind of middlegame you’re aiming for. Otherwise, your advantage evaporates.
4. Overpreparing Without Practicing
Studying openings without playing them in real games is like reading about swimming without ever jumping in the pool.
When to Move On to Advanced Opening Study
By the time you hit 1600–1800, you’ll need to start studying:
Opening theory updates
Specific lines for tournament prep
Opponent-based preparation
But until then, your focus should remain on:
Understanding the why behind each move
Consistent practice
Learning from experience
Closing Thoughts: Your Opening Journey Is Just Beginning
The way you approach openings says a lot about where you are in your chess development. As a beginner, it’s about learning the rules and avoiding disaster. As you move toward intermediate strength, it becomes about shaping your style, understanding ideas, and building a flexible, durable repertoire.
Evolving your openings is not about memorizing dozens of move orders—it’s about thinking better from the very first move. If you can do that, you’ll be prepared not just for the opening, but for the game as a whole.
