Choosing an open or closed opening means picking first moves that lead to the positions you prefer: open ones with early pawn trades and quick tactics, or closed ones with slower plans.
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Open and closed positions ask for different skills. Open games reward calculation and fast development; closed games reward planning and patience. Neither is better, so choose the one whose positions you understand.
How to do it
- 1Notice which games you play best: sharp ones or slow ones.
- 2Choose a first move, and replies to 1.e4 and 1.d4, that lead there.
- 3Learn the pawn structures your openings produce.
For your level
Some openings give fast, sharp games. Others give slow, careful games. Pick the kind you enjoy.
Common mistakes
- Copying a strong player's opening without checking whether its positions suit you.
- Choosing sharp openings without practising the calculation they demand.
Questions
- Should a beginner play open or closed openings?
- Open games are the usual first choice. They teach development, king safety and tactics quickly, because mistakes in them are punished at once.
- What is the difference between an open and a closed opening?
- In an open game the centre pawns are traded early and lines open for the pieces. In a closed game the centre pawns stay on the board longer, so play is slower.