Answers.Body: <p>You can play a surprising opening, which your more experienced opponent has probably encountered very rarely, like a gambit or a rare sideline. Theoretically-wise you will stand on more even ground then. Even better, since you will play this line often, you will have more practice with it than him, improving the odds even more. But usually such openings are seldom played for a reason, at example because they are unsound, or you have to remember very complicated lines, or they offer less winning chances than competing opening systems. There are so many such opening systems (there are even periodicals dealing exclusively with them) I don't list any of them over others.</p>
  
  <p>Apart from this general thought I would suggest a more detailed approach. Try to understand what the exact nature of the advantages of your opponent (or what your own disadvantages) are and act accordingly:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Tactically much better than you?  => go for quiet lines with focus on strategic plans,
  use closed systems with few tactics so you deny him the use of his
  advantage</li>
  <li>Much better theoretical opening knowledge? => use sidelines
  and shaky gambits, and pray he doesn't know those ugly refutations
  and critical lines</li>
  <li>Strategically much better? => choose simple
  systems and learn the ideas behind them thoroughly. You will close the
  gap soon and know the resulting structures as good as he.</li>
  <li>Generally better in every aspect? => play what you like
  most and learn from your defeats</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>A word of warning, though. For a competing mind this might sound like a clever plan. True, it is fun to spring a surprise weapon at a stronger opponent and gain a victory this way. But, and this is a big BUT, in the long run your goal is probably to become a better player over time, and this means gaining a deeper understanding of all the chess topics. Remember you can't get better at tactics by avoiding them ;) When your opponent leaves his comfort zone, he may play weaker. But leaving your <strong>own</strong> comfort zone makes you stronger - in the long run!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T08:41:51.320Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-05-02T08:52:14.177Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-05-02T08:52:14.177Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ray
Answers.Body: <p>Gambits are often a good way to get your opponent out of their comfort zone.  As white, some good gambits include:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>the Morra Gambit</li>
  <li>the Evans Gambit</li>
  <li><code>4. Ng5</code> in the Two Knight's Defense (black is sacrificing a pawn here though!)</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>For black, the Sicilian and the King's Indian are good ways to create a double edged game.  A line that you know by heart in the Sicilian is probably your best bet.  Against <code>d4</code> you can consider playing an early <code>...c5</code> with the Benko Gambit or the Benoni - both of which can lead to an unbalanced game as well.  White probably has a fairly good idea of what to do against the KID because it is so common which is why either the Benko or the Benoni can be a nice change of pace.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-13T14:43:03.163Z
Answers.Text: I just had someone play the `Evans Gambit` against me and it definitely threw me off, so I will second this one.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
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Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-11T20:09:08.097Z
Answers.Text: Perhaps the Morra Gambit might not be the best theoretical try against the Sicilian, but I do think it is a good practical weapon, and probably wouldn't go so far as to say it is unsound. Not sure about the status of the Evans gambit.
Answers.UserDisplayName: flicflac
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T07:57:54.837Z
Answers.Text: I don't agree with this approach. Unsound gambits are about the worst way to play against experienced players: an experienced player will tend to know a gambit's refutation, which will leave you not only playing a stronger opponent but playing one a pawn down as well. Gambits against less experienced players, on the other hand, can be fun and lead to quick wins.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Bryan
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Answers.Text: The Sicilian against a more experienced player to push him out of his comfort zone?? Best recipe for suicide, IMHO. There are so many lines and sideways, you won't get into your favorite line most of the time, but get beaten to death from memorized lines of your experienced opponent instead.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ray
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T13:48:00.037Z
Answers.Text: @Ray, I would not recommend a main line of the Sicilian, but something forcing, especially the Sveshnikov, would work if you learn enough about it.  Then the only issue would be Sicilian sidelines, but that's another whole discussion.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T13:48:16.680Z
Answers.Text: @Bryan, the gambits I recommended are all 100% sound.  I would *not* play an unsound gambit against a higher rated player.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T14:24:28.960Z
Answers.Text: @Andrew, I see your point, but neither can you force the Sveshnikov (and I don't consider at example the closed Sicilian to be a mere sideline), nor is it an easy system to play, but a heavily analyzed and often played one requiring loads of theory, especially against a more experienced player.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ray
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T15:15:51.800Z
Answers.Text: I highly recommend the Smith Morra Gambit.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T15:19:55.670Z
Answers.Text: @xaisoft, it's my favorite opening too
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-10-19T15:52:31.337Z
Answers.Text: I love this answer but I thought the new "How to Defeat a Superior Opponent" one was more general, so I'm switching the answer to that one.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brett
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T02:53:24.090Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-06-09T20:36:51.270Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-06-09T20:36:51.270Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew
Answers.Body: <p>You should focus on openings that require thematic or strategic understanding, as opposed to ones that require lots of book-knowledge/theory. Then you will get to positions that you are comfortable in and not have to learn the nuances of sharp and highly-analzyed variations that more experienced players will tend to thrive in.  Basically, an experienced player's &quot;comfort zone&quot; is beating a less-experienced player in a theoretical line: they have a risk free way of leaving the opening with an advantage. If you take away that theoretical advantage, I would argue they will be less comfortable facing you.</p>
  <p>IM Andrew Martin discusses opening repertoires <a href="http://www.chesspublishing.com/content/repert.htm" rel="noreferrer">here</a>. Based on the above, from his list of opening repertoires I would then suggest:</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p><strong>For White: Trompowski and Pseudo-Trompowski</strong></p>
  <p>1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5! And 1 d4 d5 2 Bg5! A must here will be to get hold of as many Julian Hodgson games as possible- he has been carving up Patzer and Grandmaster alike for many, many years. At the heart of this repertoire is the limitation of Black's choices- you are conducting the game on your terms. The positions can be different too- White can opt for Pawn structure play or outright attack depending on how he is feeling.</p>
  <p><strong>For Black: Scandinavian and Slav set-ups</strong></p>
  <p>Rock solid. As Black vs 1 e4 play the main line BANKER with 1...d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qd8! or 3...Qa5, in both cases following with ...Nf6, ...c6 and ...Bf5! And vs d4 and Flank Openings go for the solid Slav set up with ...c6 and ..d5, aiming for a similar structure. Truly an opening which can be learned in a minimum of time .</p>
  </blockquote>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T12:22:14.430Z
Answers.Text: +1 for __'Basically, an experienced player's "comfort zone" is beating a less-experienced player in a theoretical line'__
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
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Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T08:08:55.590Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Bryan
Answers.Body: <p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benko_Gambit" rel="nofollow">Benko gambit</a> is good if you're playing black.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  1. d4 Nf6
  2. c4 c5
  3. d5 b5
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T03:06:46.240Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-01-18T22:09:18.610Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2013-01-18T22:09:18.610Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.Body: <p>You should play the positions that <em>you</em> play the most and are most comfortable in. Since it is unlikely that those same openings are also the most common for your opponent, you will be relatively more comfortable in them than he is.</p>
  
  <p>The problem with playing a special opening just against experienced players is that you will be just as uncomfortable playing them as they are. That is, unless the experienced player happens to know it, then it's actually only uncomfortable for you...</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Answers.Body: <p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alekhine&#39;s_Defence" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Alekhine's Defence</a> as black. It's a great practical, attacking weapon:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  1. e4 Nf6
  2. e5 Nd5
  3. d4 d6
  </code></pre>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-15T00:50:47.663Z
Answers.Text: I don't think I'd recommend this because White has a number of choices Black has to prepare for. Four Pawns, Two Pawns (Jäger), 2. Nc3; I think for this sort of situation you want to limit the opponent's _good_ choices. Bad deviations are OK!
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Lazarus
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2016-12-20T08:38:56.543Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: chubbycantorset
Answers.Body: <p>GM Edmar Mednis wrote an excellent book on <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0945806019" rel="noreferrer"><em>How to Defeat a Superior Opponent</em></a>, in which he states that you should <em>not</em> attempt to play to your opponent's weaknesses, but instead <em>play to your strengths</em>.</p>
  
  <p>This means that you should:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Know what playing style suits you</li>
  <li>Pick a few openings that lead to games of that kind</li>
  <li>Learn the main ideas of those openings, and some key variations (and any traps)</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Then he adds:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Find opportunities to create complexity in the position, so that your opponent has a higher chance of making a mistake</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>There are a few off-the-beaten path openings that will force him out of his book, but they will only give you an advantage if <em>you are also comfortable in the positions to which those openings lead</em>.  If you're both at sea, he's still going to win.</p>
  
  <p>If he's over 2200, you should expect him to have a pet line for each of:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>The Sokolsky Opening</li>
  <li>Grob's Attack</li>
  <li>The Budapest Gambit</li>
  <li>The Benko Gambit</li>
  <li>The Vienna Game and Gambit</li>
  <li>The King's Gambit (this would really be asking for it)</li>
  <li>The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit</li>
  <li>The Sicilian Wing Gambit (if he plays the Sicilian)</li>
  <li>The French Wing Gambit (if he plays the French)</li>
  <li>The Trompowsky</li>
  <li>The Evans Gambit</li>
  <li>The Scotch Game and Gambit</li>
  <li>Bird's Opening</li>
  <li>The Dutch Defense</li>
  <li>Alekhine's Defense</li>
  <li>The Scandinavian, including the Icelandic Gambit</li>
  <li>The Danish Gambit</li>
  <li>The Göring Gambit</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>but you might catch him with (in order of solidity):</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>The Two Knights Tango</li>
  <li>The Chigorin Defense (QGD)</li>
  <li>The Urusov Gambit</li>
  <li>The Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit in the French</li>
  </ul>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2018-06-10T21:59:27.303Z
Answers.Text: I played the Urusov at around 1900-2000 level a while back, and my opponents invariably transposed into the two knights, so I don't think it is a great opening to surprise people with.
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Answers.UserDisplayName: jaxter
Body: <p>Sometimes I end up getting the opportunity to play a friendly game with someone who has played a lot more chess than I have; these games seem more fun and interesting for everyone (and I seem to end up with a better chance of winning) when I can push play away from common positions without incurring a big early disadvantage. Are there openings that I can study to accomplish that more dependably?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-09-28T23:17:28.357Z
Comments.Text: There aren't really any. You can choose certain openings based on playing specific players in general, but overall more experienced players will, by definition, have experience in unorthodox positions.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Inertial Ignorance
Tags: <opening>
Title: What are good openings to study to get more experienced players out of their comfort zone?
ThreadText: # What are good openings to study to get more experienced players out of their comfort zone?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-02)
  
  Sometimes I end up getting the opportunity to play a friendly game with someone who has played a lot more chess than I have; these games seem more fun and interesting for everyone (and I seem to end up with a better chance of winning) when I can push play away from common positions without incurring a big early disadvantage. Are there openings that I can study to accomplish that more dependably?
  
  **Tags:** opening
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: There aren't really any. You can choose certain openings based on playing specific players in general, but overall more experienced players will, by definition, have experience in unorthodox positions.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 7 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_11 on 2016-10-18. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  GM Edmar Mednis wrote an excellent book on [*How to Defeat a Superior Opponent*](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0945806019), in which he states that you should *not* attempt to play to your opponent's weaknesses, but instead *play to your strengths*.
  
  This means that you should:
  
  * Know what playing style suits you
  * Pick a few openings that lead to games of that kind
  * Learn the main ideas of those openings, and some key variations (and any traps)
  
  Then he adds:
  
  * Find opportunities to create complexity in the position, so that your opponent has a higher chance of making a mistake
  
  There are a few off-the-beaten path openings that will force him out of his book, but they will only give you an advantage if *you are also comfortable in the positions to which those openings lead*. If you're both at sea, he's still going to win.
  
  If he's over 2200, you should expect him to have a pet line for each of:
  
  * The Sokolsky Opening
  * Grob's Attack
  * The Budapest Gambit
  * The Benko Gambit
  * The Vienna Game and Gambit
  * The King's Gambit (this would really be asking for it)
  * The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
  * The Sicilian Wing Gambit (if he plays the Sicilian)
  * The French Wing Gambit (if he plays the French)
  * The Trompowsky
  * The Evans Gambit
  * The Scotch Game and Gambit
  * Bird's Opening
  * The Dutch Defense
  * Alekhine's Defense
  * The Scandinavian, including the Icelandic Gambit
  * The Danish Gambit
  * The Göring Gambit
  
  but you might catch him with (in order of solidity):
  
  * The Two Knights Tango
  * The Chigorin Defense (QGD)
  * The Urusov Gambit
  * The Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit in the French
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_12**: I played the Urusov at around 1900-2000 level a while back, and my opponents invariably transposed into the two knights, so I don't think it is a great opening to surprise people with.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-05-02. Score: 12
  
  You can play a surprising opening, which your more experienced opponent has probably encountered very rarely, like a gambit or a rare sideline. Theoretically-wise you will stand on more even ground then. Even better, since you will play this line often, you will have more practice with it than him, improving the odds even more. But usually such openings are seldom played for a reason, at example because they are unsound, or you have to remember very complicated lines, or they offer less winning chances than competing opening systems. There are so many such opening systems (there are even periodicals dealing exclusively with them) I don't list any of them over others.
  
  Apart from this general thought I would suggest a more detailed approach. Try to understand what the exact nature of the advantages of your opponent (or what your own disadvantages) are and act accordingly:
  
  * Tactically much better than you? => go for quiet lines with focus on strategic plans,
    use closed systems with few tactics so you deny him the use of his
    advantage
  * Much better theoretical opening knowledge? => use sidelines
    and shaky gambits, and pray he doesn't know those ugly refutations
    and critical lines
  * Strategically much better? => choose simple
    systems and learn the ideas behind them thoroughly. You will close the
    gap soon and know the resulting structures as good as he.
  * Generally better in every aspect? => play what you like
    most and learn from your defeats
  
  A word of warning, though. For a competing mind this might sound like a clever plan. True, it is fun to spring a surprise weapon at a stronger opponent and gain a victory this way. But, and this is a big BUT, in the long run your goal is probably to become a better player over time, and this means gaining a deeper understanding of all the chess topics. Remember you can't get better at tactics by avoiding them ;) When your opponent leaves his comfort zone, he may play weaker. But leaving your **own** comfort zone makes you stronger - in the long run!
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2012-05-02. Score: 7
  
  Gambits are often a good way to get your opponent out of their comfort zone. As white, some good gambits include:
  
  * the Morra Gambit
  * the Evans Gambit
  * `4. Ng5` in the Two Knight's Defense (black is sacrificing a pawn here though!)
  
  For black, the Sicilian and the King's Indian are good ways to create a double edged game. A line that you know by heart in the Sicilian is probably your best bet. Against `d4` you can consider playing an early `...c5` with the Benko Gambit or the Benoni - both of which can lead to an unbalanced game as well. White probably has a fairly good idea of what to do against the KID because it is so common which is why either the Benko or the Benoni can be a nice change of pace.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_6**: I don't agree with this approach. Unsound gambits are about the worst way to play against experienced players: an experienced player will tend to know a gambit's refutation, which will leave you not only playing a stronger opponent but playing one a pawn down as well. Gambits against less experienced players, on the other hand, can be fun and lead to quick wins.  
  > **username_2**: The Sicilian against a more experienced player to push him out of his comfort zone?? Best recipe for suicide, IMHO. There are so many lines and sideways, you won't get into your favorite line most of the time, but get beaten to death from memorized lines of your experienced opponent instead.  
  > **username_3**: @username_2, I would not recommend a main line of the Sicilian, but something forcing, especially the Sveshnikov, would work if you learn enough about it.  Then the only issue would be Sicilian sidelines, but that's another whole discussion.  
  > **username_3**: @username_6, the gambits I recommended are all 100% sound.  I would *not* play an unsound gambit against a higher rated player.  
  > **username_2**: @username_3, I see your point, but neither can you force the Sveshnikov (and I don't consider at example the closed Sicilian to be a mere sideline), nor is it an easy system to play, but a heavily analyzed and often played one requiring loads of theory, especially against a more experienced player.  
  > **username_4**: I highly recommend the Smith Morra Gambit.  
  > **username_3**: @username_4, it's my favorite opening too  
  > **username_4**: I just had someone play the `Evans Gambit` against me and it definitely threw me off, so I will second this one.  
  > **username_5**: Perhaps the Morra Gambit might not be the best theoretical try against the Sicilian, but I do think it is a good practical weapon, and probably wouldn't go so far as to say it is unsound. Not sure about the status of the Evans gambit.  
  > **username_0**: I love this answer but I thought the new "How to Defeat a Superior Opponent" one was more general, so I'm switching the answer to that one.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2012-05-02. Score: 6
  
  You should focus on openings that require thematic or strategic understanding, as opposed to ones that require lots of book-knowledge/theory. Then you will get to positions that you are comfortable in and not have to learn the nuances of sharp and highly-analzyed variations that more experienced players will tend to thrive in. Basically, an experienced player's "comfort zone" is beating a less-experienced player in a theoretical line: they have a risk free way of leaving the opening with an advantage. If you take away that theoretical advantage, I would argue they will be less comfortable facing you.
  
  IM username_3 Martin discusses opening repertoires [here](http://www.chesspublishing.com/content/repert.htm). Based on the above, from his list of opening repertoires I would then suggest:
  
  > **For White: Trompowski and Pseudo-Trompowski**
  >
  > 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5! And 1 d4 d5 2 Bg5! A must here will be to get hold of as many Julian Hodgson games as possible- he has been carving up Patzer and Grandmaster alike for many, many years. At the heart of this repertoire is the limitation of Black's choices- you are conducting the game on your terms. The positions can be different too- White can opt for Pawn structure play or outright attack depending on how he is feeling.
  >
  > **For Black: Scandinavian and Slav set-ups**
  >
  > Rock solid. As Black vs 1 e4 play the main line BANKER with 1...d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qd8! or 3...Qa5, in both cases following with ...Nf6, ...c6 and ...Bf5! And vs d4 and Flank Openings go for the solid Slav set up with ...c6 and ..d5, aiming for a similar structure. Truly an opening which can be learned in a minimum of time .
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: +1 for __'Basically, an experienced player's "comfort zone" is beating a less-experienced player in a theoretical line'__  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2012-05-02. Score: 5
  
  The Benko gambit is good if you're playing black.
  [FEN ""]
  1. d4 Nf6
  2. c4 c5
  3. d5 b5
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2013-01-23. Score: 4
  
  You should play the positions that *you* play the most and are most comfortable in. Since it is unlikely that those same openings are also the most common for your opponent, you will be relatively more comfortable in them than he is.
  
  The problem with playing a special opening just against experienced players is that you will be just as uncomfortable playing them as they are. That is, unless the experienced player happens to know it, then it's actually only uncomfortable for you...
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_9 on 2013-01-11. Score: 2
  
  The Alekhine's Defence as black. It's a great practical, attacking weapon:
  [FEN ""]
  1. e4 Nf6
  2. e5 Nd5
  3. d4 d6
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_10**: I don't think I'd recommend this because White has a number of choices Black has to prepare for. Four Pawns, Two Pawns (Jäger), 2. Nc3; I think for this sort of situation you want to limit the opponent's _good_ choices. Bad deviations are OK!  
  
  ---
  
  