Answers.Body: <p>In the area of openings, I don't think a one-player simulation will serve you as well as a good read. For a start, I would suggest the Wikibook <em><a href="http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Chess_Opening_Theory" rel="nofollow">Chess Opening Theory</a></em>, perhaps after reading the <a href="http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Chess/Basic_Openings" rel="nofollow">more basic version</a>.</p>
  
  <p>Of course, experience playing with others will strengthen your opening a good deal, once you have the principles down.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T21:01:26.357Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-05-02T21:01:26.357Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Daniel
Answers.Body: <p>I'd be careful of the word 'nonsense' since it means different things to different people.  Kasparov would consider nonsense things that you or I would consider <em>totally groovy</em>.</p>
  
  <p>I think a player can learn the main lines of a few openings and learn the basic principles behind those moves (occupy the center, develop pieces...) in not too much time.</p>
  
  <p>How long before you can find the correct response to the 10th move of a sharp variation of the Ruy Lopez?  Perhaps a bit longer.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-02T23:07:30.790Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-05-02T23:07:30.790Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.Body: <p>Open with <code>1. d4</code>, <code>2. Nf3</code>, <code>3. g3</code>, <code>4. Bg2</code> and then do whatever you want.  By that point, it's hard to find nonsense moves that aren't obviously nonsense.  Finding the best move is very difficult, but if you're a beginner you don't need to worry about it.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-08T14:55:51.177Z
Answers.Text: About your 2nd sentence : would you imply in other openings, there are more nonsensical moves that are nonsense, but in an unobvious way ? I think your answer goes along the lines of “once you know how to recognize nonsense, you don't play it anymore”, which is not near answering the question. Also, your last 2 moves are bad : `1. d4 e5 2. Nf3 e4 3. g3 exf3 4. Bg2 fxg2` (Elephant Gambit).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-08T17:51:33.237Z
Answers.Text: Yeah, like in the King's Indian, there are a lot of moves that look ok but are really nonsense.  In a Catalan setup like the one I'm recommending, most moves that look ok in the opening probably are.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Latham
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-16T03:33:49.207Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-06-10T01:25:47.527Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-06-10T01:25:47.527Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Latham
Answers.Body: <p>Pick ONE opening and specialise in it.  Do not worry about any other openings. For black that is a bit harder but you can find sound defenses to limit how much you need to know. </p>
  
  <p>Play over GM games with that opening.  Play every one you can find.  Be totally familiar with all the usual variations and how the middle games turned out. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-10T17:16:56.490Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-10T17:16:56.490Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: yobamamama
Answers.Body: <p>The concept that caused me to stop making nonsense moves is <strong>control the center</strong>.</p>
  
  <p>That meant moving out the d and e pawns, possibly with the c and f pawns, either abreast, or in support. More likely, I'd move a knight to c3 or f3 (c6 or f6 if Black), then a bishop or two. Castle as soon as possible, before undertaking activities on the wings.</p>
  
  <p>That eliminated a lot of bad opening moves like <code>b3</code>, <code>g3</code>, and worse, <code>a4</code> and <code>h4</code>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-29T09:14:35.223Z
Answers.Text: While I agree about a4/h4 not being very good, b3/g3 are totally valid moves if you develop the bishops like that with controlling the center in mind.
Answers.UserDisplayName: AnonymousLurker
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-29T14:37:33.050Z
Answers.Text: @AnonymousLurker: That's probably true for a very sophisticated player. But beginners, by definition, don't fall into that category.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tom Au
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-03T00:09:24.390Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-06-12T17:29:34.227Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-06-12T17:29:34.227Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tom Au
Body: <p>Assuming a player knows the rules, are there any free, one-player simulations that will rapidly teach a single player on their own how to move beyond opening with nonsense moves. </p>
  
Tags: <opening>
Title: What is the fastest way for a player to reach the stage where they are not opening with nonsense moves?
ThreadText: # What is the fastest way for a player to reach the stage where they are not opening with nonsense moves?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-02)
  
  Assuming a player knows the rules, are there any free, one-player simulations that will rapidly teach a single player on their own how to move beyond opening with nonsense moves.
  
  **Tags:** opening
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2012-05-03. Score: 7 | Accepted answer
  
  The concept that caused me to stop making nonsense moves is **control the center**.
  
  That meant moving out the d and e pawns, possibly with the c and f pawns, either abreast, or in support. More likely, I'd move a knight to c3 or f3 (c6 or f6 if Black), then a bishop or two. Castle as soon as possible, before undertaking activities on the wings.
  
  That eliminated a lot of bad opening moves like `b3`, `g3`, and worse, `a4` and `h4`.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: While I agree about a4/h4 not being very good, b3/g3 are totally valid moves if you develop the bishops like that with controlling the center in mind.  
  > **username_6**: @username_7: That's probably true for a very sophisticated player. But beginners, by definition, don't fall into that category.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2012-05-02. Score: 4
  
  In the area of openings, I don't think a one-player simulation will serve you as well as a good read. For a start, I would suggest the Wikibook *[Chess Opening Theory](http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Chess_Opening_Theory)*, perhaps after reading the [more basic version](http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Chess/Basic_Openings).
  
  Of course, experience playing with others will strengthen your opening a good deal, once you have the principles down.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-05-02. Score: 3
  
  I'd be careful of the word 'nonsense' since it means different things to different people. Kasparov would consider nonsense things that you or I would consider *totally groovy*.
  
  I think a player can learn the main lines of a few openings and learn the basic principles behind those moves (occupy the center, develop pieces...) in not too much time.
  
  How long before you can find the correct response to the 10th move of a sharp variation of the Ruy Lopez? Perhaps a bit longer.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2012-05-16. Score: 3
  
  Open with `1. d4`, `2. Nf3`, `3. g3`, `4. Bg2` and then do whatever you want. By that point, it's hard to find nonsense moves that aren't obviously nonsense. Finding the best move is very difficult, but if you're a beginner you don't need to worry about it.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: About your 2nd sentence : would you imply in other openings, there are more nonsensical moves that are nonsense, but in an unobvious way ? I think your answer goes along the lines of “once you know how to recognize nonsense, you don't play it anymore”, which is not near answering the question. Also, your last 2 moves are bad : `1. d4 e5 2. Nf3 e4 3. g3 exf3 4. Bg2 fxg2` (Elephant Gambit).  
  > **username_3**: Yeah, like in the King's Indian, there are a lot of moves that look ok but are really nonsense.  In a Catalan setup like the one I'm recommending, most moves that look ok in the opening probably are.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2019-12-10. Score: 0
  
  Pick ONE opening and specialise in it. Do not worry about any other openings. For black that is a bit harder but you can find sound defenses to limit how much you need to know.
  
  Play over GM games with that opening. Play every one you can find. Be totally familiar with all the usual variations and how the middle games turned out.
  
  
  ---
  
  