Easy Chess Tips

In this video I demonstrate how my 1.d4 chess repertoire mnemonic memory system works by looking at a random selection of Nimzo-Indian variations.

The challenge is to see if I can recreate the specific variations from the keyword associated with their location in my memory system.

The Nimzo-Indian Variations in my 1.d4 Repertoire

I have included ten variations of the Nimzo-Indian in my 186 variation 1.d4 opening repertoire. They are variations 41-50 in my system and as such they are allocated the following keywords based on the Major mnemonic memory system:

41 = “rat” = 4… c5
42 = “rhino” = 4… b6
43 = “ram” = 4… 0-0
44 = “rower” = 4… 0-0
45 = “rail” = 4… d5
46 = “arch” = 4… d5
47 = “ruck” = 4… Nc6
48 = “roof” = 4… d6
49 = “rope” = 4… Ne4
50 = “lasoo” = 4… Ne4

Watch on YouTube (below) or on Odysee (link):

Continue Reading

Here is the second set of ten variations (11-20) of my 184 variation 1.d4 opening repertoire mnemonic memory system.

The variations are in the Queen’s Gambit Declined and the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. The QGD section includes these variations:

• The Hennig-Schara Gambit
• The Austrian Defence
• A Ragozin/Nimzo Indian
• The Alapin Variation

Continue Reading

This is perhaps not such an “easy chess tip” because it takes time, effort and imagination to master, rather like chess itself. Nevertheless, memory training, especially for opening variations in a chess repertoire, is worth considering if you want to avoid losing control when your opponent pulls some unexpected move early on.

Opening Repertoire Memory Systems

I have created opening repertoire memory systems for both white, playing 1.d4, and black, playing 1… d6.

In this demo video I attempt to go through the first ten variations of the my white opening reportoire, which is based on John Watson’s book, A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White. Watson’s book has been my guide to the Queen’s pawn opening for the last few years.

Continue Reading

If there’s ONE Easy Chess Tip I’d like to impress upon you it is this: When you are playing as Black against a d4 opening, do NOT go for the Marshall Defence!

Just a quick recap… The Marshall Defence occurs when Black moves his Knight to f6 on the second move in this sequence:

1. d4 d5
2. c4 Nf6

It is an inferior defence that poses no problems for White. Indeed, against an experienced player it practically guarantees that Black will never gain parity, will fail to gain control of the centre and will most likely go on to lose the game.

Yet, the Marshall Defence is a relatively common response to the Queen’s Gambit in casual chess games, probably because it seems to make sense to develop a Knight early on, and a Knight on f6 is at least defending the d5 pawn.

Continue Reading