Repertoire Anxiety

As a kid, I used to play the Torre Attack, London System, and Bird/Larsen systems as white. It's time to grow up and play a real opening. I'm not talking about the Scotch Four Knights, Giuoco Piano, or Scotch Gambits. I'm talking about the Ruy Lopez, the king of king pawn openings.

Intending to playing the Ruy lopez is no small matter. You can't just wake up one morning and decide to play 1.e4; you must have an answer to all of the following major defenses before even starting to worry about the myriad of defenses to the Ruy Lopez.

This is a lot, even when choosing c3 Sicilian and Exchange French to reduce my preparation.


Repertoire Anxiety Checklist
White: 1. e4

1. e4 e5

• 2. Nf3 Nf6 – Petroff
• 2. Nf3 Nc6 – Ruy Lopez
• 2. Nf3 d6 – Philidor
• 2. Nf3 f5 – Latvian
• 2. Nf3 d5 – Elephant
  

1. e4 c5 – c3 Sicilian

• 2. c3 d5
• 2. c3 Nf6
• 2. c3 Nc6
• 2. c3 g6
• 2. c3 d6

1. e4 e6

• 2. d4 d5 – Exchange French
• 2. d4 b6 – Owen’s

1. e4 d5 – Center Counter

• 2. exd5 Nf6
• 2. exd5 Qxd5

1. e4 c6 – Caro-Kann

• 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 – Panov-Botvinnik
• 2. d4 g6 – Gurgenidze

1. e4 d6

• 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 – Pirc
• 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 – Pribyl
• 2. g6 – Modern
• 2. d4 Nd7 (can lead to Philidor)

1. e4 g6 – Modern

• 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 – Gurgenidze
• 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 – Modern

1. e4 Nf6 – Alekhine’s (so annoying)

• 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 c6
• 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 e6
• 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 g6

1. e4 Nc6 – Nimzowitsch

• 2. d4 d5
• 2. d4 e5
• 2. d4 e6 (Good grief! I used to play this line as black)