How to study Openings
Here is a well-known method to study openings, assuming you are serious about it. First, Experiment in rapid and blitz to see what you like. You may be able to skip this having past experiences with openings, but it might be useful. Note: No opening book. Once you have a working framework, you want to familiarize yourself (refresh) with the openings by playing through about 40-50 pro games in that opening, not really going through the annotations, but more at a decent pace. This will give you a refresher on how the middlegames and endgames come about from your opening, and give you an idea of the main lines and what is being played. Note again: no opening book. Next, try the opening(s) out in friendly or club games and experiment with them yourself. Even against a chess computer will be fine. The idea here is to experience the opening "under fire" and get more comfortable with it. Make note of where the game goes sideways in the opening. Note again that you...
