There are a number of opening repertoires being produced just for blitz and rapidplay games. I understand that certain openings may be quite risky in standard time limits, especially amongst professionals, but I'm unconvinced that this applies at amateur level.
There are a few things to consider, first of all, playing quick games online can offer a unique practice opportunity for players with little time for chess. Would it not be better for them to practice their usual lines so as to get a better feel for them? There is one caveat in this argument, namely that their future opponents may have a rich source of their games to help them prepare, and for this reason I think it's better to keep your account name private.
For players who are obliged to make their account names public (both my Lichess and Chess.com names are public), there is a case for a separate blitz and rapidplay repertoire. In this case I would suggest openings that are enjoyable and easy to play. I would put the Old Indian Defence into this category (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7) as Black has some clear plans and relatively easy moves. On the other hand this is not something I'd want to play against very strong opponents in standard play games.
Another option, this time for White, would be the Jobava London (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4), which can give White fluent play without an especial need to prepare. Finally I've seen that one top blitz player, Olexandr Bortnyk, uses the Eastern Clamp Sicilian as White, and my video series on this will be this week's special offer.
Training Tournaments
This week's training tournaments are in two forms of the Tarrasch Defence, the standard version with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.c4 e6 4.cxd5 exd5 (this is something we face in the White 1.d4 Repertoire) and the Semi-Tarrasch with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 (this is a recommendation in the Black Queen's Gambit Declined Repertoire):
Sunday October 19th at 5pm UK Time: Tarrasch Defence
Sunday October 19th at 6.15pm UK Time: The Semi-Tarrasch
Video Discounts
This week's discount is 40% off buying my series on the Eastern Clamp Sicilian, just use the code 'oct17to25' on checkout. Many different types of game can arise from this line, including ferocious attacks, queenless middlegames and positional squeezes. There is only one sharp line in which White sacrifices a pawn for a huge attack, most of the time it requires a knowledge of the ideas. This makes it perfect for those who have little time to study, or are simply bored with modern theory.
Last week's discount was 40% off buying Mastering Key Pawn: The Carlsbad Formation, using the code 'oct10to18'. This structure can be seen as a touchstone for understanding planning and strategy, so learning more about it has great value.
My Upcoming Events
After Tenerife cancellation, I've accepted an invitation to the Scarborough congress, largely because my wife enjoyed going there last year. This is the only thing I have planeed right now, though I might also play in the Bolton Rapidplay in December.
October 24-26: Scarborough Congress
I played in this last year and it's a popular event. Details can be found here.
Have a good weekend.
Nigel
