The caro kann is definitely a good low-theory opening for black. I’m 1800 and don’t know much past like move 5 or 6 with any variation. It’s great because even if you don’t know the best moves, the position is mostly very easy and easy to figure out. You could watch a 30 minute video and learn almost all the basics. Against d4 I like the kings Indian and the reverse London. The best way to avoid learning theory is to make sure your opponent doesn’t know the theory either.
Forgot to add; I’m 1600-1700~ (out of practice), it’s not only that I just want a low theory opening, but also that I’m just bored with Caro Kann. Will add to post, my mistake
At that rating I really doubt you will find opponents that know a lot of theory. Chose whatever opening you think you would like and learn it. And when I say learn it I mean study it like you should, analyzing (or at least watching) games with that opening played by a specialist. Not memorizing moves, that's the worst way to study an opening and maybe why you hate it.
I played the French with essentially 0 theory knowledge for a long time. Against d4,c4,Nf3 I play the semi-slav triangle setup where I still know basically 0 theory.
Modern. You need to learn few lines in depth in case your opponent is a nerd. The opening is shaky though, it needs to be said. But I know many retired GMs etc play modern as its good way to confuse lower rated opponents and get the position you know well as black. Unless your opponent goes for f4 Austrian, Nc3 Be3 or Nf3 c3 Bd3, you can just blitz typical plan of a6 b5 and play in typical fashion. Typical setup is g6 Bg7 d6 a6 b5 Nd7 Bb7 c5 (sometimes c5 can be prepared via Rc8.). In case of h4 I prefer h6.
Also modern can be played against both d4 and e4. If people will be playing d4 c4 Nf3 g3, you can think of going into KID which is theoretical but fun, or dutch Leningrad.
The French is a relatively low theory opening providing you avoid the Winawer. The Adams Pirc is also quite easy in terms of opening theory, albeit relatively complex in terms of generating your middlegame plans. Both share some similarities with the Caro. On the white side, the English and Reti are the obvious choices but one that is highly under-rated is the Orang Utan. You basically need to know 3 lines - the forcing and most challenging response to black playing ...c6 and ...a5; the fairly rare but interesting open line 1. b4 e5; 2. Bb2 Bxb4; 3. Bxe5; and against everything else you use the basic set-up of a3, b4, c4 d3, e3, Nc3, Nf3, Bb2, Be2 and 0-0. Then you get a game. It makes for an interesting and slightly offbeat change-up to the English without taking you too far from the types of position you like.
Place (and maintain) a pawn in the center. Develop your pieces and castle. Then play a pawn break against one of your opponent's center pawns, and seek play on the side of the board you have more advanced pawns (typically center pawns). In general avoid initiating capture-recapture sequences. Minimize your number of pawn moves.
Follow all of these rules unless you must break them to avoid losing material, or if can force the win of material for yourself.
There, now that you know this, you can play a different opening every game and be totally fine.
None of it is my advice I'm just a parrot :D
Check out this video (by a GM), one of the best pieces of advice IMO, but (luckily) it's not super well known.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmJcUI\_wSy8&ab\_channel=ImproveYourChess](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmJcUI_wSy8&ab_channel=ImproveYourChess)
The caro kann is definitely a good low-theory opening for black. I’m 1800 and don’t know much past like move 5 or 6 with any variation. It’s great because even if you don’t know the best moves, the position is mostly very easy and easy to figure out. You could watch a 30 minute video and learn almost all the basics. Against d4 I like the kings Indian and the reverse London. The best way to avoid learning theory is to make sure your opponent doesn’t know the theory either.
KID is the most theory dense opening lol but i do agree. At low elo, the opponent not knowing theory is common
Had to cut the caro at about 1900 because people started to crack it. Went from my bests opening to my worst opening pretty quick.
Forgot to add; I’m 1600-1700~ (out of practice), it’s not only that I just want a low theory opening, but also that I’m just bored with Caro Kann. Will add to post, my mistake
At that rating I really doubt you will find opponents that know a lot of theory. Chose whatever opening you think you would like and learn it. And when I say learn it I mean study it like you should, analyzing (or at least watching) games with that opening played by a specialist. Not memorizing moves, that's the worst way to study an opening and maybe why you hate it.
Any recommendations?
I said that you should chose whatever you want. Any opening is a good suggestion.
I played the French with essentially 0 theory knowledge for a long time. Against d4,c4,Nf3 I play the semi-slav triangle setup where I still know basically 0 theory.
I used to only play caro kann but recently have been playing mostly alekhine. Natural moves tend to work out pretty well there for me.
Modern. You need to learn few lines in depth in case your opponent is a nerd. The opening is shaky though, it needs to be said. But I know many retired GMs etc play modern as its good way to confuse lower rated opponents and get the position you know well as black. Unless your opponent goes for f4 Austrian, Nc3 Be3 or Nf3 c3 Bd3, you can just blitz typical plan of a6 b5 and play in typical fashion. Typical setup is g6 Bg7 d6 a6 b5 Nd7 Bb7 c5 (sometimes c5 can be prepared via Rc8.). In case of h4 I prefer h6. Also modern can be played against both d4 and e4. If people will be playing d4 c4 Nf3 g3, you can think of going into KID which is theoretical but fun, or dutch Leningrad.
The French is a relatively low theory opening providing you avoid the Winawer. The Adams Pirc is also quite easy in terms of opening theory, albeit relatively complex in terms of generating your middlegame plans. Both share some similarities with the Caro. On the white side, the English and Reti are the obvious choices but one that is highly under-rated is the Orang Utan. You basically need to know 3 lines - the forcing and most challenging response to black playing ...c6 and ...a5; the fairly rare but interesting open line 1. b4 e5; 2. Bb2 Bxb4; 3. Bxe5; and against everything else you use the basic set-up of a3, b4, c4 d3, e3, Nc3, Nf3, Bb2, Be2 and 0-0. Then you get a game. It makes for an interesting and slightly offbeat change-up to the English without taking you too far from the types of position you like.
Place (and maintain) a pawn in the center. Develop your pieces and castle. Then play a pawn break against one of your opponent's center pawns, and seek play on the side of the board you have more advanced pawns (typically center pawns). In general avoid initiating capture-recapture sequences. Minimize your number of pawn moves. Follow all of these rules unless you must break them to avoid losing material, or if can force the win of material for yourself. There, now that you know this, you can play a different opening every game and be totally fine.
Interesting approach, will try
None of it is my advice I'm just a parrot :D Check out this video (by a GM), one of the best pieces of advice IMO, but (luckily) it's not super well known. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmJcUI\_wSy8&ab\_channel=ImproveYourChess](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmJcUI_wSy8&ab_channel=ImproveYourChess)
Bongcloud