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Choosing the Right Openings for Correspondence Chess

In correspondence chess, the opening has a different purpose than in blitz or rapid.

The goal is not to surprise your opponent — but to reach a healthy, understandable position that rewards planning, patience, and accuracy.

This guide explains how to choose openings that work well in turn-based and correspondence chess, especially for adult players.

♟️ What Makes an Opening Good for Correspondence Chess?

In slow chess, good openings tend to be:

Openings that rely on traps or fast initiative lose much of their power when the opponent has time to think.

Some openings are excellent in fast chess, but less effective in turn-based play:

That doesn’t mean they are “bad” — only that they demand precision every move, which increases mental load over long games.

In correspondence chess, the opening should:

White benefits from openings that:

Common correspondence-friendly choices:

These openings reward understanding more than memorisation.

As Black, correspondence success often comes from:

Reliable correspondence choices include:

These openings reduce early risk and support long-term planning.

Correspondence players often have access to databases — but misuse them.

Instead of copying the most popular move:

The goal is understanding, not memorisation.

Playing the same openings repeatedly in correspondence chess:

In correspondence chess, the opening is not about gaining an advantage — it is about reaching a position you understand better than your opponent.

Clarity beats surprise.