Before the World Championship: build an opening repertoire you can actually explain

Open one of your recent games and stop at the first move you couldn’t explain afterward. Maybe you knew the opening through move six and spent the next three moves shuffling a bishop. That position is a better place to start your November study than the first page of a new opening book.

The world title match will offer plenty of games to borrow from. A small repertoire you understand gives you a way to tell which of those games are worth your time.

Week one: Find the position you keep getting

Replay three of your own games with the engine off. Mark the first moment you were unsure, then write the question in plain English. “What do I do with my queen’s bishop?” is enough. If the same question comes up twice, make it the focus of the week.

Find one annotated game with the same pawn structure. Watch where the bishop goes and what has to happen first. The answer may be a pawn trade or a change in the center several moves before the bishop actually moves.

Weeks two and three: Play the alternative

Choose a second plan from a position you already play. If you usually trade pawns in the center, try holding the tension in a practice game. Pay attention to what your opponent does while you’re waiting. Can they develop with tempo? Can they take on a square where you’d rather keep your pawn?

Play both versions and make a note about the conditions that favor each. A line is easier to remember when you know what you were trying to achieve.

Week four: Keep one useful note

Write down your candidate moves before turning on the engine. If it prefers a move you dismissed, follow the line until you can explain what your move allowed. Save the position, your explanation, and one reply to watch for.

When the championship starts, add a game to your notes if it helps with a position you actually reach. One well-chosen example will give you something to look for in your next game.

If you share an opening with a practice partner, trade notes before you play. Ask them to pick a reply they’d genuinely try in a game. The most useful test of your repertoire is often a sensible move your notes don’t mention, especially one that changes which pawn break you can play.