Building a Personal Opening File from Your Games

Why Build Your Own Opening File?

Opening theory is vast. If you are not careful, you can spend hours memorising lines you never see, while still being surprised in move 6 of your favourite opening. A personal opening file solves this by focusing on:

• Your actual games: positions and move orders that really occur in practice.
• Your typical opponents: favourite systems at your level, not just engine lines.
• Your style and plans: structures, pawn breaks and piece placements that suit you.

By collecting, annotating and refining your own games, you create a repertoire that is relevant, memorable and easier to trust when you sit down to play. It also fits neatly into the full game lifecycle framework: preparation, execution and post-game improvement.

Step 1 – Collect Your Games and Group by Opening

Start by collecting your games from ChessWorld (and any over-the-board or other online platforms). Export them as PGN if you can, or at least note down the key opening sequences and move orders.

Then group them by opening family:

• By name (e.g. Sicilian Defence, French Defence, Queen’s Gambit).
• By structure (e.g. Carlsbad, isolated queen’s pawn, King’s Indian structures).
• Optionally, by ECO code, using references such as your ECO codes glossary.

You will quickly spot patterns: perhaps you face the same set-ups again and again or reach similar pawn structures from different move orders. These recurring positions are priority candidates for your opening file.

Step 2 – Choose a Format for Your Opening File

Your personal opening file can be kept in several formats. The best format is the one you will actually use and update:

• PGN files with annotations: a single PGN file per opening (or side of an opening) containing your model games, main lines and notes.
• Database software: SCID, ChessBase or other tools where you keep a dedicated “Repertoire White” and “Repertoire Black” database.
• Notebook or text file: if you prefer writing, keep diagrams, key lines and verbal plans in a physical notebook or digital notes.

Many players like a hybrid approach: a PGN or database for moves and variations, and a notebook page summarising plans, typical tactics and key model games.

Step 3 – Start with Your Most Common Openings

You don’t need to map out the entire ECO tree. Begin with the openings that appear most often in your games. Your study time is precious, so you’ll get more benefit by focusing on:

• Openings you play with White in serious games.
• Main defences you face most often against 1.e4 or 1.d4.
• Systems that cause you recurring problems or confusion.

If you are following structured repertoires from courses or books, you can mirror that structure inside your file, but always anchor it to your own games: import your games into the same file and compare what you played with the recommended lines.

What to Include in a Good Opening File

A strong personal opening file goes beyond “moves only”. Aim to include:

• Main lines and safe sidelines you are happy to play.
• Typical plans and pawn breaks for both sides in the key structures.
• Critical positions where you often felt unsure, with improved ideas.
• Common traps and tactical themes so you recognise them instantly.
• Model games (master games and your own best efforts) with short notes.

This connects naturally with other resources in the portal, such as standard pawn structure plans and tactics and combinations. The more you tie your file to these core ideas, the more useful and memorable it becomes.

Step 4 – Analyse Your Games and Fix the Critical Moments

The real value comes when you actively repair your openings. For each important game:

1. Identify where you or your opponent left known theory or standard plans.
2. Mark the critical moments where the evaluation changed or you felt lost.
3. Use a mix of your own reasoning, model games and engine checks to find better improvements.
4. Update your opening file with clear notes at those moments.

Combine this with the methods from how to analyse your games and using engines to check your errors. Engines are very helpful, but your opening file should focus on human-understandable conclusions, not just “Stockfish says +0.43”.

Using Engines Wisely in Your Opening File

Modern engines are incredibly strong, but it is easy to misuse them. When building your opening file:

• Use engines to verify tactics and punish blunders, not to memorise 25-ply novelties.
• Ask “Why is this move better?” and write down the explanation in words.
• Prefer lines that are clear and easy to remember over marginally stronger but very complex moves.
• Check that your chosen lines match your style – solid players may avoid ultra-sharp gambits, and attackers may choose more dynamic options.

The goal is a repertoire you can actually play under pressure, not just a file that looks clever when the engine is on.

Keeping Your Opening File Up to Date

A good opening file is a living document. It should evolve as you gain experience:

• After each serious game session, add key games and update important lines.
• Periodically remove sidelines you never see and strengthen coverage of your main lines.
• Highlight new ideas that worked well for you or that you spotted in master games.

You can schedule regular review sessions using your chess training plan templates, e.g. a weekly “opening file maintenance” session where you clean, update and rehearse your lines.

How Your Opening File Fits into the Bigger Picture

Your personal opening file is just one piece of your overall improvement strategy. It works best when integrated with:

• Game lifecycle thinking: see where your openings lead in the preparation–play–analysis framework.
• Core skill training: tactics, calculation, endgames and piece activity and coordination.
• Interactive practice: testing new lines against the Chess Training Tools (Chess Brain Gym) and the AI computer opponent.

When your opening file is aligned with your overall study plan and real games, every new game becomes both a test of your preparation and fresh material to improve it further.