Since my question was abnormally long, I'll keep this one short.
Realisation: It seems to me that a game is largely decided in the first few opening moves, with an opponent only recovering w great difficulty and effort.
Any input?
On advantages gained in the first 2-3 moves of a game
Yes! Yes yes yes yes!
That input enough?
First three to five moves are the ones that decide the (style and outcome of the) rest of the game[*]. Especially for dwarfs. Try to get initiative as soon as possible, make your opponent react, rather than act.
Take your time for those moves, even when playing online.
[*]That's just my opinion, mind you. But there's lots of experience[**] to back that up.
[**]I'm not bragging! I've been at this for two and a half years, hooked from day one and playing every day, apart from holidays. You won't notice at first, but keep playing and eventually you [i]will[/i] get better at it. See a good opening move played by your opponent, and get scorched. Next time, [i][b]use[/b][/i] that move and scorch (another?) opponent!
[shameless plug]BTW: There's lots of games on my pages for you to replay and learn from.[/shameless plug].
Happy Thudding!
Arrr.
Have already downloaded your leather skin for Thudboard - great stuff!
Thanks for the pointers! Will most definitely be checking out the old games.
I wonder, is it something against the game (perhaps hindering replayability) that it hinges so much on the first few opening moves? Compared to chess, for instance, where a mistake early on doesn't have to cost you a game...
I am not really a chess expert. Though my impression is that the opening is just as important in chess than thud. Furthermore, in chess the "opening book" is largely written, most variants have been excessivly analysed and rated for effect.
In any deterministic game, chess, go, or thud, the opening defines what options will be playable in the rest of the game. So the opening will always be paramount.
But, it's quite possible to lose the game in the middle portion of the game, and by implication it's also possible to win in the middle game. Like any game where luck is nonexisting; if you are behind, and your opponent makes no mistakes then you will lose.