#Chess Openings

I've been playing chess for a while now, and I've recently started to memorize some opening lines. Not just the basic principles, but actual move sequences. I've got a few friends who play at a similar level, and none of them seem to do this. They just wing it or use a chess engine to analyze during games. Is it normal for people to memorize these lines, or am I just being overzealous? I've sunk a decent amount of time into it, and I'm curious if it's paying off or just a waste...

I've been noticing a lot of top players opting for the Berlin Defense against the Ruy Lopez lately. Made me wonder, is the Ruy Lopez still a good choice for club players? I mean, it's a classic, but if it's not working for the pros, should we be looking elsewhere? I've been playing the Ruy Lopez for years, but I'm starting to think it's time to switch things up. What's the general consensus on this? Is the Ruy Lopez still a solid choice, or is it time to move on to something else?

I've been watching the elite circuit for a while now and it seems like the Ruy Lopez is getting less popular. I mean, I still see it every now and then but it's not as dominant as it used to be. Is this because of the Berlin defense or are there other factors at play? I've been experimenting with it in my own games and I'm not convinced it's still a top-tier opening. Anyone have thoughts on this?