user7933: How deep should I memorize lines of the Sicilian Dragon?
1400s USCF
The Dragon seems to resonate with me the most, after looking at all the variations. Do I need to get a book on it, or can I get by by just watching YouTube videos, looking at games, and experience?  
There's a guy on Youtube, that has like 20-25 minute videos on each of the four main variations of the Sicilian Dragon?  Example video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDRoBnL1gRg
Can I get by on just watching his videos, just playing it (and checking where I deviated afterwards), and playing through master games of the opening?  First memorize the main variations like 10-15 moves in, and then as I gain experience, learn the sidelines?  

user7500: Your rating is in the 1400s, so you don't need much opening knowledge, although some is helpful. Try memorizing moves to move 7-10 (more if the line is sharp and must be memorized). Make sure you understand the moves and the ideas.

user291: At the 1400s level, 10-15 moves is already too much. The other 1400s that you play aren't going to play book moves anyway. I glanced at the video you linked to and it looks like too much information (plus I couldn't handle the aspect ratio). If you enjoy watching 90 minutes of opening theory, I don't want to stop you, but I wouldn't expect to retain any of it. The one thing that might be useful is to see common themes (e.g., White's pawn storm, Black's exchange sac on c3), so you know what sort of things to look for, rather than memorizing moves. I see there are some other videos on YouTube on the Dragon that are shorter; I can't speak to their quality, but you might want to check them out first.

user3884: As someone who recently got out of the 1400s, I think it's much more important that you figure out where you want to be developing your pieces and why certain pieces are good in certain places. When I went about memorizing a bunch of moves, I very often (then and now) played people who would do something I'd never read up on.
If instead, you learn some of the reasons and/or general plan for a given opening, I think you'll be better off in the long term.

7933: <p>How deep should I memorize lines of the Sicilian Dragon?
1400s USCF
The Dragon seems to resonate with me the most, after looking at all the variations. Do I need to get a book on it, or can I get by by just watching YouTube videos, looking at games, and experience?  </p>

<p>There's a guy on Youtube, that has like 20-25 minute videos on each of the four main variations of the Sicilian Dragon?  Example video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDRoBnL1gRg" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDRoBnL1gRg</a></p>

<p>Can I get by on just watching his videos, just playing it (and checking where I deviated afterwards), and playing through master games of the opening?  First memorize the main variations like 10-15 moves in, and then as I gain experience, learn the sidelines?  </p>
 7500: <p>Your rating is in the 1400s, so you don't need much opening knowledge, although some is helpful. Try memorizing moves to move 7-10 (more if the line is sharp and must be memorized). Make sure you understand the moves and the ideas.</p>
 291: <p>At the 1400s level, 10-15 moves is already too much. The other 1400s that you play aren't going to play book moves anyway. I glanced at the video you linked to and it looks like too much information (plus I couldn't handle the aspect ratio). If you enjoy watching 90 minutes of opening theory, I don't want to stop you, but I wouldn't expect to retain any of it. The one thing that might be useful is to see common themes (e.g., White's pawn storm, Black's exchange sac on c3), so you know what sort of things to look for, rather than memorizing moves. I see there are some other videos on YouTube on the Dragon that are shorter; I can't speak to their quality, but you might want to check them out first.</p>
 3884: <p>As someone who recently got out of the 1400s, I think it's much more important that you figure out where you want to be developing your pieces and why certain pieces are good in certain places. When I went about memorizing a bunch of moves, I very often (then and now) played people who would do something I'd never read up on.</p>

<p>If instead, you learn some of the reasons and/or general plan for a given opening, I think you'll be better off in the long term.</p>
