Chess

Chess Openings

A winning game plan starts with the first move.

Your objective in the opening of a chess game is to reach a good position. This means that the principles of opening play follow the general principles for positional play.

The initial moves have been studied and mapped since the first Pawn was pushed hundreds of years ago. Here are tools to help you understand better this critical part of a chess game.

Repertoire recommendations

Step through the moves to reach the best known and most popular openings. Either start here...

• Initial position
• 1.d4
• 1.e4

• Albin Counter Gambit
  
• Alekhine's Defense
  
• Benko Gambit
  
• Benoni
  
• Bird's Opening
  
• Bishop's Opening
  
• Caro-Kann
  
• Centre Counter Game (Scandinavian Defense)
  
• Centre Game (incl. Danish Gambit)
  
• Chigorin's Defense (after 1.e4)
  
• Dutch Defense
  
• English Opening
  
• French Defense
  
• Giuoco Piano
  
• Grunfeld Defense
  
• King's Gambit
  
• King's Indian Defense
  
• Nimzo Indian Defense
  
• Petrov's Defense
  
• Philidor's Defense
  
• Pirc Defense
  
• Queen's Gambit
  
• Queen's Indian Defense
  
• Queen's Pawn Game
  
• Reti System
  
• Robatsch Defense
  
• Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game)
  
• Scotch Game
  
• Sicilian Defense
  
• Slav Defense
  
• Two Knights' Defense
  
• Vienna Game
  

Reference

See our reference links to know more about the most common openings and their names. The ECO reference sites have lots of material.

Traps

No one likes to get caught in an opening trap. Click here for a series of exercises designed to test your sense of danger in the opening.

The first move

• Introduction to 1.e4
  No chessplayer can ignore 1.e4, when White already attacks on the first move. Half of your opponents are going to open with the King's Pawn - how do you react?
• Introduction to 1.d4
  The initial position of a chess game is nearly symmetric. Only the position of the King and Queen breaks the symmetry, and this makes all the difference between 1.d4 and 1.e4. In most games opened with 1.d4, White plays an early c4 followed by Nc3.
• Unusual First Moves
  The initial position shares a feature with all chess positions -- the legal moves do not all have equal value. What distinguishes the good moves from the bad moves, and from the not-so-bad moves?

Build an Opening Repertoire

• Part 1
  Here's how to avoid losing a chess game in the opening. It's a simple procedure that can be used by all players from beginner to expert, including the best in the world. What do grandmasters know that the rest of us don't?
• Part 2
  An opening repertoire is a nice expression that means 'if my opponent moves there, then I'll play here', where the preparation is done at home. Not only will it help you get a good game in the opening, it will also start you thinking about a chess position the way the best players do.
• Part 3
  Keep your repertoire balanced, consult references, consider your strengths & weaknesses, use your computer, and track your results. Don't be surprised as your playing strength improves. You're on the path to becoming an expert or better.

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