The objective in the opening of a chess game is to reach a good position.
The principles of opening play follow the general principles for
positional play.
The key for both sides is that White moves first.
White spends the first part of the game trying to convert this temporary advantage into something more lasting.
Black tries to eliminate White's temporary advantage.
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...
Chess Glossary : Opening Terms
Chess terminology is at its most colorful in the names that have been applied to the openings and their variations. Chess also has a technical vocabulary which applies to opening theory in general.
References, ECO Opening Codes, and More
See our reference links to know more about the most common openings and their names.
The ECO reference sites have lots of material.
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 : How to Avoid Losing in the Opening.
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 : Select One Move for each Critical Position.
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 : Practical Considerations.
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.
Tutorials
Count the Developing Moves
There is an extremely useful tool for handling the chess opening. Count the developing moves. First, it gives us an idea who is leading in development. Second, it tells us what moves to consider next. Third, it lets us recognize and evaluate tradeoffs for less tangible positional factors.
Sicilian Defense - Najdorf Variation
If you play 1.e4, planning to answer the Sicilian with 2.Nf3 and 3.d4, you will meet the Najdorf Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6) many times. Be prepared!
Kings Indian Defense - Classical Variation
The Kings Indian Defense is one of the sharpest ways to meet 1.d4. The Classical Variation is one of the sharpest ways to meet the Kings Indian. After the board is separated into two pieces by ...e5 & d5, White attacks on the Queenside and Black attacks on the Kingside. Piece exchanges are infrequent and combinations arise everywhere.
Ruy Lopez - 3...a6 Closed Variation
The moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 (Ruy Lopez) 3...a6 (Morphy Defense) 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 (Closed Variation) 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O, lead to the most common position in chess after eight moves by both sides. One reason for its popularity is that the opponents have so many plans available.
English - 1...e5
The variation 1.c4 e5 of the English Opening is called the Reversed Sicilian. Because the Reversed Sicilian is a tempo ahead of the Sicilian, many beginning players assume there must be something wrong with it for Black. Experienced players know that even if not logical, it is eminently playable.
Queen's Gambit Declined - 4.Bg5
A popular response by Black to 1.d4 is the Queen's Gambit Declined (often abbreviated QGD) : 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. The game usually continues 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5, which pins the Black Knight and threatens 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bxf6 gxf6, ruining Black's Kingside. As with most Queen Pawn openings, the QGD move orders are flexible. In this tutorial we look at the main ideas.
Traps
Exercises
No one likes to get caught in an opening trap. Here are a series of exercises designed to test your sense of danger in the opening.
Guide to Chess Gambits
Part 1 : 1.e4 e5 and 1...e6
How many different gambits and counter gambits are there? Part 1 covers 1.e4 e5 and 1...e6. Almost half of these are variations of the Kings Gambit.
Part 2 : Everything except 1.e4 e5 and 1...e6
Part 2 covers all openings except those that start 1.e4 e5 or 1...e6. The Queen's Gambit is in our list even though it's not a true gambit, but it's not the only so-called gambit which is too dangerous to accept.
Links to Other Resources
Chess Instruction - Improve Your Openings
It doesn't matter how creative you may be in the middle game or endgame if you lose in the opening. Avoid the quick knockout and get a comfortable game. Maybe even deliver a quick knockout yourself!
