Chess opening

The first moves of a chess game are the "opening moves," collectively referred to as "the opening." Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings or defenses, and have been given names such as the Ruy Lopez, Sicilian Defense, and Queen's Gambit Declined. There are dozens of different openings, which vary widely in character from quiet positional play (e.g. the Réti Opening and some lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined) to wild tactical play (e.g. the Latvian Gambit and Two Knights Defense, particularly the Wilkes-Barre Variation).

Classification of chess openings

Various classification schemes for chess openings are in use. The ECO scheme is given at list of chess openings.

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The beginning chess position offers White 20 possible first moves. Of these, 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.Nf3, and 1.c4 are by far the most popular as these moves do the most to promote rapid development and control of the center. A few other opening moves are considered reasonable but less consistent with opening principles than the four most popular moves. The Dunst Opening, 1.Nc3, develops a knight to a good square, but is somewhat inflexible because it blocks White's c-pawn; also, after 1...d5 the knight is liable to be kicked to an inferior square by ...d4. (Note that after 1.Nf3 the analogous 1...e5? just loses a pawn.) Bird's Opening, 1.f4, addresses center control but not development and weakens the king position slightly. The Sokolsky Opening 1.b4 and the King's and Queen's fianchettos 1.b3 and 1.g3 aid development a bit, but they only address center control peripherally and are slower than the more popular openings. The 11 remaining possibilities are rarely played at the top levels of chess. Of these, the best are merely slow such as 1.c3, 1.d3, and 1.e3. Worse possibilities either ignore the center and development like 1.a3, weaken White's position (for instance, 1.f3 and 1.g4), or place the knights on poor squares (1.Na3 and 1.Nh3).

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Black has 20 possible responses to White's opening move. Many of these are mirror images of the most popular first moves for White, but with a tempo less. Defenses beginning with 1...c6 and 1...e6, often followed by the center thrust 2...d5, are also popular. Defenses with an early ...d6 coupled with a king-side fianchetto are also commonly played.

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One reasonable way to group the openings is

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• Double King Pawn or Open Games (1.e4 e5)
• Single King Pawn or Semi-Open Games (1.e4 other)
• Double Queen Pawn or Closed Games (1.d4 d5)
• Indian Systems (1.d4 Nf6)
• Other Black Defenses to 1.d4 (including the Dutch and the Benoni)
• Flank Openings (including 1.c4, 1.Nf3, 1.f4, and others)
• Unusual first moves for White

Open games (1.e4 e5)

White starts by playing 1.e4 (moving his King's pawn 2 spaces). This is the most popular opening move and it has many strengths — it immediately works on controlling the center, and it frees two pieces (the queen and a bishop). The oldest openings in chess follow 1.e4 and many lie along the Épine Dorsale. Bobby Fischer rated 1.e4 as "best by test". On the downside, 1.e4 places a pawn on an undefended square and weakens d4 and f4; the Hungarian master Gyula Breyer melodramatically declared that "After 1.e4 White's game is in its last throes". If Black mirrors White's move and replies with 1...e5, the result is an open game.

Related Topics:
Épine Dorsale - Bobby Fischer - Gyula Breyer

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The most popular second move for White is 2.Nf3 attacking Black's king pawn and preparing to advance the queen pawn to d4. Black's most common reply is 2...Nc6, which usually leads to the Ruy Lopez, Giuoco Piano, Two Knights Defense, or Scotch Game. If Black instead maintains symmetry and counterattacks White's center with 2...Nf6 then the Petrov's Defense results.

Related Topics:
Ruy Lopez - Giuoco Piano - Two Knights Defense - Scotch Game - Petrov's Defense

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The most popular alternatives to 2.Nf3 are 2.Nc3 (the Vienna Game), 2.Bc4 (the Bishop's Opening) and 2.f4 (the King's Gambit). All of these three openings have some similarities with each other, in particular the Bishop's Opening frequently transposes to variations of the Vienna Game. The King's Gambit was extremely popular in the 1800s. White sacrifices a pawn for quick development and to pull a black pawn out of the center. The Vienna Game also frequently features attacks on the Black center by means of a f2-f4 pawn advance.

Related Topics:
Vienna Game - Bishop's Opening - King's Gambit

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In the Center Game, 2.d4, White immediately opens the center but if the pawn is to be recovered after 2...exd4, White must contend with a slightly premature queen development after 3.Qxd4. An alternative is to sacrifice one or two pawns, for example in the Danish Gambit.

Related Topics:
Center Game - Danish Gambit

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The early queen developments of the Parham Attack and the Napoleon Opening look amateurish. Indeed they are generally only played by novices, but the Parham Attack has been played in a few grandmaster tournament games.

Related Topics:
Parham Attack - Napoleon Opening

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The Portuguese Opening, Alapin's Opening, Konstantinopolsky Opening, and Inverted Hungarian Opening are rare, offbeat tries for White.

Related Topics:
Portuguese Opening - Alapin's Opening - Konstantinopolsky Opening - Inverted Hungarian Opening

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Of the defenses in this section, only the Damiano Defense is truly bad,

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although the Elephant Gambit and the Latvian Gambit are very risky for Black.

Related Topics:
Elephant Gambit - Latvian Gambit

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The Philidor Defense is not popular in modern chess because it allows White an easy space advantage while Black remains solid but cramped and passive.

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• 1.e4 e5 Double King's Pawn Opening or Open Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Ruy Lopez
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Ponziani Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Scotch Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Italian Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 Giuoco Piano
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Evans Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 Two Knights Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 Hungarian Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 Four Knights Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 something besides 3...Nf6 Three Knights Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Ponziani Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 Konstantinopolsky Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Petrov's Defence
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 Philidor Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 Latvian Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 Elephant Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6 Greco Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 Damiano Defense
• 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bishop's Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Vienna Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.f4 King's Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Center Game
• 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 Danish Gambit
• 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Parham Attack
• 1.e4 e5 2.Bb5 Portuguese Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.c3 Lopez Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2 Inverted Hungarian Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Alapin's Opening
• 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3?! Napoleon Opening

Semi-open games (1.e4, Black plays something other than 1...e5)

In the semi-open games White plays 1.e4 and Black breaks symmetry immediately by replying with a move other than 1...e5. The most popular Black defense to 1.e4 is the Sicilian, but the French and the Caro-Kann are also very popular. The Pirc and the Modern are also commonly seen, and the Alekhine has made occasional appearances in World Chess Championship games. The Center Counter and Nimzowitsch are playable but rare. Owen's Defense and the St. George Defense are oddities, although Tony Miles once used St. George's Defense to defeat then World Champion Anatoly Karpov.

Related Topics:
Sicilian - French - Caro-Kann - Pirc - Modern - Alekhine - World Chess Championship - Center Counter - Nimzowitsch - Owen's Defense - St. George Defense - Tony Miles - Anatoly Karpov

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The Sicilian and French Defenses lead to unbalanced positions that can offer exciting play with both sides having chances to win. The Caro-Kann Defense is solid as Black intends to use his c-pawn to support his center (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5). Alekhine's, the Pirc and the Modern are hypermodern openings in which Black tempts White to build a large center with the goal of attacking it with pieces.

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• 1.e4 a6 St. George Defense
• 1.e4 b6 Owen's Defense
• 1.e4 c5 Sicilian Defense
• 1.e4 c6 Caro-Kann Defense
• 1.e4 Nc6 Nimzowitsch Defense
• 1.e4 d5 Center Counter Defense
• 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 Pirc Defense
• 1.e4 e6 French Defense
• 1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5 Franco-Benoni Defense
• 1.e4 Nf6 Alekhine's Defense
• 1.e4 g6 Modern Defense

Closed games (1.d4 d5)

The openings classified as closed games begin 1.d4 d5. The move 1.d4 offers the same benefits to development and center control as does 1.e4, but unlike with the King Pawn openings where the e4 pawn is undefended after the first move, the d4 pawn is protected by White's queen. This slight difference has a tremendous effect on the opening. For instance, whereas the King's Gambit is rarely played today at the highest levels of chess, the Queen's Gambit remains a popular weapon at all levels of play. Also, compared to the King Pawn openings, transpositions between variations are more common and critical in the closed games.

Related Topics:
King's Gambit - Queen's Gambit

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The Richter-Veresov Attack, Colle System, Stonewall Attack, and Blackmar-Diemer Gambit are classified as Queen's Pawn Games because White plays d4 but not c4. Although the Richter-Veresov is played at the top levels of chess, it is used only occasionally. The Colle and the Stonewall are both Systems, rather than specific opening variations.

Related Topics:
Richter-Veresov Attack - Colle System - Stonewall Attack - Blackmar-Diemer Gambit - Queen's Pawn Game

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White develops aiming for a particular formation without great concern over how Black chooses to defend.

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Both these systems are popular with club players because they are easy to learn,

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but are rarely used by professionals because a well prepared opponent playing Black can equalize fairly easily.

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The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit is an attempt by White to open lines and obtain attacking chances.

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Most professionals consider it too risky for serious games, but it is popular with amateurs and in blitz chess.

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The most important closed openings are in the Queen's Gambit family (White plays 2.c4).

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The Queen's Gambit is somewhat misnamed, since White can always regain the offered pawn if desired.

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In the Queen's Gambit Accepted, Black plays ...dxc4, giving up the center for free development and the chance to try to give White an isolated queen pawn with a subsequent ...c5 and ...cxd5.

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White will get active pieces and possibilities for the attack.

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Black has two popular ways to decline the pawn, the Slav (2...c6) and the Queen's Gambit Declined (2...e6).

Related Topics:
Slav - Queen's Gambit Declined

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Both of these moves lead to an immense forest of variations that can require a great deal of opening study to play well.

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Among the many possibilites in the Queen's Gambit Declined are the Orthodox Defense, Lasker's Defense, the Cambridge Springs Defense, the Tartakower Variation, and the Tarrasch and Semi-Tarrasch Defenses.

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Black replies to the Queen's Gambit other than 2...dxc4, 2...c6, and 2...e6 are uncommon.

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The Chigorin Defense (2...Nc6) is playable but quite rare.

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The Symmetrical Defense (2...c5) is the most direct challenge to Queen's Gambit theory —

Related Topics:
Symmetrical Defense - Queen's Gambit

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Can Black equalize by simply copying White's moves?

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Most opening theoreticians believe the answer is no, and consequently the Symmetrical Defense is not popular.

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The Baltic Defense (2...Bf5) takes the most direct solution to solving the problem of Black's queen bishop by developing it on the second move.

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Although it is not trusted by most elite players, it has not been definitely refuted and some very strong grandmasters have played it.

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The Albin Countergambit (2...e5) is generally considered too risky for top-level tournament play, and the Marshall Defense (2...Nf6) is no longer played as it is thought to be definitely inferior for Black.

Related Topics:
Albin Countergambit - Marshall Defense

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• 1.d4 d5 Double Queen's Pawn Opening or Closed Game
• 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Richter-Veresov Attack
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Queen's Gambit
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA)
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 Symmetrical Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 Slav Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 Chigorin Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 Albin Countergambit
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD)
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 Baltic Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 Marshall Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.e3 Stonewall Attack
• 1.d4 d5 2.e4 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit
• 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Colle System

Indian systems (1.d4 Nf6)

The Indian systems are asymmetrical defenses to 1.d4 that employ hypermodern chess strategy. Fianchettos are common in many of these openings. As with the closed games, transpositions are important and many of the Indian defenses can be reached by several different move orders. Although Indian defenses were championed in the 1920s by players in the hypermodern school, they were not fully accepted until Soviet players showed in the late 1940s that these systems are sound for Black. Since then, Indian defenses have been the most popular Black replies to 1.d4 because they offer an unbalanced game with chances for both sides.

Related Topics:
1920s - 1940s

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The Modern Benoni Defense is a risky attempt by Black to to unbalance the position and gain active piece play at the cost of allowing White a pawn wedge at d5 and a central majority.

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Tal popularized the defense in the 1960s by winning several brilliant games with it.

Related Topics:
Tal - 1960s

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Often Black adopts a slightly different move order, playing 2...e6 before 3...c5.

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The Benko Gambit is now considered a sound opening for Black.

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Black plays to open lines on the queenside where White will be subject to considerable pressure.

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If White accepts the gambit, Black's compensation is positional rather than tactical, and her initiative can last even after many piece exchanges and well into the endgame.

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White often chooses instead either to decline the gambit pawn or return it.

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Advocated by Nimzowitsch as early as 1913, the Nimzo-Indian Defense was the first of the Indian systems to gain full acceptance. It remains one of the most popular and well-respected defenses to 1.d4. Black attacks the center with pieces and is prepared to trade a bishop for a knight to weaken White's queenside with doubled pawns.

Related Topics:
Nimzowitsch - 1913 - Nimzo-Indian Defense

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The Queen's Indian Defense is considered solid, safe, and perhaps somewhat drawish. Black often chooses the Queen's Indian when White avoids the Nimzo-Indian by playing 3.Nf3 instead of 3.Nc3. Black constructs a sound position that makes no positional concessions, although sometimes it is difficult for Black to obtain good winning chances. Karpov is a leading expert in this opening.

Related Topics:
Queen's Indian Defense - Drawish - Karpov

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The King's Indian Defense is aggressive and somewhat risky, and generally indicates that Black will not be satisfied with a draw. Although it was played occasionally as early as the late 19th century, the King's Indian was considered inferior until the 1940s when it was featured in the games of Bronstein, Boleslavsky, and Reshevsky. Fischer's favored defense to 1.d4, its popularity faded in the mid-1970s. Kasparov's successes with the defense restored the King's Indian to prominence in the 1980s.

Related Topics:
King's Indian Defense - 19th century - 1940s - Bronstein - Boleslavsky - Reshevsky - Fischer - 1970s - Kasparov - 1980s

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Ernst Grünfeld debuted the Grünfeld Defense in 1922. Distinguished by the move 3...d5, Grünfeld intended it as an improvement to the King's Indian which was not considered entirely satisfactory at that time. The Grünfeld has been adopted by World Champions Smyslov, Fischer, and Kasparov.

Related Topics:
Ernst Grünfeld - Grünfeld Defense - 1922 - Smyslov - Fischer - Kasparov

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The Old Indian Defense was introduced by Tarrasch in 1902, but it is more commonly associated with Chigorin who adopted it five years later. It is similar to the King's Indian in that both feature a ...d6 and ...e5 pawn center, but in the Old Indian Black's king bishop is developed to e7 rather than being fianchettoed on g7. The Old Indian is solid, but Black's position is usually cramped and it lacks the dynamic possibilities found in the King's Indian.

Related Topics:
Old Indian Defense - Tarrasch - 1902 - Chigorin

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• Help! need more stuff here

Discussion of the Bogo-Indian and Modern Benoni

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