Chess Openings Guide

The opening is the first dozen or so moves of a game. Openings have names because many people have played and studied them, so we know which moves work and which ones are traps. Here are the 33 most common ones, explained with diagrams. When you're done reading, you can play chess online and practice them against the computer.

You don't need to memorize long lines. If a beginner does these three things, no opening will hurt them much:

1. Take the center: use your pawns and knights to control d4, d5, e4 and e5.
2. Develop quickly: bring out your knights and bishops first, and don't keep moving the same piece.
3. Castle early: tuck your king into the corner and let your rooks come out.

You'll find more examples in good habits for beginners. All the openings below are really just different ways of doing these three things.

White starts with e4 and Black answers e5, so the two pawns meet head to head in the center. The position is open and the pieces clash quickly. This is the best place for a beginner to start.

• Italian GameThe bishop aims at f7, you develop fast and castle early. The best first opening for a beginner.
• Two Knights DefenseOn move three Black brings out a knight to attack e4, and the game turns sharp fast. The famous Fried Liver Attack comes from here.
• Ruy LopezThe bishop jumps to b5 to pressure the knight guarding e5 and builds an edge slowly. A favorite of professional players.
• Scotch GameWhite pushes d4 on move three and opens up the center. The ideas are simple and the position is open, which makes it great for beginners.
• Four Knights GameBoth sides bring out all four knights first. It's symmetrical and solid, and the perfect way to build the habit of developing first.
• Petrov's DefenseBlack doesn't defend e5 and counterattacks e4 with a knight. The position is symmetrical and solid, and famously hard to crack.
• Philidor DefenseBlack defends e5 with d6 and holds the center steady. The famous Légal Trap comes from here too.
• King's GambitWhite gives up the f-pawn on move two to open the f-file and grab the center. It's the most famous attacking opening of all.
• Vienna GameWhite plays the knight to c3 on move two to guard e4 and prepare f4. You can play it calm or sharp, so it's very flexible.

White plays e4, but Black doesn't copy with e5. Instead, Black fights for the center some other way. The game is unbalanced from the very start, so there's lots of variety.

• Sicilian DefenseBlack trades the c-pawn for White's d-pawn. The position is unbalanced and both sides can play to win. A favorite of strong players.
• Najdorf SicilianBlack starts with a quiet a6 that keeps every option open. It's the Sicilian world champions love most.
• Dragon SicilianBlack's bishop goes to g7 and aims at White's queenside; White castles long and attacks. It's the most thrilling race in the Sicilian.
• Smith-Morra GambitAgainst the Sicilian, White offers a pawn on move three and gets open lines and a lead in development. A favorite weapon at club level.
• French DefenseBlack's pawns on e6 and d5 stand up to White's center. Defend first, attack later. The pawn structure is clear and it's hard to lose quickly.
• Caro-Kann DefenseBlack's c6 pawn props up d5, and the bishop gets out before the wall goes up. The pawns stay healthy and it's very hard to break through.
• Pirc DefenseBlack plays d6, Nf6 and g6 and puts the bishop on the long diagonal at g7, letting White take the center first and counterattacking later.
• Alekhine's DefenseBlack's knight attacks e4 on move one, letting White's pawns chase it up the board, then turns around and attacks the pawns that went too far.
• Scandinavian DefenseBlack trades off e4 with d5 right from the start. The position is simple and the ideas are clear, so it's easy for beginners to pick up with Black.

White starts with d4. The pawns block the center, so the two sides take a longer road before they meet head on. These games are more about setup and pawn structure.

• Queen's GambitWhite offers the c-pawn to trade off Black's center pawn. It is not a real sacrifice, and it is the most classic 1. d4 opening.
• Slav DefenseThe c-pawn guards d5 and the c8 bishop stays free. One of Black's most solid answers to the Queen's Gambit.
• London SystemBishop to f4, pawns to e3 and c3, and the same setup whatever your opponent plays. The White opening with the least to memorize.
• Catalan OpeningA Queen's Gambit with g3 and Bg2. White's bishop eyes Black's queenside from the long diagonal. A favorite of strong players.
• Dutch DefenseBlack pushes f5 on move one to fight for e4. The game is unbalanced and aggressive, but Black's king is a bit more exposed.
• King's Indian DefenseBlack tucks the king away first, lets White take the center, and strikes back with e5 or c5 when the time is right.
• Nimzo-Indian DefenseThe black bishop jumps to b4 to pin White's knight, making it hard for White to push e4. One of the most respected defenses against 1. d4.
• Queen's Indian DefenseBlack plays b6 and puts the bishop on b7 to control the center from afar. One of the most solid defenses against 1. d4.
• Grünfeld DefenseBlack hits the center with d5 and puts the bishop on g7, letting White build a big center on purpose, then attacks it with bishop, knight and c5.
• Benoni DefenseBlack plays c5 to make White push d5, getting a queenside pawn majority and active pieces in return. A very fighting defense.
• Trompowsky AttackAfter 1. d4 Nf6, White brings the bishop to g5 right away to press on the knight and pull the opponent out of familiar lines early.

White leaves the center pawns alone on move one. The idea is to control the center from the side first and step into it later.

• English OpeningMove one is c4, watching d5 from the side, then the bishop goes to the long diagonal. Very flexible, and it can turn into many kinds of positions.
• Réti Opening1. Nf3 plus c4 hits Black's d5 from the side. It's the signature opening of "hypermodern" chess.
• King's Indian AttackNf3, g3, Bg2, O-O, d3, e4. Use the same setup whatever Black plays, then attack on the kingside.
• Bird's OpeningWhite controls e5 with the f-pawn, like a Dutch Defense with the colors reversed. Watch out for Black's From's Gambit.

These openings have names too, but few people play them. For now it's enough to know they exist:

• You just learned how the pieces move: start with the Italian Game. Its ideas are the most direct.
• You're Black against 1. e4: first learn to answer e5. Once you're comfortable, try the Sicilian or the French.
• You're Black against 1. d4: answer d5 first, and learn how to handle the Queen's Gambit.

Opening moves are written in algebraic notation. If it looks confusing, read how to read chess notation first.

Once you understand an opening, the best practice is to play it. Open free online chess, pick a level and try out the opening you just learned. You can also go back to the chess home page for more lessons.

Practise in a game