Chess Openings
An opening is how a chess game begins — the named sequence of first moves and the plans behind it. Browse 110 openings below: each page shows the main line, its key variations, and a one-click way to analyze it free.
A · Flank & English openings
- English OpeningA10–C201. c432 named variations
- Queen's Pawn GameA40–D051. d422 named variations
- Dutch DefenseA80–A991. d4 f532 named variations
- Benoni DefenseA40–A791. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c527 named variations
- Grünfeld DefenseA56–E601. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d517 named variations
- Indian DefenseA43–E601. d4 Nf632 named variations
- Zukertort OpeningA04–A411. Nf337 named variations
- Réti OpeningA09–A141. Nf3 d5 2. c47 named variations
- Modern DefenseA04–B271. e4 g626 named variations
- Pterodactyl DefenseA40–B271. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg77 named variations
- Van Geet OpeningA00–C311. Nc330 named variations
- Bird OpeningA02–B211. f420 named variations
- Polish OpeningA00–A051. b421 named variations
- Grob OpeningA001. g410 named variations
- Hungarian OpeningA00–A071. g319 named variations
- King's Indian AttackA05–A081. Nf3 d5 2. g311 named variations
- Nimzo-Larsen AttackA01–A061. b312 named variations
- Old Indian DefenseA41–A551. d4 d6 2. c48 named variations
- Rat DefenseA41–C001. e4 d6 2. f48 named variations
- Trompowsky AttackA451. d4 Nf6 2. Bg55 named variations
- Benko Gambit AcceptedA57–A591. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b58 named variations
- Kádas OpeningA001. h46 named variations
- Englund GambitA401. d4 e58 named variations
- Benko GambitA57–A591. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b56 named variations
- Ware OpeningA001. a46 named variations
- English DefenseA401. d4 b65 named variations
- Englund Gambit DeclinedA401. d4 e5 2. d56 named variations
- Barnes OpeningA00–C201. f34 named variations
- Torre AttackA46–A481. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg53 named variations
- Benko Gambit DeclinedA571. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b55 named variations
- Van't Kruijs OpeningA001. e32 named variations
- King's Indian Attack, with Bf5A071. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c61 named variations
- Borg DefenseA40–B001. e4 g53 named variations
- Mieses OpeningA001. d33 named variations
- Sodium AttackA001. Na33 named variations
- Mikenas DefenseA401. d4 Nc63 named variations
- London SystemA48–D021. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf41 named variations
- Amar OpeningA001. Nh31 named variations
- Colle SystemA04–A401. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. e3 c52 named variations
- London System, with Be2A481. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg71 named variations
- Anderssen's OpeningA001. a31 named variations
- Clemenz OpeningA001. h31 named variations
- FormationA001. a3 e5 2. b3 d5 3. c3 Nf61 named variations
- Polish Opening, with d5A001. b4 d51 named variations
- Zukertort DefenseA041. Nf3 Nh6 2. d4 g61 named variations
- King's Indian Attack, with e6A071. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e61 named variations
- English OrangutanA151. c4 Nf6 2. b40 named variations
- Horwitz DefenseA401. d4 e61 named variations
- Kangaroo DefenseA401. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+1 named variations
- Polish DefenseA401. d4 b51 named variations
- Slav IndianA40–A501. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c61 named variations
- Amazon AttackA45–D001. d4 d5 2. Qd31 named variations
- Marienbad SystemA471. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb71 named variations
- Pseudo Queen's Indian DefenseA471. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b60 named variations
- Mexican DefenseA501. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc61 named variations
B · Semi-open games (Sicilian, Caro-Kann…)
- Sicilian DefenseB20–B991. e4 c586 named variations
- Caro-Kann DefenseB10–B191. e4 c645 named variations
- Alekhine DefenseB02–B051. e4 Nf620 named variations
- Scandinavian DefenseB011. e4 d523 named variations
- Nimzowitsch DefenseB001. e4 Nc617 named variations
- King's Pawn GameB00–C441. e424 named variations
- Pirc DefenseB00–B091. e4 d69 named variations
- Owen DefenseB001. e4 b67 named variations
- Lion DefenseB00–B071. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd73 named variations
- St. George DefenseB001. e4 a63 named variations
- Carr DefenseB001. e4 h61 named variations
- Goldsmith DefenseB001. e4 h51 named variations
- Hippopotamus DefenseB001. e4 Nh60 named variations
- Ware DefenseB001. e4 a51 named variations
C · Open games & the French
- Ruy LopezC60–C991. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb534 named variations
- French DefenseC00–C191. e4 e644 named variations
- Italian GameC50–C591. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc418 named variations
- King's Gambit AcceptedC33–C391. e4 e5 2. f4 exf451 named variations
- King's Gambit DeclinedC30–C321. e4 c5 2. f4 e516 named variations
- Scotch GameC44–C451. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d433 named variations
- Petrov's DefenseC42–C431. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf616 named variations
- Four Knights GameC47–C501. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf68 named variations
- Philidor DefenseC411. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d617 named variations
- Bishop's OpeningC23–C431. e4 e5 2. Bc428 named variations
- Vienna GameC25–C291. e4 e5 2. Nc320 named variations
- Center GameC20–C221. e4 e5 2. d412 named variations
- Latvian GambitC40–C441. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f512 named variations
- Ponziani OpeningC441. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c310 named variations
- Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange DefenseC251. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f47 named variations
- Latvian Gambit AcceptedC401. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf58 named variations
- Danish Gambit AcceptedC211. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc35 named variations
- Three Knights OpeningC461. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc34 named variations
- Elephant GambitC401. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d53 named variations
- King's Pawn OpeningC201. e4 e5 2. b32 named variations
- Portuguese OpeningC201. e4 e5 2. Bb52 named variations
- King's Knight OpeningC40–C441. e4 e5 2. Nf32 named variations
D · Queen's Gambit & closed games
- Queen's Gambit DeclinedD02–D691. d4 d5 2. c4 e644 named variations
- Semi-Slav DefenseD30–D491. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf621 named variations
- Slav DefenseD10–D191. d4 d5 2. c4 c620 named variations
- Queen's Gambit AcceptedD20–D291. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc421 named variations
- Tarrasch DefenseD32–D341. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c513 named variations
- Blackmar-Diemer Gambit AcceptedD001. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf611 named variations
- Blackmar-Diemer GambitD001. d4 d5 2. e49 named variations
- Neo-Grünfeld DefenseD70–D791. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d56 named variations
- Blackmar-Diemer Gambit DeclinedD001. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf67 named variations
- Richter-Veresov AttackD011. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg55 named variations
- Rubinstein OpeningD051. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c53 named variations
- Rapport-Jobava SystemD011. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf40 named variations
E · Indian defences
- King's Indian DefenseE60–E991. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc322 named variations
- Nimzo-Indian DefenseE20–E591. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb416 named variations
- Queen's Indian DefenseE12–E191. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b617 named variations
- Catalan OpeningE00–E091. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g34 named variations
- Bogo-Indian DefenseE111. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+9 named variations
- Queen's Indian Defense, with e3E141. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d51 named variations
- Blumenfeld CountergambitE101. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c52 named variations
New to this? Read move classifications or the glossary, then review one of your games.