NOTES: All moves are shown in condensed algebraic notation. ECO codes in brackets.
More detailed information on openings can be found in Modern Chess Openings,
13th edition by W. Korn with N. DeFirmian.
Alapin's Opening [C20]
This opening poses no real problems for Black.
1 e4 e5 2 Ne2 Nf6 3 f4 Nxe4 4 d3 Nc5 5 fxe5 d5 6 d4 Ne6
Albin Counter Gambit [D08]
The Austrian master Adolf Albin used this opening successfully in the latter 19th century.
MCO considers it dubious as Black does not gain full value for the pawn.
MCO considers the 5 Nbd2 variation best for White.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e5 3 dxe5 d4 4 Nf3 Nc6
- 5 Nbd2:
5 Nbd2 Bg4 6 a3 Qe7 7 h3 Bxf3 8 Nxf3 O-O-O 9 Qd3 Nxe5
- 5 a3:
5 a3 Be6 6 e3 dxe3 7 Qxd8+ Rxd8 8 Bxe3 Nge7 9 Bf4 Ng6
Alekhine's Defense [B02]
This hypermodern defense was successfully played by Alekhine against A. Steiner
in 1921 at Budapest but this defense was well known for more than a 100 years before that.
This defense is considered too chancy by masters. MCO-13 states: "Black's strategy is to provoke
a White advance in the center at the expense of tempi lost by Black's king's
knight. Black then has targets to attack; White's center may become overextended
and collapse. Yet with proper care and restraint White should maintain some
advantage in space and mobility." The modern variation is considered to be White's best response.
1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5
- Exchange Variation (5 .. cxd6):
3 d4 d6 4 c4 Nb6 5 exd6 cxd6 6 Nf3 g6 7 Be2 Bg7 8 O-O O-O
9 h3 Nc6 10 Nc3 Bf5 11 Be3 d5 12 c5 Nc4 13 Bxc4 dxc4
- Exchange Variation (5 .. exd6):
3 d4 d6 4 c4 Nb6 5 exd6 exd6 6 Nc3 Be7 7 Be3 Nc6 8 Bd3 Bf6
9 Nge2 O-O 10 O-O Bg4 11 f3 Bh5 12 b3 Re8 13 Qd2 Bg6
- Four Pawns Attack (9 .. Be7):
3 d4 d6 4 c4 Nb6 5 f4 dxe5 6 fxe5 Nc6 7 Be3 Bf5 8 Nc3 e6
9 Nf3 Be7 10 Be2 O-O 11 O-O f6 12 exf6 Bxf6 13 Qd2 Qe7 14 Rad1 Rad8
- Modern Variation (4 .. Bg4):
3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 Bg4 5 Be2 e6 6 O-O Be7 7 c4 Nb6
8 h3 Bh5 9 Nc3 O-O 10 Be3 d5 11 c5 Bxf3! 12 gxf3 Nc8
- Modern Variation (4 .. Nc6):
3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 c4 Nb6 6 e6! fxe6 7 Nc3 g6
8 h4 Bg7 9 Be3 d5 10 c5 Nd7 11 h5 e5 12 h6 Bf6
- Modern Variation (4 .. g6):
3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 g6 5 Bc4 Nb6 6 Bb3 Bg7 7 Ng5 e6
8 Qf3 Qe7 9 Ne4 dxe5 10 Bg5 Qb4+ 11 c3 Qa5 12 Bf6 Bxf6
- Two Pawns Attack (5 Bc4):
3 c4 Nb6 4 c5 Nd5 5 Bc4 e6 6 Nc3 Nxc3 7 dxc3 Nc6 8 Bf4 Bxc5
9 Qg4 g5! 10 Bxg5 Rg8 11 Nh3 Be7 12 Bxe7 Rxg4 13 Bxd8 Kxd8 14 f4 Rxg2
Benko Gambit [A57]
American GM Pal Benko brought this gambit to world attention in the early 1970s.
Black gains a slight lead in development, a better pawn structure and pressure
along the a and b files for the sac'd pawn. White may find it difficult to make
use of the extra pawn.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5
- 4 Nf3:
4 Nf3 g6 5 cxb5 a6 6 Nc3 axb5 7 d6 Qa5 8 e3 Ba6
9 a4 Bg7 10 Nd2 c4 11 Rb1 bxa4
- Main Line (6 Nc3):
4 cxb5 a6 5 bxa6 Bxa6 6 Nc3 g6 7 e4 Bxf1 8 Kxf1 d6
9 g3 Bg7 10 Kg2 O-O 11 Nf3 Nbd7 12 Re1 Ng4 13 Re2 Qa5
- Fianchetto Variation:
4 .. a6 5 bxa6 Bxa6 6 g3 g6 7 Bg2 d6 8 Nc3 Bg7
9 Nf3 Nd7 10 O-O Nb6! 11 Re1 O-O 12 Bf4 Nc4 13 Qc1 Qa5
Benoni Defense [A56]
A modern opening known for its aggressive, tactical and almost reckless nature. Black acquires
a queenside majority and active pieces at the expense of allowing White to expand in the center.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 Nc3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6
- Fianchetto Variation:
6 Nf3 g6 7 g3 Bg7 8 Bg2 O-O 9 O-O Nbd7 10 Nd2 a6
11 a4 Re8 12 h3 Rb8 13 Nc4 Ne5 14 Na3 Nh5
- Four Pawns Attack:
6 e4 g6 7 f4 Bg7 8 Nf3 O-O 9 Be2 Re8 10 e5 dxe5
11 fxe5 Ng4 12 Bg5 Qb6 13 O-O Nxe5 14 d6 Qxb2 15 Nd5 Bf5
- Main Line (9 .. Re8):
6 Nf3 g6 7 e4 Bg7 8 Be2 O-O 9 O-O Re8 10 Nd2 Nbd7
11 a4 Ne5 12 Qc2 g5 13 b3 g4 14 Bb2 Nh5 15 g3 f5
- Main Line (9 .. a6):
6 Nf3 g6 7 e4 Bg7 8 Be2 O-O 9 O-O a6 10 a4 Bg4
11 Bf4 Bxf3 12 Bxf3 Qe7 13 Re1 Nbd7 14 Qd2 h5 15 h3 c4
- Taimanov Variation:
6 e4 g6 7 f4 Bg7 8 Bb5+ Nbd7 9 a4 O-O 10 Nf3 Na6
11 O-O Rb8 12 Re1 Nc7
Bird's Opening [A02]
MCO-13: "The English master H.E. Bird demonstrated the aggressive potential of this opening
in the second half of the 19th century." White's strategy is control of the dark squares.
1 f4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6
- 3 e3:
3 e3 c5 4 b3 Nc6 5 Bb5 Bd7 6 Bb2 e6 7 O-O Be7 8 d3 O-O
- 3 g3:
3 g3 c5 4 Bg2 Nc6 5 O-O g6 6 d3 Bg7 7 c3 O-O 8 Qc2 d4
- From's Gambit:
1 .. e5 2 fxe5 d6 3 exd6 Bxd6 4 Nf3 g5 5 d4 g4 6 Ng5 f5
7 e4 h6 8 e5 Be7
Bishop's Opening [C23]
This old opening was analyzed by Ruy Lopez and Lucena but Philidor is credited
for developing it into a system. Bc4 is an opening trick in an attempt to play Qh5 and Qxf7#.
2 .. Nf6 is Black's most aggressive reaction. 2 .. Bc5 is an ancient but playable response.
1 e4 e5 2 Bc4
- 2 .. Nf6:
2 .. Nf6 3 d3 c6 4 Nf3 d5 5 Bb3 Bd6 6 Nc3 dxe4
7 dxe4 Na6 8 Be3 Qe7 9 Nd2 Bc5 10 Qe2 Bxe3 =
- 2 .. Bc5:
2 .. Bc5 3 c3 Nf6 4 d4 exd4 5 e5 d5 6 exf6 dxc4
7 Qh5 O-O 8 Qxc5 Re8+ 9 Ne2 d3 10 Be3 dxe2 11 Nd2 Na6
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit [A45]
White sacs the e pawn to open the game and begin tactical play. While the gambit
is dangerous against an unwary opponent, the sac is questionable.
1 d4 d5 2 e4 dxe4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 exf3
- 5 Nxf3:
5 Nxf3 Bg4 6 h3 Bxf3 7 Qxf3 c6 8 Be3 e6
OR
5 Nxf3 Bf5 6 Ne5 e6 7 g4 Bg6 8 Qf3 c6
- 5 Qxf3:
5 Qxf3 g6 6 Be3 c6 7 Bc4 Bg7 8 Nge2 Nbd7
Blumenfeld Counter Gambit [E10]
Black sacs a wing pawn to gain control of the center.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 b5
- Accepted:
5 dxe6 fxe6 6 cxb5 d5 7 e3 Bd6 8 Nc3 Bb7 9 Be2 O-O
- Declined:
5 Bg5 h6 6 Bxf6 Qxf6 7 Nc3 b4 8 Nb5 Kd8!? 9 e4 g5
OR
5 Bg5 exd5 6 cxd5 Qa5+ 7 Nc3 Ne4 8 Bd2 Nxd2 9 Nxd2 b4
Bogo-Indian Defense [E11]
A hypermodern opening named after Yefim Bogolyubov, a world title contender of the 1930s.
Black deploys its pieces first to give flexibility in placing its pawns.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4+
- 4 Bd2:
4 Bd2 Qe7 5 g3 Nc6 6 Bg2 Bxd2+ 7 Nbxd2 d6 8 e4 e5
9 d5 Nb8 10 O-O O-O 11 b4 a5 12 a3 Na6 13 Qb3 Bg4
- 4 Nbd2:
4 Nbd2 b6 5 a3 Bxd2+ 6 Bxd2 Bb7 7 Bg5 d6 8 e3 Nbd7
9 Bd3 h6 10 Bh4 g5 11 Bg3 Qe7 12 Qc2 h5 13 h3 h4
Budapest Defense [A52]
This opening made its tournament debut in Esser-Breyer, Budapest in 1916. GMs
tend to find the defensive possibilities too limiting. Black gets an easy game
if White declines the Budapest gambit.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e5
- 3 dxe5 Ng4:
3 dxe5 Ng4 4 Bf4 Nc6 5 Nf3 Bb4+ 6 Nc3 Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 Qe7
8 Qd5 f6?! 9 exf6 Nxf6 10 Qd3 d6 11 g3 O-O 12 Bg2 Ne4
- 3 dxe5 Ne4:
3 dxe5 Ne4 4 Qc2 Bb4+ 5 Nc3 d5 6 exd6 Bf5 7 Bd2 Nxd6
8 e4 Bxc3 9 Bxc3 Bxe4 10 Qd2 O-O 11 O-O-O Nd7 12 f3 Bg6
- 3 d5:
3 d5 Bc5 4 Nc3 d6
Caro-Kann Defense [B10]
Originally mentioned by Polerio in 1590, the defense was rarely played until H. Caro of Berlin and
M. Kann of Vienna seriously analyzed it in the 1890s. Capablanca frequently played it to
avoid book lines. It can be highly successful against aggressive opponents but the CK lacks
attacking possibilities. Patience and endgame skill are usually needed by Black to win.
1 e4 c6
- Advance Variation [B12]:
2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 4 Nc3 e6 5 g4 Bg6 6 Nge2 c5
7 h4 h6 8 Be3 Qb6 9 Qd2 Nc6 10 O-O-O h5 11 dxc5 Bxc5
- Exchange Variation [B13]:
2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 Bd3 Nc6 5 c3 Nf6 6 Bf4 Bg4
7 Qb3 Qd7 8 Nd2 e6 9 Ngf3 Bxf3 10 Nxf3 Bd6
- Fianchetto System:
2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 g6 4 e5 Bg7 5 f4 h5 6 Be3 Nh6
7 Nf3 Bg4 8 Be2 Nd7 9 Qd2 e6 10 g3 Bf8
- King's Indian Attack Variation:
2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 e5 4 Ngf3 Bd6 5 g3 Nf6 6 Bg2 O-O
7 O-O Re8 8 Re1 Nbd7 9 c3 dxe4 10 dxe4 Qc7
- Main Line (Classical Variation) [B18]:
2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Bf5 5 Ng3 Bg6 6 h4 h6
7 Nf3 Nd7 8 h5 Bh7 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10 Qxd3 Qc7 (or e6)
- Main Line (4 .. Nf6 Nxf6+ gxf6) [B16]:
2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Nxf6+ gxf6 6 c3 Bf5
7 Nf3 Qc7 8 g3 Nd7 9 Bg2 e6 10 O-O O-O-O 11 Re1! Bg4
- Main Line (4 .. Nf6 Nxf6+ exf6) [B15]:
2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Nxf6+ exf6 6 c3 Bd6
7 Bd3 O-O 8 Qc2 Re8 9 Ne2 g6 10 h4 f5 11 h5 Qf6
- Main Line (4 .. Nd7):
2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nd7 5 Bc4 Ngf6 6 Ng5 e6
7 Qe2 Nb6 8 Bd3 h6 9 N5f3 c5 10 dxc5 Bxc5 11 Ne5 Nbd7
- Panov-Botvinnik Attack (5 .. e6) [B13]:
2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Nf3 Be7
7 c5 O-O 8 Bd3 b6 9 b4 a5 10 Na4 Nfd7! 11 b5 bxc5
12 dxc5 e5 13 c6 e4 14 cxd7 Nxd7 15 O-O exf3 16 Qxf3 Ne5
- Panov-Botvinnik Attack (5 .. Nc6):
2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bg5 Qa5
7 Bd2 dxc4 8 Bxc4 e6 9 Nf3 Qd8 10 Be3 Be7 11 O-O O-O
- Panov-Botvinnik Attack (5 .. g6):
2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 cxd5 Nxd5
7 Qb3! Nxc3 8 Bc4! e6 9 bxc3 Nc6 10 Nf3 Bg7 11 Ba3 Bf8
- Two Knights' Variation (3 .. Bg4):
2 Nc3 d5 3 Nf3 Bg4 4 h3 Bxf3 5 Qxf3 Nf6 6 d3 e6
7 g3 Bb4 8 Bd2 d4 9 Nb1 Qb6 10 b3 a5 11 a3 Bxd2
- Two Knights' Variation (3 .. Nf6):
2 Nc3 d5 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e5 Ne4 5 Ne2 Bg4 6 Nfg1 Bxe2
7 Bxe2 e6 8 d3 Nc5 9 Nf3 Ncd7 10 O-O c5
Catalan Opening [E00]
The Catalan first appeared in a tournament in Barcelona, Spain in 1929. Its name was given by Tartakower
in honor of Catalonia, the province of which Barcelona is the capital. White's fianchettoed bishop
inhibits Black's queenside development and prevents the Queen's Indian. The open
variation is the most popular.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 d5 4 Bg2
- Open Variation (Classical):
4 .. dxc4 5 Nf3 Be7 6 O-O O-O 7 Qc2 a6 8 Qxc4 b5 9 Qc2 Bb7
10 Bf4 Nc6 11 Rd1 Nb4 12 Qc1 Qc8 13 Bg5 c5 14 Bxf6 gxf6 15 a3 Nd5
OR
10 Bd2 Be4 11 Qc1 Nc6 12 Be3 Nb4 13 Nbd2 Bb7 14 Bg5 Rc8 15 a3 Nbd5
OR
10 Bg5 Nbd7 11 Bxf6 Nxf6 12 Nbd2 Rc8 13 Nb3 c5 14 dxc5 Bd5 15 Rfd1 Bxd3
- Open Variation (8 a4):
4 .. dxc4 5 Nf3 Be7 6 O-O O-O 7 Qc2 a6 8 a4 Nbd7 9 Nbd2 c5
10 dxc5 Nxc5 11 Ne5 c3 12 Qxc3 Nd5 13 Qc2 Qc7 14 Ndf3 f6 15 Nd3 Nxd3
- Closed Variation (8 Nbd2) [E01]:
4 .. Be7 5 Nf3 O-O 6 O-O Nbd7 7 Qc2 c6 8 Nbd2 b6 9 e4 Bb7
10 b3 Rc8 11 Bb2 c5 12 exd5 exd5 13 dxc5 dxc4 14 Nxc4 b5 15 Nce5 Rxc5
- Closed Variation (8 b3) [E01]:
4 .. Be7 5 Nf3 O-O 6 O-O Nbd7 7 Qc2 c6 8 b3 b5 9 Nbd2 bxc4
10 bxc4 Ba6 11 Bb2 Rb8 12 Rab1 Qa5 13 Bc4 Bb4 14 Rxb4 Rxb4 15 Rc1 Qa4
Center-Counter (Scandinavian) Defense [B01]
This defense allows Black to choose a defense more familiar to him than to White. This may
prevent White from transposing to a number of attacking variations.
1 e4 d5 2 exd5
- 2 .. Qxd5:
2 .. Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Bc4 c6 6 Bd2 Bf5
7 Nd5 Qd8 8 Nxf6+ gxf6 9 Bf4 Qb6 10 Bb3 a5 11 a4 Rg8
OR
2 .. Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 Bg4 6 h3 Bh5
7 Bd2 e6 8 Bc4 Bb4 9 g4 Bg6 10 Ne5 Nc6! 11 Nxc6 bxc6
- 2 .. Nf6:
2 .. Nf6 3 d4 Nxd5 4 c4 Nb6 5 Nf3 g6 6 h3 Bg7
7 Nc3 O-O 8 Be3 Nc6 9 Qd2 e5 10 d5 Na5! 11 b3 f5
Chigorin's Defense (QGD) [D07]
This defense blocks the c pawn and often trades a bishop for a knight but allows Black
to develop quickly which may bring him attacking chances against inferior play.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 Nc6
- 3 Nf3:
3 Nf3 Bg4 4 cxd5 Bxf3 5 gxf3 Qxd5 6 e3 e6 7 Nc3 Qh5
8 f4 Qxd1+ 9 Kxd1 O-O-O 10 Bd2 Nf6 11 Bb5 Ne7 12 Ke2 Nf5
- 3 Nc3:
3 Nc3 dxc4 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 e4 Bg4 6 Be3 Bxf3 7 gxf3 e5
8 d5 Ne7 9 Qa4+ Nd7 10 d6! cxd6 11 Bxc4 d5 12 Nxd5 Nc6
Colle System [D05]
Zukertort originated this system over a centry ago. It was forged by Edgar Colle
in the 1930s and further developed by Koltanowski. White holds back its queen's bishop
for the moment, hoping to make a breakthrough in the center.
1 d4
- 1 .. d5:
1 .. d5 2 e3 Nf6 3 Nf3 e6 4 Bd3 c5 5 b3 Nbd7
6 Bb2 b6 7 O-O Bb7 8 Ndb2 Be7 9 Ne5 O-O 10 Qf3 Rc8
- 1 .. Nf6:
1 .. Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 e3 c5 4 Bd3 b6 5 O-O Bb7
6 b3 Nc6 7 Bb2 Be7 8 Ndb2 cxd4 9 exd4 O-O 10 a3 Rc8
Crab Opening [A00]
1 a4 e5 2 h4
Czech Benoni [A56]
A more solid opening than the standard Benoni but Black lacks active chances.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5 4 Nc3 d6 5 e4 Be7
-Main Line:
6 Nf3 O-O 7 h3 Nbd7 8 g4 a6 9 a4 Rb8
10 Bd3 Ne8 11 Rg1 Nc7 12 b3 Re8
- 6 g3:
6 g3 O-O 7 Bg2 Ne8 8 Nge2 Nd7 9 O-O a6
10 a4 Rb8 11 Be3 b6 12 Nc1 Nc7
Danish Gambit [C21]
A straightforward gambit first analyzed by the Danes O. Krause and M. From. The gambit gives White
quick development and raking bishops. However, safe ways to decline the gambit has meant rare
appearances in serious competition.
1 e4 e5 2 d4 exd4 3 c3
- Accepted:
3 .. dxc3 4 Bc4 cxb2 5 Bxb2 d5 6 Bxd5 Bb4+ 7 Nc3 Bxc3+
8 Bxc3 Nf6 9 Qf3 Nxd5 10 exd5 O-O 11 Ne2 Re8
- Declined:
3 .. d5 4 exd5 Qxd5 5 cxd4 Nf6 6 Nf3 Bb4+ 7 Nc3 O-O
8 Be2 Ne4 9 Bd2 Bxc3 10 bxc3 Nxd2 11 Qxd2 Bg4 =
Döry Defense [A46]
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Ne4!? 4 e3 b6
5 Bd3 Bb4+ 6 Nbd2 Bb7 7 a3
Dutch Defense [A80]
Dutchman Elias Stein first analyzed this defense in 1789. It was infrequently played
until the 1920s and 30s when Alekhine and Botvinnik used it successfully. Since
then however, it has not been used on a regular basis at master level. The chief
reason for this is that many GMs consider the resulting kingside weakness from
f5 a questionable strategy. The Leningrad variation may be Black's best line.
1 d4 f5
- Classical variation (3 .. e6):
2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 e6 4 c4 Be7 5 Nf3 O-O 6 O-O d6
7 Nc3 Qe8 8 Qc2 Qh5 9 Bg5 Nc6 10 Rad1 e5 11 dxe5 Nxe5
- Leningrad variation (5 Nf3):
2 c4 Nf6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 Nf3 O-O 6 O-O d6
7 Nc3 Nc6 8 d5 Ne5 9 Nxe5 dxe5 10 Qb3 h6 11 Be3 Kh8
- Staunton Gambit:
2 e4 fxe4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Nc6 5 d5 Ne5 6 Qd4 Nf7
7 Bxf6 exf6 8 Nxe4 Be7 9 O-O-O O-O 10 Nf3 d6 11 Kb1 c5 =
- Stonewall variation (4 .. d5):
2 c4 Nf6 3 g3 e6 4 Bg2 d5 5 Nf3 c6 6 O-O Bd6
7 Nc3 Nbd7 8 Qc2 O-O 9 cxd5 cxd5 10 Nb5 Be8 11 Bf4 Bxf4
English Opening [A10]
This opening derives its name from Englishman Howard Staunton, who played it against
St. Amant in their 1843 match and in the 1851 London tournament. Morphy's dislike
of it though discouraged its appearance for over 100 years. However, with its
use by Botvinnik, Fischer, Karpov and Kasparov, it has regained popularity.
Vigorous struggle for center control and fluid pawn formations typically result in the English.
1 c4
- Closed Variation (5 e3):
1 .. e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 e3 d6
6 Nge2 Nge7 7 Rb1 a5 8 d3 Be6 9 Nd5 Qd7 10 a3 O-O
- Four Knights Variation (4 g3 Bb4):
1 .. e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 g3 Bb4 5 Bg2 O-O
6 O-O e4 7 Ng5 Bxc3 8 bxc3 Re8 9 d3 exd3 10 exd3 d6
- Four Knights Variation (4 g3 Bc5):
1 .. e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 g3 Bc5 5 Bg2 d6
6 O-O O-O 7 e3 Re8 8 d4 Bb6 9 h3 h6 10 a3 a5
- Hedgehog Defense (5 e4):
1 .. c5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 e6 4 g3 b6 5 e4 Bb7
6 d3 d6 7 Bg2 Be7 8 O-O O-O 9 Re1 Nc6 10 b3 a6
- King's Indian English (5 Nf3):
1 .. Nf6 2 Nc3 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 O-O 5 Nf3 d6
6 O-O Nc6 7 d3 Nh5 8 d4 e5 9 d5 Ne7 10 e4 f5
- Nimzo-Indian English (4 Qc2):
1 .. Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4 4 Qc2 O-O 5 a3 Bxc3
6 Qxc3 b6 7 b4 Bb7 8 Bb2 a5 9 e3 Qe7 10 Be2 axb4
- Queen's Indian English (5 Qe2):
1 .. Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 e4 Bb7 5 Qe2 Bb4
6 e5 Ng8 7 g3 Nc6 8 Bg2 Nd4 9 Qd3 Bxf3 10 Bxf3 Nxf3+
- Symmetrical Four Knights Variation (4 d4):
1 .. c5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nxd4 e6
6 Ndb5 d5 7 Bf4 e5 8 cxd5 exf4 9 dxc6 bxc6 10 Qxd8+ Kxd8
- Ultra-Symmetrical Variation (5 Nf3):
1 .. c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 Nf3 e5
6 O-O d6 7 a3 Nge7 8 Rb1 a5 9 d3 O-O 10 Bg5 f6
Four Knights Game [C46]
Modern masters consider this a dull and lifeless opening due to its lack of threats.
Black can use it as a drawing weapon.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6
- Belgrade Gambit (5 .. Nxe4):
4 d4 exd4 5 Nd5 Nxe4 6 Qe2 f5 7 Ng5 d3 8 cxd3 Nd4
9 Qh5+ g6 10 Qh4 c6 11 dxe4 cxd5 12 exd5 Qa5+ 13 Kd1 Qxd5
- Leipzig Gambit:
4 Nxe5 Nxe5 5 d4 Ng6 6 e5 Ng8 7 Bc4 d6 8 Qf3 Qd7
9 O-O dxe5 10 dxe5 Nxe5 11 Re1 Bd6 12 Bf4 f6 13 Bb5 c6
- Symmetrical Variation (7 Bg5):
4 Bb5 Bb4 5 O-O O-O 6 d3 d6 7 Bg5 Bxc3 8 bxc3 Qe7
9 Re1 Nd8 10 d4 Bg4?! 11 h3 Bh5 12 g4 Bg6 13 d5 c6
French Defense [C00]
This defense was analyzed in the 15th century by Italian Lucena, but was named after Parisian
players who adopted it in an 1834 correspondence game against London. The a2-g8 diagonal
is blocked by Black, intending to occupy the light central squares, concerning
himself with the dark squares later. The blocked queen's bishop is Black's biggest problem.
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5
- Advance variation (4 c3) [C02]:
3 e5 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 Nf3 Qb6 6 Be2 cxd4 7 cxd4 Nh6
8 Nc3 Nf5 9 Na4 Bb4+ 10 Bd2 Qa5 11 Bc3 b5 12 a3 Bxc3+
- Classical variation (7 Qd2) [C13]:
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e5 Nfd7 6 Bxe7 Qxe7 7 Qd2 O-O
8 Nce2 c5 9 c3 f6 10 f4 cxd4 11 cxd4 fxe5 12 fxe5 Nc6
- Exchange variation (4 Bd3):
3 exd5 exd5 4 Bd3 Bd6 5 c3 Nc6 6 Nf3 Nge7 7 O-O Bg4
8 h3 Bh5 9 Re1 Qd7 10 a4 O-O-O 11 a5 f6 12 b4 Rde8
- MacCutcheon variation (6 Be3) [C12]:
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Bb4 5 e5 h6 6 Be3 Ne4 7 Qg4 g6!
8 a3! Bxc3+ 9 bxc3 Nxc3! 10 Bd3 Nc6 11 h4 Qe7 12 h5 g5
- Rubinstein variation (5 Nf3) [C10]:
3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nd7 5 Nf3 Ngf6 6 Nxf6+ Nxf6 7 Bd3 c5
8 dxc5 Bxc5 9 Bg5 Be7 10 Qe2 O-O 11 O-O-O Qa5 12 Kb1 Qb6
- Steinitz variation (4 .. Nfd7) [C11]:
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 f4 c5 6 Nf3 Nc6 7 Be3 cxd4
8 Nxd4 Bc5 9 Qd2 O-O 10 O-O-O Qe7 11 Bb5 Nxd4 12 Bxd4 a6
- Tarrasch / Closed / Main Line variation [C06]:
3 Nd2 Nf6 4 c5 Nfd7 5 Bd3 c5 6 c3 Nc6 7 Nd2 cxd4
- Tarrasch / Guimard Defense (4 c3):
3 Nd2 Nc6 4 c3 Nf6 5 e5 Nd7 6 Bd3 f5 7 g4 Ndxe5
8 dxe5 Nxe5 9 Be2 fxg4 10 Nf1 Qg6 11 Ne3 Bc5 12 Bxg4
- Winawer / Poisoned Pawn variation:
3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e5 c5 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 Ne7 7 Qg4 Qc7
8 Qxg7 Rg8 9 Qxh7 cxd4 10 Ne2 Nbc6 11 f4 Bd7 12 Bf4 Qxc3
Giuoco Piano [C50]
Also known as the "Italian Opening" or "Quiet Game". Some use it to advance in the center and start
a quick attack while others use it in an attempt to outmaneuver their opponent in
a positional (quiet) game. The opening was mentioned in the Göttingen manuscript of 1490.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5
- Canal Variation:
4 d3 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5 h6 7 Bxf6 Qxf6
8 Nd5 Qd8 9 c3 Ne7 10 d4 Nxd5 11 dxc5 Nf4
- Evans Gambit Accepted:
4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Ba5 6 O-O d6 7 d4 Bb6
8 dxe5 dxe5 9 Qb3 Qf6 10 Bg5 Qg6 11 Bd5 Nge7
- Evans Gambit Declined:
4 b4 Bb6 5 a4 a6 6 Bb2 d6 7 b5 axb5
8 axb5 Rxa1 9 Bxa1 Nd4 10 Nxd4 exd4 11 c3 Nf6
- Main Line:
4 c3 Nf6 5 d4 exd4 6 cxd4 Bb4+ 7 Bd2 Bxd2
8 Nbxd2 d5 9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Qb3 Na5 11 Qa4 Nc6
- Moller Attack:
4 c3 Nf6 5 d4 exd4 6 cxd4 Bb4+ 7 Nc3 Nxe4
8 O-O Bxc3 9 d5 Bf6 10 Re1 Ne7 11 Rxe4 d6
12 Bg5 Bxg5 13 Nxg5 h6 14 Qe2 hxg5
- Pianissimo:
4 c3 Nf6 5 b4 Bb6 6 d3 d6 7 a4 a5
8 b5 Ne7 9 Nbd2 Ng6 10 O-O O-O 11 Bb3 c6
Grob's Attack [A00]
This unusual flank opening owes it reputation to Henri Grob in his countless
postal games with readers of his Swiss newspaper column. The force of the attack
is still unproven but Britain's Basman and Greece's Skembris have given it
some respectability.
1 g4
- 2 Bg2:
1 .. d5 2 Bg2 c6 3 h3 h5 4 g5 h4 5 e4 dxe4 6 Nc3 Qa5
- 2 h3:
1 .. d5 2 h3 e5 3 Bg2 c6 4 d4 e4 5 c4 Bd6 6 Nc3 Ne7
- Fritz Gambit:
1 .. d5 2 Bg2 Bxg4 3 c4
- Romford Counter Gambit:
1 .. d5 2 Bg2 Bxg4 3 c4 d4
- Spike Attack:
1 .. d5 2 Bg2 c6 3 g5
Grünfeld Defense [D80]
Austrian master Ernst Grünfeld invented this defense in 1922. Black allows
White to build a pawn center, and then attacks the central squares rather
than occupying them.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5
- Classical Line / Smyslov Variation (8 Be3):
4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Qb3 dxc4 6 Qxc4 O-O 7 e4 Bg4 8 Be3 Nfd7
9 Qb3 Nb6 10 Rd1 Nc6 11 d5 Ne5 12 Be2 Nxf3+ 13 gxf3 Bh5
- Classical Line / Prins Variation (8 Be2):
4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Qb3 dxc4 6 Qxc4 O-O 7 e4 Na6 8 Be2 c5
9 d5 e6 10 O-O exd5 11 exd5 Bf5 12 Rd1 Re8 13 d6 h6
- Exchange Variation (7 Bc4):
4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4 Nxc3 6 bxc3 Bg7 7 Bc4 O-O 8 Ne2 c5
9 O-O Nc6 10 Be3 cxd4 11 cxd4 Bg4 12 f3 Na5 13 Bd3 Be6
14 d5 Bxa1 15 Qxa1 f6 16 Rb1 Bd7 17 Bh6 Rf7 18 e5 d6
- Exchange Variation (7 Nf3):
4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 e4 Nxc3 6 bxc3 Bg7 7 Nf3 c5 8 Rb1 O-O
9 Be2 cxd4 10 cxd4 Qa5+ 11 Qd2 Qxd2+ 12 Bxd2 e6 13 O-O b6
- 4 Bf4:
4 Bf4 Bg7 5 e3 c5 6 dxc5 Qa5 7 Rc1 Ne4 8 cxd5 Nxc3
9 Qd2 Qxa2 10 bxc3 Qa5 11 Bc4 Nd7 12 Nf3 Nxc5 13 O-O O-O
Grünfeld Defense - Neo Grünfeld [D70]
Black pushes the e pawn when White goes for the Catalan setup instead of 3 Nc3.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 d5 5 cxd5 Nxd5
6 Nf3 O-O 7 O-O
- 7 .. Nb6:
7 .. Nb6 8 Nc3 Nc6 9 e3 e5 10 d5 Na5 11 e4 c6
12 Bg5 f6 13 Be3 cxd5 14 exd5 Nac4 15 Bc5 Rf7 16 Nd2 Bf8
- 7 .. c5:
7 .. c5 8 dxc5 Na6 9 Ng5 Nbd4 10 Nc3 Qxd1 11 Rxd1 Nxc5
12 Be3 Ne6 13 Rac1 Nc6 14 Nxe6 Bxe6 15 b3 Rad8 16 Nd5 Bb2
King's Fianchetto Defense
1 d4 g6 2 Nf3 Bg7 3 g3 c5 4 c3 Qb6
5 Qb3 Nf6 6 Qxb6 axb6 7 Na3 d6 8 Bg2 Nc6
King's Gambit [C30]
White attempts to dominate the center, develop quickly and prepare to attack
f7 but its king safety presents problems of its own.
1 e4 e5 2 f4
- Accepted / 3 .. d5:
2 .. exf4 3 Nf3 d5 4 exd5 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nxd5 6 Nxd5 Qxd5
7 d4 Be7 8 c4 Qe4+ 9 Kf2 Bf5 10 Be2 Nc6 =
- Accepted / Cunningham variation:
2 .. exf4 3 Nf3 Be7 4 Bc4 Nf6 5 e5 Ng4 6 Nc3 d6
7 d4 dxe5 8 dxe5 Qxd1+ 9 Nxd1 Be6 10 Bxe6 fxe6 11 h3 Nh6
- Accepted / Hanstein Gambit:
2 .. exf4 3 Nf3 g5 4 Bc4 Bg7 5 d4 h6 6 O-O d6
7 g3 Nc6 8 c3 g4 9 Nh4 f3 10 Nd2 Nf6 11 Nf5 Bxf5
- Accepted / Kieseritzky Gambit:
2 .. exf4 3 Nf3 g5 4 h4 g4 5 Ne5 Nf6 6 d4 d6
7 Nd3 Nxe4 8 Bxf4 Qe7 9 Qe2 Bg7 10 c3 Bf5 11 Nd2 Nxd2
- Accepted / Muzio Gambit:
2 .. exf4 3 Nf3 g5 4 Bc4 g4 5 O-O gxf3 6 Qxf3 Qf6
7 e5 Qxe5 8 d3 Bh6 9 Nc3 Ne7 10 Bd2 Nbc6 11 Rae1 Qf5
- Accepted / Philidor Gambit:
2 .. exf4 3 Nf3 g5 4 Bc4 Bg7 5 h4 h6 6 d4 d6
7 hxg5 hxg5 8 Rxh8 Bxh8 9 Nc3 c6 10 g3 g4 11 Bxf4 gxf3
- Declined (2 .. Bc5):
2 .. Bc5 3 Nf3 d6 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 Bc4 Nc6 6 d3 Bg4
7 Na4 Bb6 8 Nxb6 axb6 9 c3 O-O
- Falkbeer Counter Gambit (3 .. c6):
2 .. d5 3 exd5 c6 4 Nc3 exf4 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 d4 Bd6
7 Qe2+ Qe7 8 Qxe7+ Kxe7 9 Ne5 Nxd5 10 Nxd5+ cxd5
King's Indian Attack (Reti) [A05]
1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 c5 3 Bg2 Nc6 4 O-O e5 5 d3 Be7
6 e4 d4 7 Nbd2 Nf6 8 Nc4 Nd7 9 a4 O-O
- Lisitsin Gambit:
1 Nf3 f5 2 e4 d6 3 Nc3 fxe4 4 Ng5 Nf6 5 d3 exd3
6 Bxd3 e5 7 Nxh7 Be6
King's Indian Defense [E60]
The KID is a hypermodern defense known for its fighting nature. Black gives white the center but
begins to attack it after mobilizing its pieces. However, failure to counter white's pawn center
effectively may lead to lack of space for black. Black can use c5 or e5 to start a pawn break.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7
- Averbakh Variaton (6 .. c5):
3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Be2 O-O 6 Bg5 c5 7 d5 h6
8 Bf4 e5 9 dxe6 Bxe6 10 Bxd6 Re8 11 Nf3 Qb6 12 Bxb8! Raxb8
- Classical Variation (8.. d5):
3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 O-O 6 Be2 e5 7 O-O Nc6
8 d5 Ne7 9 Ne1 Nd7 10 Nd3 f5 11 Bd2 Nf6 12 f3 f4
13 c5 g5 14 Rc1 Ng6 15 cxd6 cxd6 16 Nb5 Rf7 17 Qc2 Ne8
- Classical Variation (8.. Be3):
3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 O-O 6 Be2 e5 7 O-O Nc6
8 Be3 Ng4 9 Bg5 f6 10 Bh4 Kh8 11 dxe5 dxe5 12 c5 Be6
- Fianchetto System / Classical Variation (8 e4):
3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 O-O 5 Nc3 d6 6 Nf3 Nbd7 7 O-O e5
8 e4 c6 9 h3 Qb6 10 Re1 Re8 11 d5 Nc5 12 Rb1 a5
- Fianchetto System (7 O-O):
3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 O-O 5 Nc3 d6 6 Nf3 Nc6 7 O-O a6
8 d5 Na5 9 Nd2 c5 10 Qc2 Rb8 11 b3 b5 12 Bb2 bxc4
- Four Pawns Attack (6 .. c5):
3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 f4 O-O 6 Nf3 c5 7 d5 e6
8 Be2 exd5 9 exd5 Re8 10 O-O Bf5 11 Bd3 Qd7 12 h3 Na6
- Samisch Attack / Orthodox Variation:
3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 O-O 6 Be3 e5 7 d5 c6
8 Bd3 cxd5 9 cxd5 Na6 10 Nge2 Nc5 11 Bc2 a5 12 O-O Bd7
- Samisch Attack / Panno Variation:
3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 O-O 6 Be3 Nc6 7 Nge2 a6
8 Qd3 Rb8 9 h4 h5 10 O-O-O b5 11 Bh6 e5! 12 Bxg7 Kxg7
- Six Pawns Attack:
3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 f4 O-O 6 Be2 c5 7 d5 e6
8 dxe6 fxe6 9 g4 Nc6 10 h4
Larsen's Opening [A01]
This opening was used in the 19th century by Rev. Owen, Nimzowitsch in the 1920s and by
Larsen and Ljubojevic in modern times.
1 b3
- 1 .. e5:
1 .. e5 2 Bb2 Nc6 3 c4 Nf6 4 e3 Be7
5 a3 O-O 6 Qc2 d5 7 cxd5 Nxd5 8 Nf3 Bf6
- 1 .. Nf6:
1 .. Nf6 2 Bb2 g6 3 e4 d6 4 g3 Bg7
5 Bg2 O-O 6 Ne2 e5 7 O-O c5 8 d3 Nc6
- 1 .. b6:
1 .. b6 2 Bb2 Bb7 3 f4 e6 4 e3 Nf6
5 Nf3 c5 6 Bd3!? Nc6 7 O-O Qc7 8 Nc3 a6
Latvian Gambit [C40]
Black's version of the King's Gambit, it originated with Greco more than 3
centuries ago. Originally known as the Greco Counter Gambit, its current
name was derived from the Latvians who analyzed it this century.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 f5
- 3 exf5:
3 exf5 e4 4 Ne5 Nf6 5 Be2 d6 6 Bh5+ Ke7 7 Nf7 Qe8
8 Nxh8 Qxh5 9 Qxh5 Nxh5 10 g4 Nf6 11 Rg1 Nc6 12 Rg3 Nd4
- 3 d4:
3 d4 fxe4 4 Nxe5 Nf6 5 Bg5 d6 6 Nc3 dxe5 7 dxe5 Qxd1+
8 Rxd1 h6! 9 Bxf6 gxf6 10 Nd5 Kd7 11 Nb6+ Kc6
- Behting Variation:
3 Bc4 fxe4 4 Nxe5 Qg5 5 Nf7 Qxg2 6 Rf1 d5 7 Nxh8 Nf6
- Fraser Defence:
3 Nxe5 Nc6 4 Nxc6 dxc6 5 Nc3 Qe7 6 d3 Nf6 7 Bg5 Bd7
8 f3 O-O-O 9 Be2 h6 10 Bd2 g5 11 exf5 Bxf5 12 O-O Bg7 =
- Nimzovich Variation:
3 Nxe5 Qf6 4 d4 d6 5 Nc4 fxe4 6 Nc3 Qg6 7 f3 exf3
8 Qxf3 Nc6 9 Bd3 Qg4 10 Qf2 Qxd4 11 Be3 Qf6 12 Qe2 Be6
- Polerio Variation:
3 Bc4 fxe4 4 Nxe5 d5! 5 Qh5+ g6 6 Nxg6 hxg6 7 Qxg6+ Kd7
8 Bxd5 Nf6 9 Nc3 Qe7 10 O-O Nxd5 11 Nxd5 Qe5 12 Nf6+ Kd8
Modern Benoni [A50]
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5
- Taimonov Variation (8 .. Nfd7):
5 .. d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 Bg7 8 Bb5+ Nfd7 9 a4 O-O
Nimzo-Indian Defense [E20]
Nimzowitsch realized that by pinning the N with the king's B, white's influence
on the center squares e4 and d5 was reduced. While black must often surrender
the B for the pinned N, rapid development or doubling of white's c pawns provide
sufficient compensation. The classical variation leads to safe play. The Sämisch
variation is considered white's sharpest response.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4
- Classical Variation (4 .. d5 5 a3):
4 Qc2 d5 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 Nc6 7 Nf3 Ne4 8 Qb3 Na5
9 Qa4+ c6 10 cxd5 exd5 11 e3 Bf5 12 Bd2 Nxd2 13 Nxd2 O-O
- Classical Variation (4 .. d5 5 cxd5):
4 Qc2 d5 5 cxd5 Qxd5 6 Nf3 c5 7 Bd2 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 cxd4
9 Rd1! Nc6 10 Nxd4 O-O 11 f3 Qxa2 12 e4 Nxd4 13 Rxd4 Bd7
- Classical Variation (4 .. c5):
4 Qc2 c5! 5 dxc5 O-O 6 Bg5 Na6 7 a3 Bxc3+ 8 Qxc3 Nxc5
9 Bxf6 Qxf6 10 Qxf6 gxf6 11 f3 a5 12 e4 b6 =
- Classical Variation (4 .. O-O):
4 Qc2 O-O 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 Qxc3 b6 7 Nf3 Bb7 8 e3 d6
9 b4 Nbd7 10 Bb2 a5! 11 Be2 Ne4 12 Qc2 c5 13 dxc5 bxc5
- Leningrad Variation:
4 Bg5 h6 5 Bh4 c5 6 d5 d6 7 e3 Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 e5
9 Qc2 Nbd7 10 Bd3 Qe7 11 f3 Kd8 12 Ne2 g5 13 Bg3 Kc7
- Rubinstein Variation (Main Line):
4 e3 O-O 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 c5 7 O-O Nc6 8 a3 Bxc3
9 bxc3 dxc4 10 Bxc4 Qc7 11 Ba2 e5 12 h3 e4 13 Nh2 Bf5
14 Ng4 Nxg4 15 hxg4 Bg6 16 a4 Rfd8 17 Qe2 b6 18 Ba3 Kh8
- Rubinstein Variation (Fischer Line):
4 e3 b6 5 Bd3 Bb7 6 Nf3 O-O 7 O-O c5 8 Na4 cxd4
9 exd4 Be7 10 Re1 d6 11 b4 Nbd7 12 Bb2 a5 13 b5 d5 =
- Sämisch Variation (5 .. c5):
4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 c5 6 e3 O-O 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 Ne2 b6
9 e4 Ne8 10 O-O Ba6 11 Qa4 Qc8 12 Be3 Na5 13 dxc5 d6!
- Sämisch Variation (5 .. d5):
4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 d5 6 f3 c5 7 cxd5 Nxd5 8 dxc5 f5
9 Nh3 O-O 10 c4 Qh4+ 11 Nf2 Nf6 12 e3 Nc6 13 Be2 e5
- Sämisch Variation (5 .. O-O):
4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 O-O 6 f3 Ne8 7 e4 b6 8 Nh3 Ba6
9 e5 Nc6 10 Bg5 f6 11 exf6 Nxf6 12 Bd3 e5
Nimzowitsch Defense [B00]
This defense was first advocated by German master Fischer in the 19th century.
Nimzowitch concluded it sound after deep study. The defense is too cramped
for most masters to consider playing.
1 e4 Nc6
- 2 d4 d5:
2 d4 d5 3 e5 f6 4 f4 Bf5 5 Ne2 e6
6 Ng3 fxe5 7 fxe5 Qh4 8 c3 Nge7 9 Bb5 O-O-O
- 2 Nf3:
2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 Bg4 5 d5 Nb8
6 Be2 g6 7 Bg5 Bg7 8 Qd2 O-O 9 h3 Bxf3
Old Indian Defense [A41]
Similar to the KID, Black places the king's bishop on e7 instead of g7. While
a solid defense, its passive and white has a number of ways to obtain an edge.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 d6
- 3 Nc3:
3 Nc3 Nbd7 4 Nf3 e5 5 e4 Be7 6 Be2 O-O 7 O-O c6
8 Qc2 Qc7 9 Rd1 a6 10 Bg5 h6 11 Bh4 Re8 12 Rac1 Nf8
- 3 Nf3:
3 Nf3 Bg4 4 Qb3 Qc8 5 g3 Nbd7 6 Bg2 c6 7 h3 Bxf3
8 Bxf3 e5 9 Be3 Be7 10 Nc3
Petrov's Defense [C42]
Known as the Russian Game in Europe, the defense is named after the Russian master
who practiced it in the 19th century. A solid defense but has a drawish nature.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6
- Lasker Variation:
3 Nxe5 d6 4 Nf3 Nxe4 5 Qe2 Qe7 6 d3 Nf6 7 Bg5 Qxe2+
8 Bxe2 Be7 9 Nc3 c6! 10 O-O-O Na6 11 Rhe1 Nc7 12 Bf1 Ne6
- Main Line (5 .. d5):
3 Nxe5 d6 4 Nf3 Nxe4 5 d4 d5 6 Bd3 Be7 7 O-O Nc6
8 c4 Nb4 9 Be2 Be6 10 Nc3 O-O 11 Be3 f5 12 a3 Nxc3
- Main Line (5 .. Be7):
3 Nxe5 d6 4 Nf3 Nxe4 5 d4 Be7 6 Bd3 Nf6 7 h3 O-O
8 O-O Re8 9 c4 Nc6 10 Nc3 h6 11 Re1 Bf8 12 Rxe8 Qxe8
- 3 d4!?:
3 d4 Nxe4 4 Bd3 d5 5 Nxe5 Nd7 6 Nxd7 Bxd7 7 O-O Qh4
8 c4 O-O-O 9 c5 g5 10 Nc3 Bg7 11 Ne2 f5 12 f3 Rhf8!
Philidor's Defense [C41]
Philidor first proposed this defense in 1749. While regularly played by Alekhine and Nimzowitsch,
it is rarely played by GMs these days. Black's 2nd move (d6), locks in his king's bishop and
commits Black to a passive game.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6
- Boden variation:
3 d4 exd4 4 Qxd4 Bd7 5 Bf4 Nc6 6 Qd2 Be7
7 Nc3 Nf6 8 O-O-O O-O 9 e5 dxe5 10 Nxe5
- Nimzovich variation:
3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 Nbd7 5 Bc4 Be7 6 O-O O-O
7 Qe2 c6 8 a4 Qc7 9 h3 b6 10 Rd1 Bd7
- 4 .. Nxd4:
3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 g6 5 Nc3 Bg7 6 Be3 Nf6
7 Qd2 O-O 8 O-O-O Re8 9 f3 a6 10 g4 b5
- 3 .. Bc4:
3 Bc4 Qf6 4 d3 Bg4 5 Nbd2 Nc6 6 c3 Nge7
7 h3 Bd7 8 b4 Ng6 9 Nf1 Nf4 10 Ne3 h6
Pirc Defense [B07]
This defense was pioneered by Yugoslav Vasja Pirc and fellow compatriots. This hypermodern
defense is based on counterattack. Black encourages White to form a pawn center, which
Black then attempts to undermine and annihilate. Black plans to pressure d4 and
the black squares in general.
1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6
- Austrian Attack (5 .. O-O):
4 f4 Bg7 5 Nf3 O-O 6 e5 dxe5! 7 dxe5 Qxd1+ 8 Kxd1 Nh5
9 Bc4 Nc6 10 Be3 Bg4 11 Rf1 Na5 12 Be2 f6
- Austrian Attack (5 .. c5):
4 f4 Bg7 5 Nf3 c5! 6 dxc5 Qa5 7 Bd3 Qxc5 8 Qe2 Bg4!
9 Be3 Qa5 10 O-O Nc6 11 h3 Bxf3 12 Qxf3 O-O
- Byrne Variation:
4 Bg5 Bg7 5 Qd2 c6 6 f4 O-O 7 Nf3 b5
8 Bd3 Bg4 9 f5 b4 10 Ne2 Nbd7 11 O-O c5
- Classical System (5 Be2):
4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Be2 O-O 6 O-O Bg4 7 Be3 Nc6 8 Qd2 e5
9 d5 Ne7 10 Rad1 Bd7 11 Ne1 b5 12 f3 Qb8 =
- Classical System (5 Bc4):
4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Bc4 O-O 6 Qe2 Bg4 7 e5 Nh5 8 h3 Bxf3
9 Qxf3 dxe5 10 Qxb7 Nd7 11 dxe5 Nxe5 12 Be2 Nf6
- Fianchetto Variation:
4 g3 Bg7 5 Bg2 O-O 6 Nge2 e5 7 h3 c6
8 Be3 b5 9 O-O Bb7 10 a3 Nbd7 11 Qd2 Re8
- Kholmov Variation:
4 Bc4 Bg7 5 Qe2 O-O 6 e5 dxe5 7 dxe5 Nfd7 8 e6 Ne5
Polish Attack [A00]
Also known as the Sokolsky Opening, it was first played in Tartakower-Maroczy, New York 1924.
Tartakower jokingly called it the Orangutan.
1 b4
- 1 .. Nf6:
1 .. Nf6 2 Bb2 e6! 3 b5 b6 4 e3 Bb7
5 Nf3 Be7 6 Be2 O-O 7 O-O d5! 8 d3 c5
- 1 .. e5:
1 .. e5 2 Bb2 f6 3 e4 Bxb4 4 Bc4 Nc6
5 f4 Qe7 6 f5 g6 7 Nc3 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 Qc5
Ponziani's Opening [C44]
Historically, this opening has been part of mainstream theory but in the past 80 years or so,
its presence in master tournaments is rarely seen.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 c3
- 3 .. Nf6:
3 .. Nf6 4 d4 Nxe4 5 d5 Ne7 6 Nxe5 Ng6 7 Bd3 Nxe5
8 Bxe4 Bc5 9 Qh5 d6 10 Bg5 Qd7 11 O-O Qg4 =
- 3 .. d5:
3 .. d5 4 Qa4 Nf6 5 Nxe5 Bd6 6 Nxc6 bxc6 7 d3 O-O
8 Be2 Rfe8 9 Bg5 Bd7 10 Nd2 Rb8 11 Qc2 h6
Queen's Bishop Attack [D00]
1 d4 d5 2 Bg5 h6! 3 Bh4 c5 4 Nc3 Nc6 5 e3 Qa5
6 Nf3 Bg4 7 Be2 Bxf3 8 Bxf3 cxd4 9 exd4 e6 10 O-O g5
Queen's Gambit Accepted [D20]
While black gains an initial pawn advantage, the difficulties encountered with holding on to it
are usually too great. Black also gives up the center although white may be saddled with
an isolated d pawn.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4
- Main Line (7 .. b5):
3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc4 c5 6 O-O a6 7 Qe2 b5
8 Bb3 Bb7 9 Rd1 Nbd7 10 Nc3 Qb8 11 d5 Nxd5 12 Nxd5 Bxd5
13 Bxd5 exd5 14 Rxd5 Be7 15 e4 Qb7 16 Bg5 Nb6 17 Rd2
- Main Line (7 .. Nc6):
3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc4 c5 6 O-O a6 7 Qe2 Nc6
8 Nc3 b5 9 Bb3 Bb7 10 Rd1 Qc7 11 d5 exd5 12 e4! d4
13 Nd5 Qd8 14 Bf4 Rc8 15 a4
- 4 .. Bg4:
3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 Bg4 5 Bxc4 e6 6 h3 Bh5 7 O-O Nbd7
8 Nc3 Bd6 9 e4 e5 10 g4! Bg6 11 dxe5 Nxe5 12 Nxe5 Bxe5
- 3 .. c5:
3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 e4 exd5 7 e5 Nfd7
8 Bg5 Be7 9 Bxe7 Qxe7 10 Nxd5 Qd8 11 Bxc4 Nc6 12 Qa4 O-O
Queen's Gambit Declined [D06]
Carl von Jaenisch, in his "Analyse nouvelle du jeu des echecs" (1843), considered
2 .. e6 the best defense to the QG; an opinion shared by many masters today.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6
- Cambridge Springs Defense (6 Nf3):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Nbd7 5 e3 c6 6 Nf3 Qa5 7 Nd2 dxc4
8 Bxf6 Nxf6 9 Nxc4 Qc7 10 Be2 Be7 11 O-O O-O
- Cambridge Springs Defense (6 Bd3):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Nbd7 5 e3 c6 6 Bd3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 Qa5
8 Bh4 b5 9 Bb3 b4 10 Nce2 Ba6 11 Nf3 Be7 12 O-O O-O
- Classical Variation (6 Rc1):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 O-O 6 Rc1 h6 7 Bh4 b6
8 Bxf6 Bxf6 9 cxd5 exd5 10 Qf3 Bb7 11 Bc4 c6 12 Bb3 Na6
- Exchange Variation (6 .. Be7):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 c6 6 Qc2 Be7 7 e3 Nbd7
8 Bd3 O-O 9 Nf3 Re8 10 O-O Nf8 11 Rab1 a5 12 a3 Ne4
- Lasker's Defense (9 cxd5):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 O-O 6 Nf3 h6 7 Bh4 Ne4
8 Bxe7 Qxe7 9 cxd5 Nxc3 10 bxc3 exd5 11 Qb3 Qd6 12 c4 dxc4
13 Bxc4 Nd7 14 O-O Nb6 15 Rfc1 Nxc4 16 Qxc4 c6 17 a4
- Orthodox Variation / Main Line (13 dxe5):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 O-O 6 Nf3 Nbd7 7 Rc1 c6
8 Bd3 dxc4 9 Bxc4 Nd5 10 Bxe7 Qxe7 11 O-O Nxc3 12 Rxc3 e5
13 dxe5 Nxe5 14 Nxe5 Qxe5 15 f4 Qf6 16 e4 Be6 17 e5 Qe7
- Orthodox Variation / Main Line (13 h3):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 O-O 6 Nf3 Nbd7 7 Rc1 c6
8 Bd3 dxc4 9 Bxc4 Nd5 10 Bxe7 Qxe7 11 O-O Nxc3 12 Rxc3 e5
13 h3 e4 14 Nd2 Nb6 15 Qc2 Re8 16 Bb3 Kh8 17 Rc5 f6
- Petrosian Variation (11 .. e5):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 O-O 6 Nf3 h6 7 Bxf6 Bxf6
8 Rc1 c6 9 Bd3 Nd7 10 O-O dxc4 11 Bxc4 e5 12 h3 exd4
13 exd4 Nb6 14 Bb3 Re8 15 Re1 Rxe1+ 16 Qxe1 Bf5 17 Ne4 Bxe4
- Ragozin System (5 Bg5):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 Bb4 5 Bg5 dxc4 6 e4 c5 7 e5 cxd4
8 Qa4+ Nc6 9 O-O-O h6 10 exf6 hxg5 11 fxg7 Rg8 12 Nxd4 Bxc3
- Ragozin System (5 cxd5):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 Bb4 5 cxd5 exd5 6 Bg5 Nbd7 7 e3 c5
8 Bd3 c4 9 Bf5 Qa5 10 Qc2 O-O 11 O-O Re8 12 Nd2 g6
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense (7 Bd3 cxd4):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 c5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 e3 Nc6 7 Bd3 cxd4
8 exd4 Be7 9 O-O O-O 10 Re1 Bf6 11 Be4 Qd6 12 Nb5 Qb8
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense (7 Bc4 cxd4):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 c5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 e3 Nc6 7 Bc4 cxd4
8 exd4 Be7 9 O-O O-O 10 Re1 Nxc3 11 bxc3 b6 12 Bd3 Bb7
- Tarrasch Defense / Marshall Gambit:
3 Nc3 c5 4 cxd5 cxd4 5 Qxd4 Nc6 6 Qd1 exd5 7 Qxd5 Bd7
8 Nf3 Nf6 9 Qd1 Bc5 10 e3 Qe7 11 a3 O-O-O 12 Qc2 Kb8
- Tartakower Variation (8 cxd5):
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7 5 e3 O-O 6 Nf3 h6 7 Bh4 b6
8 cxd5 Nxd5 9 Bxe7 Qxe7 10 Nxd5 exd5 11 Rc1 Be6 12 Qa4 c5
13 Qa3 Rc8 14 Be2 Kf8 15 dxc5 bxc5 16 O-O a5 17 Rc3 Nd7
Queen's Indian Defense [E12]
A hypermodern defense where black attempts to find good squares for his pieces in the fight
for the center.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6
- Main Line (8 Qc2):
4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 O-O O-O 7 Nc3 Ne4 8 Qc2 Nxc3
9 Qxc3 c5 10 Rd1 d6 11 b3 Bf6 12 Bb2 Qe7 13 Qd2 Rd8
- Main Line (8 Bd2):
4 g3 Bb7 5 Bg2 Be7 6 O-O O-O 7 Nc3 Ne4 8 Bd2 Bf6
9 Rc1 c5 10 d5 exd5 11 cxd5 Nxd2 12 Nxd2 d6 13 Nde4 Be7
- Petrosian System (9 .. Nxc3):
4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 d5 6 cxd5 Nxd5 7 e3 Be7 8 Bb5+ c6
9 Bd3 Nxc3 10 bxc3 c5 11 O-O Nc6 12 e4 O-O 13 Bb2 cxd4
14 cxd4 Rc8 15 Qe2 Na5 16 Rad1 Bf6 17 Rfe1 Re8 =
- Petrosian System (9 .. O-O):
4 a3 Bb7 5 Nc3 d5 6 cxd5 Nxd5 7 e3 Be7 8 Bb5+ c6
9 Bd3 O-O 10 e4 Nxc3 11 bxc3 c5 12 Qe2 cxd4 13 cxd4 Qc8
Queen's Pawn Counter Gambit [C40]
While a good surprise for unwary opponents, black does not gain sufficient compensation.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d5 3 exd5 e4 4 Qe2
- 4 .. Nf6:
4 .. Nf6 5 d3 Be7 6 dxe4 O-O 7 Nc3 Re8 8 Bd2 Bb4
- 4 .. f5:
4 .. f5 5 d3 Nf6 6 dxe4 fxe4 7 Nc3 Bb4 8 Qb5+ c6
Reti Opening [A04]
Alekhine legitimized this hypermodern opening in the 1920s.
1 Nf3 d5
- Barcza System (2 .. Nf6):
2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 Bf5 4 c4 c6 5 cxd5 cxd5
6 Qb3 Qc8 7 Nc3 e6 8 d3 Nc6 9 Bf4 Be7
- Benoni Reversed (3 b4):
2 c4 d4 3 b4 f6 4 e3 e5 5 Qb3 c5
6 bxc5 Bxc5 7 exd4 exd4 8 Ba3 Qe7+ 9 Be2 Nc6
- Reti Accepted:
2 c4 dxc4 3 Na3 c5 4 Nxc4 Nc6 5 b3 f6
6 Bb2 e5 7 g3 Nge7 8 Bg2 Nd5 9 O-O Be7
- London System (4 .. Bg4):
2 c4 c6 3 b3 Nf6 4 g3 Bg4 5 Bg2 e6
6 O-O Bd6 7 Bb2 O-O 8 d4 Nb7 9 Nbd2 Qe7
- London System (4 .. Bf5):
2 c4 c6 3 b3 Nf6 4 g3 Bf5 5 Bg2 e6
6 O-O Nbd7 7 Bb2 Bd6 8 d3 O-O 9 Nbd2 e5
- Neo-Catalan:
2 c4 e6 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 Be7 5 O-O O-O
6 b3 c5 7 Bb2 Nc6 8 e3 b6 9 Nc3 Bb7
Richter-Veresov Attack [D01]
1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bg5 Nbd7 4 f3 h6
5 Bh4 e6 6 e4 g5 7 Bg3 Nxe4 8 Nxe4 dxe4
Robatsch Defense [B06]
A hypermodern defense named after the Austrian Master K. Robatsch. The Robatsch
is similar to the Pirc but it delays or omits Nf6.
1 e4 g6 2 d4 Bg7
- 3 Nc3:
3 Nc3 d6 4 f4 c6 5 Nf3 Bg4 6 Be3 Qb6 7 Qd2! Bxf3
8 gxf3 Nd7 9 O-O-O Qa5 10 f5 b5 11 Kb1
- 3 Nf3:
3 Nf3 d6 4 Bc4 Nf6 5 Qe2 O-O 6 O-O c6 7 Bb3 Qc7
8 e5 dxe5 9 dxe5 Nd5 10 Re1 Na6 11 c3 Nc5 12 Bc2 Bg4
Ruth-Trompowski Attack [A45]
Opocensky and Trompowski developed this opening in the 1930s although American
W.A. Ruth consistently propogated it long before that.
1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5
- 2 .. c5:
2 .. c5 3 Bxf6 gxf6 4 d5 Qb6 5 Qc1 f5
6 c3 Bg7 7 c3 e6 8 Nh3 Qd6
- 2 .. Ne4:
2 .. Ne4 3 Bf4 d5 4 f3 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6
6 e4 c5 7 Nb5 Na6 8 e5 Nd7
Ruy Lopez [C60]
First mentioned in the Göttingen manuscript of 1490, the Spanish priest Ruy Lopez
was the first to treat this opening systematically. White consistently applies
pressue to black's e pawn and black must patiently defend, thus providing the
nickname "Spanish Torture".
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5
- Berlin Defense (4 O-O):
3 .. Nf6 4 O-O Nxe4 5 d4 Nd6 6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 dxe5 Nf5
8 Qxd8+ Kxd8 9 b3 h6 10 Nc3 Be6 11 Bb2 Kc8 12 Ne2 Bd5
- Classical Defense (4 c3):
3 .. Bc5 4 c3 f5 5 d4 fxe4 6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 Nxe5 Bd6
8 Qh5+ g6 9 Qe2 Qh4 10 h3 Be6 11 Nd2 Bxe5 12 dxe5 Qg5
- Closed Defense / Fianchetto Variation:
3 .. a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 O-O Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 d6
8 c3 O-O 9 h3 Bb7 10 d4 Re8 11 Ng5 Rf8 12 f4 exf4
- Exchange Variation (5 d4):
3 .. a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 d4 exd4 6 Qxd4 Qxd4 7 Nxd4 Bd7
8 Be3 O-O-O 9 Nd2 Ne7 10 O-O-O Re8 11 Rhe1 Ng6 =
- Exchange Variation (5 O-O f6):
3 .. a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 O-O f6 6 d4 Bg4 7 dxe5 Qxd1
8 Rxd1 fxe5 9 Rd3 Bd6 10 Nbd2 b5 11 b3 Ne7 12 Bb2 Ng6
- Exchange Variation / Doubly Deferred:
3 .. a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 O-O Be7 6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 d3 Nd7
8 Nbd2 O-O 9 Nc4 f6 10 Nh4 Nc5 11 Nf5 Bxf5 12 exf5 Qd7
- Marshall Gambit (9 .. Nxd5):
3 .. a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 O-O Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 O-O
8 c3 d5 9 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6! 12 d4 Bd6
13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3 15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8 17 Nd2 Re6
- Modern Steinitz Defense (5 O-O):
3 .. a6 4 Ba4 d6 5 O-O Bg4 6 h3 h5 7 d4! b5
8 Bb3 Nxd4 9 hxg4 hxg4 10 Ng5 Nh6 11 Bd5 c6 12 c3 cxd5
- Open Defense (9 .. Bc5):
3 .. a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 O-O Nxe4 6 d4 b5 7 Bb3 d5
8 dxe5 Be6 9 c3 Bc5 10 Nbd2 O-O 11 Bc2 Bf5 12 Nb3 Bg6
13 Nfd4 Nxd4 14 cxd4 a5 15 Be3 a4 16 Nd2 a3 17 Nxe4 axb2
- Open Defense (9 .. Be7):
3 .. a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 O-O Nxe4 6 d4 b5 7 Bb3 d5
8 dxe5 Be6 9 c3 Be7 10 Nbd2 O-O 11 Bc2 f5 12 Nb3 Qd7
13 Nfd4 Nxd4 14 cxd4 a5 15 f3 a4 16 fxe4 axb3 17 Bxb3 fxe4
Scotch Game [C44]
A correspodence match between London and Edinburgh in 1824 gave this opening its name.
Similar to the Center game but provides black a chance at quick equality.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4
- 4 .. Bc5:
3 .. exd4 4 Nxd4 Bc5 5 Nb3 Bb6 6 a4 a5 7 Nc3 Qf6
8 Qe2 Nge7 9 Be3 Bxe3 10 Qxe3 O-O 11 O-O-O Nb4 12 Nb5 b6 =
- 4 .. Nf6:
3 .. exd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Bb4 6 Nxc6 bxc6 7 Bd3 d5
8 exd5 cxd5 9 O-O O-O 10 Bg5 c6 11 Qf3 Bd6 12 Bxf6 Qxf6
- Scotch Gambit Accepted:
3 .. cxd4 4 Bc4 Bc5 5 c3 dxc3 6 Nxc3 d6 7 Bg5 Nge7
8 Nd5 f6 9 Bxf6 gxf6 10 Nxf6+ Kf8 11 Qc1 Ng8
- Goring Gambit Accepted (8.. Nf6):
3 .. exd4 4 c3 dxc3 5 Nxc3 Bb4 6 Bc4 d6 7 O-O Bxc3
8 bxc3 Nf6 9 e5 Nxe5 10 Nxe5 dxe5 11 Qb3 Qe7 12 Ba3 c5
- Goring Gambit Declined (4 .. d5):
3 .. exd4 4 c3 d5 5 exd5 Qxd5 6 cxd4 Bb4+ 7 Nc3 Bg4
8 Be2 Bxf3 9 Bxf3 Qc4 10 Qb3 Qxb3 11 axb3 Nge7 12 O-O a6 =
Sicilian Defense [B20]
Dating back more than 400 years in Italy, it was given its name by Greco in the early 17th century.
The Yugoslav Attack is white's most effective response to the Dragon.
1 e4 c5
- Accelerated Dragon (7 Nxc6):
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6 5 Nc3 Bg7 6 Be3 Nf6
7 Nxc6 bxc6 8 e5 Ng8 9 f4 Nh6 10 Qd2 O-O 11 O-O-O Qa5!
12 Bc4 Rb8 13 h4 d6 14 h5 Nf5 15 hxg6 hxg6 16 g4 Nxe3
- Alapin Variation:
2 c3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 cxd4 d5 5 exd5 Qxd5 6 Nf3 Bg4
- Closed Variation (6 f4 e6):
2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 d3 d6 6 f4 e6
7 Nf3 Nge7 8 O-O O-O 9 Be3 Nd4 10 Qd2 Rb8 11 Nh4 b5
12 Nd1 f5 13 c3 Ndc6 14 Nf3 b4 15 c4 Nd4
- Closed Variation (6 Be3 e6):
2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 d3 d6 6 Be3 e6
7 Qd2 Nge7 8 Bh6 Bxh6 9 Qxh6 Nd4 10 O-O-O Nec6 11 Nge2 Bd7
12 Nxd4 cxd4 13 Ne2 Qa5 14 Kb1 Qa4?! 15 c3 dxc3 16 Nxc3
- Dragon Variation / Classical (9 Nb3):
2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be2 Bg7
7 O-O O-O 8 Be3 Nc6 9 Nb3 Be6 10 f4 Qc8 11 Kh1 Bg4
12 Bg1 Bxe2 13 Qxe2 Qg4 14 Qd2 b5! 15 Rae1 b4 16 Nd5 Qc8
- Dragon Variation / Levenfish Variation (6 .. Nc6!):
2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 f4 Nc6!
7 Nxc6 bxc6 8 e5 Nd7 9 exd6 exd6 10 Be3 Be7! 11 Qf3 d5
12 O-O-O Bf6 13 Bd4 O-O =
- Dragon Variation / Yugoslav Attack (13 Bg5):
2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7
7 f3 Nc6 8 Qd2 O-O 9 Bc4 Bd7 10 O-O-O Rc8 11 Bb3 Ne5
12 h4 h5 13 Bg5 Rc5 14 Kb1 b5 15 g4 a5 16 gxh5! a4
- Four Knights Variation:
2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Ndb5 Bb4
7 a3 Bxc3+ 8 Nxc3 d5 9 exd5 exd5 10 Bd3 O-O 11 O-O d4
- Lowenthall Variation:
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5 5 Ndb5 a6 6 Nd6+ Bxd6
7 Qxd6 Qf6 8 Qd1 Qg6 9 Nc3 Nge7 10 h4 h5 11 Bg5 d5
- Morra Gambit (7 .. Nf6):
2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 dxc3 4 Nxc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bc4 e6
7 O-O Nf6 8 Qe2 Be7 9 Rd1 e5 10 h3 O-O 11 Be3 a6
- Najdorf Variation (6 Bg5 e6 7 f4):
2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5 e6
7 f4 Be7 8 Qf3 Qc7 9 O-O-O Nbd7 10 g4 b5 11 Bxf6 Nxf6
12 g5 Nd7 13 f5 Nc5 14 f6 gxf6 15 gxf6 Bf8 16 Rg1 Bd7
- Najdorf Variation (6 Be2 e5):
2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 e5
7 Nb3 Be7 8 O-O O-O 9 Be3 Be6 10 Qd2 Nbd7 11 a4 Rc8
12 a5 Qc7 13 Rfd1 Rfe8
- Nimzowitsch Variation (3 e5):
2 Nf3 Nf6!? 3 e5 Nd5 4 Nc3 e6 5 Nxd5 exd5 6 d4 Nc6
7 dxc5 Bxc5 8 Qxd5 Qb6 9 Bc4 Bxf2+ 10 Ke2 O-O 11 Rf1 Bc5
- Paulsen Variation (5 Bd3 Nf6):
2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 5 Bd3 Nf6 6 O-O d6
7 c4 Be7 8 Nc3 O-O 9 Qe2 Nbd7 10 f4 Qc7 11 Kh1 b6
12 Bd2 Bb7 13 Rac1 g6 14 b4 Rac8 15 a3
- Paulsen Variation (5 c4):
2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 Bb4
7 Bd3 Nc6 8 Nxc6 dxc6 9 e5 Qa5! 10 exf6 Bxc3+ 11 bxc3 Qxc3+
12 Bd2 Qxd3 13 fxg7 Rg8 14 Bh6 Qc3+ 15 Kf1 Qf6
- Pelikan Variation / Main Line (11 Bd3):
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e5 6 Ndb5 d6
7 Bg5 a6 8 Na3 b5 9 Bxf6 gxf6! 10 Nd5 f5 11 Bd3 Be6
12 Qh5 Bg7 13 O-O f4 14 c4 bxc4 15 Bxc4 O-O 16 Rac1 Kh8
- Richter-Rauzer Attack (9 f4):
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5 e6
7 Qd2 Be7 8 O-O-O O-O 9 f4 Nxd4 10 Qxd4 Qa5 11 Bc4 Bd7
12 e5 dxe5 13 fxe5 Bc6 14 Bd2 Nd7 15 Nd5 Qd8 16 Nxe7+ Qxe7
- Richter-Rauzer Attack (8 .. Bd7):
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5 e6
7 Qd2 a6 8 O-O-O Bd7 9 f4 Be7 10 Nf3 b5 11 Bxf6 gxf6
12 Kb1 Qb6 13 f5 O-O-O 14 g3 Kb8 15 fxe6 fxe6 16 Bh3 Bc8
- Rossolimo Variation (3 .. g6):
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 g6 4 O-O Bg7 5 c3 Nf6 6 d4 cxd4
7 cxd4 Nxe4 8 d5 Nd6 9 Na3 Ne5 10 Nxe5 Bxe5 11 Re1 Bf6
- Scheveningen Variation / Main Line (10 a4):
2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Be2 Be7
7 O-O O-O 8 f4 Nc6 9 Be3 a6 10 a4 Qc7 11 Kh1 Re8
12 Bf3 Rb8 13 Qd2 Bd7 14 Nb3 b6 15 g4 Bc8 16 g5 Nd7
- Scheveningen Variation (6 Be2 a6):
2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Be2 a6
7 O-O Qc7 8 f4 Be7 9 Kh1 O-O 10 a4 b6 11 e5! dxe5
12 fxe5 Nfd7 13 Bf4 Bb7 14 Bf3 Nc6 15 Bxc6 Bxc6 16 Qg4
- Scheveningen Variation / Keres Attack (6 .. h6):
2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 g4 h6
7 g5 hxg5 8 Bxg5 Nc6 9 Qd2 Qb6 10 Nb3 a6 11 O-O-O Bd7
12 f4 O-O-O 13 h4 Qc7 14 Be2 Be7 15 Bf3 Kb8 16 h5 Bc8
- Sozin Attack (6 .. e6):
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bc4 e6
7 Bb3 Be7 8 Be3 O-O 9 O-O a6 10 f4 Nxd4 11 Bxd4 b5
12 e5 dxe5 13 fxe5 Nd7 14 Ne4 Bb7 15 Nd6 Bxd6 16 exd6 Qg5
- Sozin Attack (6 .. Qb6):
2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bc4 Qb6
7 Nb3 e6 8 O-O Be7 9 Bg5 a6 10 Bxf6 gxf6 11 Qh5 Nd4
12 Rfd1 Nxb3 13 axb3 Rb8 14 Qh6 Qc5 15 Qg7 Rf8 16 Qxh7 b5
- Taimanov Variation / Main Line (6 g3 Qc7):
2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nc3 a6 6 g3 Qc7
7 Bg2 Nf6 8 O-O Be7 9 Re1 Nxd4 10 Qxd4 Bc5 11 Qd1 d6
12 Na4 Ba7 13 b3 O-O 14 c4 e5 15 Ba3 Bd4 16 Rc1 Ng4
- Taimanov Variation / Main Line (6 Be2 Qc7):
2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 Qc7
7 O-O Nf6 8 Be3 Bb4 9 Na4 Be7 10 Nxc6 bxc6 11 Nb6 Rb8
12 Nxc8 Qxc8 13 e5 Nd5 14 Bc1 Bc5 15 c4 Ne7 16 b3 Qc7
- Wing Gambit (2 b4):
2 b4 cxb4 3 a3 d5 4 exd5 Qxd5 5 Nf3 e5 6 axb4 Bxb4
7 Na3 Bxa3 8 Bxa3 Nc6 9 c4 Qd8 10 Qb1 Nge7 =
Semi-Slav Defense [D10]
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6
- Main Line / 5 e3:
5 e3 Nbd7 6 Bd3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 b5 8 Bd3 a6 9 e4 c5
10 e5 cxd4 11 Nxb5 Nxe5 12 Nxe5 axb5 13 O-O Qd5 14 Qe2 Rb8
15 Bg5 Bd6 16 f4 h6 17 Bh4 g5 18 Bg3 gxf4 19 Bxf4 Rg8
- Reynolds Variation:
5 e3 Nbd7 6 Bd3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 b5 8 Bd3 a6 9 e4 c5
10 d5 e5 11 b3 Bd7 12 O-O O-O 13 a4 c4!? 14 bxc4 b4
15 Ne2 Nc5 16 Ng3 Qc7 17 Be3 a5 18 Bxc5 Bxc5 19 Nd2 g6
- Meran Variation:
5 e3 Nbd7 6 Bd3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 b5 8 Bd3 a6 9 e4 c5
10 d5 c4 11 dxe6 fxe6 12 Bc2 Qc7 13 Ng5 Nc5 14 f4 Bb7
15 e5 Rd8 16 Bd2 Nd5 17 Qh5+ g6 18 Bxg6 hxg6 19 Qxh8 Nxf4
Slav Defense [D10]
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6
- Main Line / 5 e3:
3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 e3 b5 6 a4 b4 7 Nb1 Ba6
8 Qc2 b3 9 Qd1 e6 10 Nbd2 Qd5 11 Be2 Nbd7 12 O-O Rb8!
- Main Line / 5 e4:
3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 e4 b5 6 e5 Nd5 7 a4 e6
8 axb5 Nxc3 9 bxc3 cxb5 10 Ng5 Bb7 11 Qh5 g6 12 Qd7 Be2
- Main Line / 5 a4 Na6:
3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 a4 Na6 6 e4 Bg4 7 Bxc4 e6
8 Be3 Be7 9 O-O Nb4 10 Be2 O-O 11 h3 Bh5 12 Ne5 Bxe2
- Main Line / 5 a4 Bf5:
3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 dxc4 5 a4 Bf5 6 Ne5 e6 7 f3 Bb4
8 Nxc4 O-O 9 Bg5 h6 10 Bh4 c5 11 dxc5 Qxd1+ 12 Rxd1 Bc2
- Exchange Variation:
3 Nc3 Nf6 4 cxd5 cxd5 5 Bf4 Nc6 6 e3 Bf5 7 Nf3 e6
8 Bb5 Nd7 9 Qa4 Rc8 10 O-O a6 11 Bxc6 Rxc6 12 Rfc1 Be7
Three Knights Game [C46]
Black attempts to avoid the drawish lines of the Four Knights' Game.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3
- 3 .. g6:
3 .. g6 4 d4 exd4 5 Nd5 Bg7 6 Bg5 Nce7 7 Nxd4 c6
8 Nc3 h6 9 Bf4 d5 10 Qd2 Nf6 11 O-O-O Nxe4 12 Nxe4 dxe4
- 3 .. Bb4:
3 .. Bb4 4 Nd5 Nf6 5 Nxb4 Nxb4 6 Nxe5 Qe7 7 d4 d6
8 a3 dxe5 9 axb4 exd4 10 Qxd4 Qxe4+ 11 Qxe4 Nxe4
- 3 .. Bc5:
3 .. Bc5 4 Nxe5 Nxe5 5 d4 Bd6 6 dxe5 Bxe5 7 f4 Bxc3+
8 bxc3 Nf6 9 e5 Qe7 10 Be2 Ne4 11 Qd4 Qh4+ 12 g3 Nxg3
Torre Attack [D03]
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3
- 2 .. e6:
2 .. e6 3 e3 c5 4 Bd3 b6 5 O-O Bb7 6 b3 Nc6
7 Bb2 Be7 8 Nbd2 cxd4 9 exd4 O-O 10 a3 Rc8 11 Rc1 Re8
- 2 .. g6:
2 .. g6 3 Bg5 Bg7 4 Nbd2 d5! 5 e3 O-O 6 c3 b6
7 b4 Bb7 8 Be2 Nbd7 9 O-O Qe8 =
Two Knights Defense [C56]
First analyzed by Polerio in 1580, modern lines providing a pawn sac give this
defense its aggressive nature.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6
- Main Line (9 Nf3):
4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Na5 6 Bb5+ c6 7 dxc6 bxc6 8 Be2 h6
9 Nf3 e4 10 Ne5 Bd6 11 f4 exf3ep 12 Nxf3 O-O 13 d4 c5
14 O-O Re8 15 Kh1 Bb7 16 Nc3 cxd4 17 Qxd4 Nc6 18 Qh4 Ne5 =
- Main Line (9 Nh3):
4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Na5 6 Bb5+ c6 7 dxc6 bxc6 8 Be2 h6
9 Nh3 Bc5 10 O-O O-O 11 d3 Nb7 12 Nc3 Nd5 13 Bf3 Bb6
14 Qe2 Re8 15 Re1 Nxc3 16 bxc3 Bd7 =
- Max Lange Attack:
4 d4 exd4 5 O-O Bc5 6 e5 d5 7 exf6 dxc4 8 Re1+ Be6
9 Ng5 Qd5 10 Nc3 Qf5 11 Nce4 O-O-O 12 g4 Qe5 13 Nxe6 fxe6
- Wilkes-Barre Variation:
4 Ng5 Bc5!? 5 Bxf7+ Ke7 6 Bd5 d6 7 c3 Qe8! 8 d4 exd4
9 cxd4 Nxd4 10 Nc3 Qh5 11 Qd3 Rf8 12 b4 Bb6 =
Vienna Game [C25]
Named after the city, its popularity waned after WWW I with the appearance of modern openings.
The opening is played for a direct kingside attack but it lacks a true threatening nature.
1 e4 e5 2 Nc3
- 2 .. Nf6:
1 .. Nf6 3 Bc4 Nxe4 4 Qh5 Nd6 5 Bb3 Nc6 6 Nb5 g6
7 Qf3 f5 8 Qd5 Qe7 9 Nxc7+ Kd8 10 Nxa8 b6 11 Nf3 Bb7
- Pierce Gambit:
1 .. Nc6 3 f4 exf4 4 Nf3 g5 5 d4 g4 6 Bc4 gxf3
7 O-O d5 8 exd5 Bg4! 9 Qd2 Nce7 10 Qxf4 Qd7
- Vienna Gambit:
2 .. Nf6 3 f4 d5 4 fxe5 Nxe4 5 Nf3 Be7 6 d4 O-O
7 Bd3 f5 8 exf6 Bxf6 9 O-O Nc6 10 Nxe4 dxe4 11 Bxe4 Nxd4
Revised: Nov 25, 2001