Chess Opening Guides
62 opening guides organised by first move — with interactive diagrams, model games, and key ideas explained in plain language.
13
1.e4 — Open Games (White)
Center Game: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Four Knights Game: Development, Symmetry, and the Rubinstein Trap
🌱Beginner14 min readRead →
Italian Game - Giuoco Piano: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Italian Game - Two Knights Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Italian Game - Giuoco Piano: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner22 min readRead →
King's Gambit: The Most Romantic Opening in Chess
🌱Beginner16 min readRead →
Ponziani Opening: The Tricky c3 Weapon Against 1...e5
🌱Beginner14 min readRead →
Ruy Lopez - Berlin Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Ruy Lopez - Closed Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Ruy Lopez - Exchange Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Ruy Lopez - Open Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Scotch Game: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Vienna Game: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner14 min readRead →
22
1.e4 — Black Defences
Alekhine's Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Caro-Kann Defense - Advance Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Caro-Kann Defense - Classical Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Caro-Kann Defense - Exchange Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Caro-Kann Defense - Panov Attack: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
French Defense - Advance Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
French Defense - Classical Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
French Defense - Exchange Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
French Defense - Rubinstein Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
French Defense - Tarrasch Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
French Defense - Winawer Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Modern Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Pirc Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
The Scandinavian Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Sicilian Accelerated Dragon: Skip d6, Aim for d5
🌱Beginner14 min readRead →
Sicilian Defense - Alapin Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Sicilian Defense - Closed Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Sicilian Defense - Dragon Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Sicilian Defense - Najdorf Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Sicilian Defense - Scheveningen Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Sicilian Defense - Sveshnikov Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Sicilian Defense - Taimanov Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
5
1.d4 — White Systems
Catalan Opening: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Colle System: The Hidden Gem of 1.d4 Openings
🌱Beginner16 min readRead →
London System: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Torre Attack: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Trompowsky Attack: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
17
1.d4 — Black Defences
Benoni Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Bogo-Indian Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Budapest Gambit: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Dutch Defense - Leningrad Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Dutch Defense - Stonewall Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Grunfeld Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
King's Indian Defense - Classical Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
King's Indian Defense - Samisch Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Nimzo-Indian Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Queen's Gambit - Albin Counter-Gambit: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Queen's Gambit - Chigorin Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Complete Guide with Key Ideas
🌱Beginner16 min readRead →
Queen's Gambit Declined - Exchange Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Queen's Gambit Declined - Orthodox Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Queen's Indian Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Semi-Slav Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
Slav Defense: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
5
Flank & System Openings
Bird's Opening: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
English Opening - Reversed Sicilian: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
English Opening - Symmetrical Variation: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
King's Indian Attack: Bobby Fischer's Favourite System
🌱Beginner15 min readRead →
Reti Opening: A Complete Guide for Beginners
🌱Beginner18 min readRead →
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