A complete reference to 35 major chess openings. Each entry covers the key moves, strategic ideas, main variations, and historical context — from beginner-friendly systems to advanced theoretical battlegrounds.
35 openings
17 openings
Sicilian Defense
1. e4 c5
French Defense
1. e4 e6
Caro-Kann Defense
1. e4 c6
Italian Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
Ruy Lopez
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Scotch Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
Scandinavian Defense
1. e4 d5
Pirc Defense
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6
Vienna Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3
King's Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. f4
Alekhine Defense
1. e4 Nf6
Petrov Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
Philidor Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
Four Knights Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6
Two Knights Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6
Evans Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4
Modern Defense
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7
15 openings
Queen's Gambit
1. d4 d5 2. c4
London System
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4
King's Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6
Nimzo-Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
Catalan Opening
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3
Dutch Defense
1. d4 f5
Grunfeld Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
Slav Defense
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
Queen's Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
Benoni Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5
Queen's Gambit Declined
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
Queen's Gambit Accepted
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
Trompowsky Attack
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5
Budapest Gambit
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5
Semi-Slav Defense
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
3 openings