Play
Puzzles
Learn
Today
Connect
More
Sign Up
Log In
Search
Help
Ask a Question
Report Abuse
Make a Suggestion
Billing Issues
Report a Bug

Articles > Opening Theory

Why Do People Play Garbage Chess Openings?

Why Do People Play Garbage Chess Openings?

GM Gserper
|
Jan 3, 2019

In last year's article about chess insults, I mentioned a funny episode that happened in the game between two chess legends, Tarrasch and Nimzowitsch. The game barely started when GM Tarrasch loudly announced: "Never in my life have I ha...

Tiger Lilov´s Opening School

Tiger Lilov´s Opening School

CHESScom
|
Feb 28, 2020

When selecting your opening repertoire as a beginner, you have to choose lines you like to play. IM Valeri "Tiger" Lilov helps you with this video series to find openings that suit your playing style. Not what you were looking for? Back t...

The Indian Roots Of Modern Chess

The Indian Roots Of Modern Chess

CM ArnieChipmunk
|
Nov 29, 2018

I recently read an interesting article in Time, written in 2008 by then-world champion Viswanathan Anand, in which he argues that chess originated in India, and then traveled westward to Persia and ultimately to Spain. In the elegant f...

The Chess Move That Always Wins

The Chess Move That Always Wins

GM Gserper
|
Nov 22, 2018

In one of my first tournament games I fell into a well-known opening trap and lost very quickly. My very considerate opponent waited till the mandatory crying was over and came to me. "Don't be upset, Greg", he said. "The move I played in the op...

Who Invented Closed Chess Games?

Who Invented Closed Chess Games?

CM ArnieChipmunk
|
Oct 24, 2018

One of the most interesting aspects of the recent chess960 matches (featuring Garry Kasparov) in St. Louis, was their potential to develop some kind of rudimentary opening theory. It appears that the players enjoyed this opportunity as well. As ...

The Cursed Knight In The Petrov

The Cursed Knight In The Petrov

GM Gserper
|
Oct 15, 2018

Petrov's Defense is not a common opening in club tournaments. It almost doesn't exist in scholastic tournaments, either. The reason is the opening is not very exciting, and in most lines leads to slow, positional play. Therefore, as Wikipedia pu...

Are You A Chess Outlaw?

Are You A Chess Outlaw?

GM Gserper
|
Oct 8, 2018

I love reading member comments to my articles! It is a pleasure to see how smart and intelligent our chess community is. Unlike commenters in many internet forums, Chess.com members are polite and helpful. Take for example one of my most re...

Attacking f7: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Attacking f7: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

CM ArnieChipmunk
|
Sep 2, 2018

What's the weakest spot on the chessboard? Surely it must be the f7 square. Only protected by the black king, the poor pawn on f7 has been a classic victim of tricks and attacks. It's fair to say chess players have been obsessed with f7 sin...

Bet You've Never Heard Of This Opening

Bet You've Never Heard Of This Opening

GM Gserper
|
Aug 14, 2018

On March 24, 1937, the leading Soviet chess magazine 64 published a theoretical article about a new opening system the magazine called the "Panov Defense."  I challenge you to identify the moves of this opening line. Yes, you can Google it ...

The English Opening | Chess Openings Explained

The English Opening | Chess Openings Explained

CHESScom
|
Jun 23, 2018

The English Opening starting with 1.c4 is a modern way to handle the opening phase of the game. This opening is a "flank" opening since it starts with a side pawn rather than the central 1.e4 or 1.d4 moves. Many players from chess history and toda...

Why Do Grandmasters Play "Beginner's Moves"?

Why Do Grandmasters Play "Beginner's Moves"?

GM Gserper
|
Mar 11, 2018

A popular saying insists that there are no bad questions: there are only bad answers. Well, I have a confession to make. There is a sort of question that is really difficult to answer. It usually goes like this: A student rated around USCF 1200 co...

The Ruy Lopez Chess Opening Explained

The Ruy Lopez Chess Opening Explained

CHESScom
|
Sep 26, 2018

The Ruy Lopez (also known as the Spanish Opening) is a chess opening enjoyed by chess players from complete beginners to the world champion, Magnus Carlsen! History Notable games Opening explorer History The opening bears the name o...

Fried Liver Attack | Chess Opening

Fried Liver Attack | Chess Opening

CHESScom
|
Jun 15, 2018

The Fried Liver Attack holds the award for the coolest opening name in chess. This variation of the Two-Knights Defense involves a bold knight sacrifice which forces the black king to take a walk. This variation is also known as the Fegatello Atta...

Hate Chess Opening Theory? There Is A Solution!

Hate Chess Opening Theory? There Is A Solution!

GM TheGadfly1897
|
Mar 30, 2018

About a hundred years ago, the third world chess champion, José Raúl Capablanca, expressed concern about the death of chess due to its drawish tendences. He said that in times when there were no computers claiming "0.00" and when che...

Accelerated Dragon

Accelerated Dragon

TigerChess
|
Dec 21, 2017

The Accelerated Dragon may be a more positional style than other forms of the Sicilian, but it's equally effective against White. In this series, GM Melik Khachiyan offers a deeper insight into this popular opening for Black.  Not what...

The Open Catalan System

The Open Catalan System

TigerChess
|
Dec 14, 2020

Is it true? Is the Catalan an easy way for White to jump out ahead? In this series, GM Georg Meier explores the depths of the Catalan for both White and Black. Will you find interesting ideas for Black up an extra pawn or just a positional co...

Winning In The Lopez

Winning In The Lopez

TigerChess
|
Dec 21, 2017

There's no such thing as too much Ruy Lopez. This time GM Ivan Sokolov makes his Chess.com debut with a new take on winning with White in the most popular opening. You'll enjoy the in-depth analysis and final verdicts on some of those sidelines yo...

Nakamura Teaches The KID

Nakamura Teaches The KID

TigerChess
|
Feb 27, 2020

One of our favorite installments from one of our favorite guest. In this series, GM Hikaru Nakamura best games in the KID are broken down, piece by piece, by GM Simon Williams. Try the Lessons! Not what you were looking for? Back...

The Perfect Opening For The Lazy Student

The Perfect Opening For The Lazy Student

GM Ginger_GM
|
Dec 6, 2016

During the last five years or so, most of the time that I have spent on chess has been devoted to creating things that have helped other players improve: videos, books, articles, courses and whatever else comes along. Undertaking this direc...

Learning An Opening: To Memorize Or Understand?

Learning An Opening: To Memorize Or Understand?

IM Silman
|
Nov 17, 2016

Dave asked for my opinion on a line in the Two Knight’s Defense. He wrote: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bc5. Here there are a few moves to play. The move I’m look...

The Giuoco Piano

The Giuoco Piano

TigerChess
|
Dec 3, 2016

In this series, GMs Roman Dzindzichashvili and Melik Khachiyan explore one of the first chess openings to come into existence, the Giuoco Piano. While there are great advantages for Black in gaining the d5-square, the road to success is bumpy, to ...

Eisenberg's Strange Gambit

Eisenberg's Strange Gambit

batgirl
|
Oct 26, 2016

      One of the oddest, yet intriguing variations in the King's Gambit Accepted is one discovered by Louis Eisenberg.              Louis R. Eisenberg  ...

Master Path Study Plan: The Opening!

Master Path Study Plan: The Opening!

News
|
Dec 6, 2020

Target Skill Range: Master Path (Rated 2000-2199) Acquire the knowledge you need to approach the opening with confidence and achieve success! Tasks: Learn About Advanced Opening Preparation Expand Your Knowledge of Thematic Middlegam...

Study Plan For Advanced Players: The Opening!

Study Plan For Advanced Players: The Opening!

News
|
Dec 6, 2020

Target Skill Range: Advanced (Rated 1800-1999) Acquire the knowledge you need to approach the opening with confidence and achieve success! Tasks: Expand your Knowledge of Common Structures and Plans Learn About Creating an Opening Re...

Top
1 2 3
Articles
For Beginners
Strategy
Tactics
Scholastics
Opening Theory
Middlegame
Endgames
Amazing Games
Chess Players
Fun & Trivia
Other
Chess.com Help
Authors
Study Plans
Curriculum for Kids
Help Why Join? About Jobs Developers User Agreement Privacy Fair Play Community Chess.com © 2021