Chess Openings: Different Plans

I made this post to help either beginners, or more advanced players to improve their opening theory. 

When you were just starting to play chess, your chess coaches usually teach you the basics such as the Italian Game. This is a great opening to learn as a kid if you are more familiar with e4. Here is the basic setup of the Italian game:

This setup is often referred to as the Guicco Piano. As I mentioned before, this is an opening for players that are more familiar with e4. Lots of people tend to start with d4. Many players consider the Queens Gambit, an opening that can be played from beginner to Expert levels. 

The Queens gambit is an opening that requires lots of space. The point is that White sacrifices a pawn on the second move to gain a space advantage! A very rare move (Often Played at lower Levels) is dxc4. This variation is called the Queens Gambit Accepted. After a rather unusual move dxc4, white gains a great advantage after e4. The most played variation of the Queens Gambit is referred to as the Queens Gambit declined. d4, d5, c4, e6.

The Queens Gambit declined is a line that converts more tension in the center but fights back for it. 

This is my favorite line in the queens gambit declined. Another really popular line in the Queens Gambit after 1... d5, is the semi slav defense. We wont go through all the details but here is the link if you want to learn more about it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-Slav_Defense
Now we will move on to the really popular french defense. 

This is an opening that lots of people have strong feelings about. Lots of people like it, but others don't. Many people say that the French defense causes a LACK of space when you don't play the exchange variation: 

Another really popular line in the French defense, the winawer. 

The Winawer is probably the most played French defense variation. The French Defense could be played at lower levels, or maybe even at higher levels.

The next (and last) opening I am going to talk about is an opening I really like called the Sicilian. More specifically, the Sicilian Dragon. The dragon variation is an opening that relies mostly around blacks really strong bishop and is usually played at 2 main structures.

1: e4, c5, nf3, nc6, d4, cxd4, nxd4, g6. Straight away maintaining the Dragon formation:

In this line the main move is c4, The Maroczy Bind. This line often causes black a lack of space. The most played line in the Dragon variation is the normal which does not allow c4:

This line is a really fun and interesting line where usually both players make opposite side castling. If you would like to have fun, I would really recommend this line.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the Blog! Make sure to leave a comment on how you felt about it. This took me lots of time. Thanks!