Chess Opening Tier List!
I realized that there’s a distinct lack of chess tier lists online, so I decided to make one. Now obviously, the first move isn’t very important before master level, but at least knowing the basic of how each move functions is a useful skill, and knowing how they compare can help you in beating them. (note: some of this is based on personal preference, specifically S Rank, where any of the four openings could be called the best)
S Rank (all completely viable first moves):
Nf3 (Reti Opening) - Pros: The most flexible opening, Nf3 allows the users to pick and choose between, e4, d4, and c4 openings, as well as numerous independent lines based on the opponent’s response, as lines of most every opening involve Nf3, given its importance in controlling the center. The move controls the e5 square and makes an eventual d4 advance inevitable if white so chooses, and a system such as the Kong’s Indian Attack can support an e4 advance.
Cons: Not as ambitious as a pure d4 or e4 opening, and doesn’t aid in developing any other piece.
d4 (Queen’s Pawn Opening) - Pros: The most solid opening, white occupies the center with a pawn and opens the diagonal of white’s queenside bishop, allowing systems such as the London. The d4 pawn can easily be supported by white’s pieces, and the natural protection by the queen allows white to worry about piece development and not defending a pawn.
Cons: Doesn’t aid in castling kingside, and the pawn can be undermined through a c5 advance by black.
e4 (King’s Pawn Opening) - Pros: The most tactical move, white prepares the kingside bishop’s diagonal and speeds up the process of kingside castling, occupying the center with a pawn and allowing easy piece development. The opening also allows many instances where white can sacrifice material for a positional advantage, an advantage that can open lines and begin an attack.
Cons: The e4 pawn isn’t naturally protected, so it’s needy, requiring support from pieces if it isn’t just sacrificed.
c4 (English Opening) - Pros: A hypermodern and transposing option, c4 allows transposition into many hypermodern d4 openings, while allowing white to avoid defenses like the Nimzo-Indian, and disincentivizing d5 from black. c4 prepares Nc3, allowing the knight to be developed without blocking a pawn. c4 also pairs well with g3, as unlike e4, c4 can control d5 without blocking a potential kingside fianchettoed bishop.
Cons: c4 is a relatively committal move that generally forces white to fianchetto the kingside bishop if they don’t want it to be too passive, and the c4 push develops no back rank pieces.
A Rank (definitely all viable, though not as important as S):
g3 (Benko Opening) - Pros: Prepares to develop the kingside bishop to a square that controls two central squares. The move allows white flexibility in his play, choosing between a King's Indian Attack, Catalan, or an English, with the bishop being able to support the formation of whichever one. Between g3, Bg2, and Nf3, white can setup a powerful defense for his king, as the pieces get out of the way for castling and defend the king well.
Cons: g3 doesn’t support the center at all on the first move, and a c6-d5 advance by black diminishes the bishop’s influence. g3 also slightly weakens the kingside, usually forcing the g2 bishop to stay to take the roll of the pawn.
b3 (Nimzo-Larsen Attack) - Pros: Prepares to develop the queenside bishop to a square that controls two central squares. The move also supports a c4 advance, followed by a potential Nc3. b3 also allows white to build up a solid queenside pawn structure, and eventually push for an attack on either side, with pawns building up on the queenside and a bishop aiming at the kingside.
Cons: b3 doesn’t support the center at all on the first move, and the bishop’s eventual claim can be easily contested with pawns. b3 also doesn’t constrict black’s options at all.
B Rank (viable, though each has flaws that make them generally less useful options than A or S):
f4 (Bird Opening) - Pros: White controls the e5 square, giving black the choice to either continue developing or sacrifice a pawn in order to gain back control of the square. White’s move prepares the f3 square for the knight, and gives white the option to set up a stonewall with d4 and e3, or fianchetto the kingside bishop and prepare an eventual attack.
Cons: White’s move weakens the kingside and can block in the dark squared bishop, as well as not immediately helping with back row development.
b4 (Polish Opening) - Pros: With this move, white attempts to put pressure on the queenside and free the dark squared bishop, with Bb2’s indirect control of the e5 square allowing white to capture on e5 if black goes for the pawn, and the control of the diagonal making e6, intending to capture, a dangerous idea. White can usually start a queenside attack very soon into the game.
Cons: The pawn is vulnerable on b4, with white often having to sacrifice the pawn for a stable position. The move also allows black a lot of freedom of move choice, with nearly any move working well.
Nc3 (Dunst Opening) - Pros: White develops a knight, supporting an eventual e4 advance and putting slight pressure on the d5 square. White can transpose into a Closed Sicilian, Vienna Game, or Chigorin, though the most common line involves white moving the knight to e2 and then g3.
Cons: In no way is black prevented from playing d5 in the way that Nf3 prevents e5, in fact, Nc3 incentivizes d5, as a d4 advance would push away the knight. The knight also blocks the c pawn, often damaging white’s position.
C Rank (less viable than any previously mentioned opening, though still playable):
e3 (Van’t Kruijs Opening) - Pros: White prepares d4 and opens the kingside bishop’s diagonal, giving white the option to go for a Colle or reversed Queen’s Indian. The opening of the bishop’s diagonal can allow quick castling, with a setup like Be2, Nf3, and 0-0 allowing a quick castle while still supporting a d4 advance.
Cons: However, this quick castling would come at the cost of development, and the pawn being on e3 before d4 is played means that the London and similar systems are no longer possible. This move also doesn’t control the center in any immediate way.
d3 (Mieses Opening) - Pros: White prepares e4 and opens the queenside bishop’s diagonal, and white has the option of going for multiple systems, such as the King’s Indian Attack or various reversed rat openings.
Cons: White’s move is very unambitious, not controlling the center even indirectly, and giving black full freedom of move choice. The d3 pawn also blocks the kingside bishop, meaning the bishop will either reside on e2 or g2 regardless. Playing e4 or Nf3 allows more flexibility on white’s part.
a3 (Anderssen Opening) - Pros: Doesn’t impede development, can support a future queenside push, and the move has uses in reversed Sicilian lines against e5, and disincentivizes a reversed Queen’s Gambit in the case of d5, as dxc5 and b5 would hold on to the pawn. In the case of Nf6, white can play d4 and play for a Australian Attack.
Cons: Achieves no central claim or development of any kind, giving black the “first move advantage” with little to show other than moderately constricted options on black’s end.
D Rank (outclassed by other moves):
c3 (Saragossa Opening) - Pros: White prepares d4 with a flank pawn, and can achieve reversed Caro-Kann or Slav lines in the case of e5 or c5 from black respectively.
Cons: Does nothing for development of pieces, blocking white’s queenside knight, and only creating a useless diagonal for white’s queen. The move doesn’t support castling, and as d4 is necessary on move 2, can even delay castling further. Outclassed by d4, as it’s more flexible, with c3 providing nothing tangible.
h3 (Clemenz Opening) - Pros: Doesn’t impede development, prevents black from playing Bg4, and can support a less risky g4 push.
Cons: The move achieves nothing for the center, and gives away the first move advantage while actively weakening the kingside. Outclassed by a3, which gives away the first move advantage in the same way, while serving use in constricting black’s options.
Nh3 (Amar Opening) - Pros: White prepares to castle, and the knight being on h3 allows white to play g3 and Bg2 with nothing in the way of the bishop.
Cons: The move does nothing to control the center, and white will have to waste tempo in order to move the knight at some point, as a knight on h3 is useless. Outclassed by g3, which gives white options for where the knight will be placed, either on e2 after e4 or on f3, without wasting tempo.
E Tier (bad or useless moves that don’t further white’s position and provide no sufficient compensation):
Na3 (Sodium Attack) - Pros: White’s knight attempts to support the c4, likely ending up residing on c2 to support the d4 square, or on c4 to attack e5. If c5, white can respond to Nc6 with a supported Bb5. The move develops a piece, even if not to a great square.
Cons: Na3 does inevitably end up costing tempo, as keeping the knight on a3 is not an option, with black even having the option to attack it with e5, forcing it to move, for white to play an awkward b3, or for white to accept doubled a pawns. Na3 also doesn’t support the center, and gives black free reign.
a4 (Ware Opening) - Pros: In the line …d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. e4 dxe4 4. Ne5, white’s first move has an actual use, though not much. The a4 pawn will often be pushed to a5, allowing a rook lift to a4, supporting a queenside attack. The pawn can also support Bb5.
Cons: The move does nothing for development, hinders white’s ability to prevent Bb4, and can’t support a rook lift without playing a5 first, as Ra3 loses the rook in most lines, costing more time that black can use to develop a center, as the a4 move does nothing to constrict black’s options.
h4 (Desprez Opening) - Pros: White can prepare a kingside attack with g3 or g4. One line attempts to trap black’s bishop if they play d5 and Bf5, where white plays d4 and a waiting move such as c3. If black plays e6, then e4 traps the bishop.
Cons: If black doesn’t play g6 or fall into this trap, then white has simply made his position worse, with less reason to castling kingside, and no center control gained by the move. White does nothing to develop pieces, except for the rook, which requires that white plays the risky h5 to even use the rook if black plays d5.
F Tier (no):
g4 (Grob Attack) - Pros: White can use the Grob Gambit, relying that black falls into a trap such as …d5 2. Bg2 Bxg4 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 e6 6. Qa4+.
Cons: If black doesn’t fall into a trap, white has simply sacrificed either position or both material and position. g4 weakens the kingside, only attempts to develop the kingside bishop to g2 in a last ditch effort to save the kingside, and does little for center control. Declining the gambit by black shows how poor white’s position is, with moves like h3 being necessary to keep the pawn, only further breaking the kingside.
f3 (Barnes Opening) - Pros: None
Cons: Using f3 to support an e4 advance fails because it opens up the king to attacks. Using f3 to support g4 loses immediately to the Fool’s Mate. Using f3 to house the king on f2 holds nothing except comedic value. The f3 advance doesn’t contribute usefully to the center, weakens the kingside making castling less attractive, opens up the kong’s diagonal, doesn’t contribute to the development of pieces, and blocks white’s kingside knight, forcing white to play g3 and e3 as well to hope for a scrap of development, or just cutting your losses and playing f4 on the second move anyways, losing a tempo and gaining absolutely nothing.
