Most Important Openings - Part One

Introduction

I've seen enough "repertoire" videos and posts to last me a lifetime. That is not what this article is about. If you want to know what to play for your first move as White or as black against 1.e4 and 1.d4, you'll have to consult Levy Rozman or Anish Giri.

Instead, I would like to present a "top twenty" list of openings I consider the most important from historical, soundness, and popularity perspectives. My criteria are loose and subjective, but I'm basing my list on these three considerations:

1. Historically significant: This means I'll be giving extra attention to openings that have played an important part in chess history. That is, they have been played for many years and still show up in top events like world championships and elite tournaments, and they have had and continue to have a lasting impact on the development of chess theory.
2. Strategically sound: More weight will be given to openings that follow fundamental chess principles and don't leave one side in a significantly worse position. I'll still include some sub-optimal openings that are historically significant (like the King's Gambit) and are still playable. Still, for the most part, this list will focus on solid openings that are theoretically sound.
3. Popularity on all levels: This list will favor openings that enjoy wide adoption from players of all levels. Some of them are better suited for masters (like the Grunfeld), but these openings lead to instructive positions that players of all levels can play and learn from.

It wasn't hard to generate a list of openings that followed the above criteria. A look through game collections from famous players of the past or top events will immediately indicate which openings appear the most over an extended period.

I've created my list of about twenty openings that I think rank as the most significant, and I will unveil them over this series of posts.

So, without further ado, let's get to our list:

1. The Ruy Lopez

Without a doubt, the Ruy Lopez, or "Spanish Game," is the king of all chess openings.

Despite being one of the oldest openings, having been subject to analysis since at least the Sixteenth Century, it continues to be one of the most popular openings on all levels. Only the Italian Game carries as much historical weight, but the Spanish must rank above it in terms of uninterrupted historical significance.

It follows the most solid chess principles: every move in the main line seeks to strengthen the center and develop pieces. It leads to all kinds of rich positions, from closed games with the deepest strategic positions (like the Chigorin and Breyer Variations) to sharp open games (like the Marshall Attack) to endgames that require the stronger player to squeeze out an advantage from the slightest of imbalances (like the Berlin Variation).

Almost every generation of masters, from Steinitz to Kramnik and beyond, has found new secrets in this opening, and beginners can play this opening with confidence that following the principles of sound chess will give them a good game.

For that reason, the Ruy Lopez takes a deserved first spot on this list.

2. The Queen's Gambit

In terms of solidity and history, the Queen's Gambit has few rivals. Like The Ruy Lopez, it was recommended by the masters as far back as the Seventeenth Century, and like The Ruy Lopez, it continues to yield deep secrets even today. It is a very solid and logical opening that can be played on every level and leads to a rich variety of structures.

The early masters, like Steinitz, Tarrasch, Rubinstein, Capablanca, and Alekhine, used it extensively in their matches and tournaments. It is perhaps the most commonly appearing opening over long periods - from the 1890s to the 1920s, and though it lost much popularity to the Indian Defenses starting in the 1950s, it still ranks highly in terms of most frequently played openings, especially when you include transpositions to it from the 1...Nf6 move order.

The moves of the Queen's Gambit conform to basic chess principles of fighting for the center and developing pieces. While the games resulting from this opening tend to be more closed and slow than the Open Games, it is still fairly flexible and can lead to sharp attacking plans. Regardless, it can be played with or without relying on deep theory and is very logical, making it suitable for players of all levels.

So, although the competition is tight, the Queen's Gambit deserves second place for its solidity and flexibility and for its suitability for players of all levels.

3. The Giuoco Piano

This choice might be somewhat redundant, given the number one pick - the Ruy Lopez. However, this opening hits each of our three criteria so squarely that it is hard to rank it any lower. Like the Ruy Lopez, it dates back to the very birth of modern chess, and like the Ruy Lopez, it complies perfectly to chess principles and is playable at every level.

Also, it leads to almost the same richness of positions as the Ruy Lopez, especially in recent years when it has been revived as a highly positional opening. Although it has a reputation for being more tactical than the Ruy Lopez, the Pianissimo variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3) leads to a similarly rich, maneuvering style. The Giuoco Piano also encompasses many other classics such as the Evan's Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4) and the Greco Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3).

The Giuoco Piano has proven that even the oldest of openings still has unexplored corners, and can yield a rich variety of novelties.

So, although it is so similar to the Ruy Lopez, placing this romantic opening as number three in no way makes this list repetitive.

Until next time...

That does it for our first three picks. Stay tuned for the next post, where I will reveal the next openings on my list.