Beginner's Guide to Best and Most Popular Openings

Well, in order to prepare the universal answer to the same beginner's question each day "what opening should I choose?", I wanna write something short and comprehensive. Everyone is welcome to participate! There are 2 criteria: openings should be very popular and have very good engine's evaluations. For my own convenience, I will indicate PSCC (pawn structure classification codes) of these openings, cf.

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/pawn-structure-classification-codes

for definitions and technical details.

There are definitely 3 best and most popular moves: 1. e4 King's Pawn (KP) Opening, 1. d4 Queen's Pawn (QP) Opening and 1. Nf3 Réti Opening. In some sense, Réti opening is more flexible and leads both to KP and QP games as well as to the English Opening via 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4. I'll mention openings in lexicographical order of PSCC.

2C: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 Anglo-Indian Defense.

• 2Cc: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5, 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 and 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 Anglo-Indian: Symmetrical Variation.
• 2C1e: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 Anglo-Indian: Agincourt Defense .
• 2C1g: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 Anglo-Indian: King's Indian Defense (KID).

2CD: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Indian Defense.

• 2CD1e: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 East Indian Defense.
• 2CD1g: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 KID.

2CDd: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Queen's Gambit.

• 2CDd1c: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 Slav Defense.
• 2CDd1e: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD).
• 6Cd3c2D0c: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA).

2D: 1. d4 QP. 1. d4 Nf6 Indian Defense is the best and most popular reply.

• 2Dd: 1. d4 d5 Queen's Pawn Game (QPG) as well as 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 or 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 QPG: Symmetrical Variation.

2E: 1. e4  KP. There are 2 best answers 1...c5 Sicilian Defense and 1...e5 King's Pawn Game (KPG).

2Ec: 1. e4 c5 Sicilian Defense  followed by 2. Nf3 Nc6 Old Sicilian or 2. Nc3 Nc6 Closed Sicilian: Traditional Line. 1. Nf3 c5 followed by 2. e4 Nf6 also leads to the Old Sicilian.

• 2Ec1d: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 or 1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 Modern Sicilian. The most popular opening at 4 plies.
• 2Ec1e: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 or 1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 e6 Sicilian Defense: French Variation.
• 2Ec1g: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 or 1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 g6 Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon.

2Ee: 1. e4 e5 KPG followed by 2. Nf3 Nc6.

... to be continued ...

Hmm ... I wonder whether I should add 1. c4 to the list of best openings ?

I started with 4 plies. Please let me know if I forgot something.

If you mean to help not only White but also Black, of course 1.c4 should be included, and some ways how to deal with it.

As for me (not quite a beginner, but not a professional either), when playing as Black, my favorite two first moves against the most White's moves are 1. ... Nf6 and 2. ... e6 (exception is 1.e4, here Black has a really wide choice, not only 1. ... Nf6; for beginners 1. ... e5 might be probably more advisable, but really, tastes differ)

Oleg, thanks, U are right about c4. Anyway, it appears naturally after 1. Nf3 Nf6 and 1. Nf3 c5. Also, by popularity, 1. c4 is not far behind 1. Nf3. I'll add it asap.

How about the French defense 1. e4 e6 ? It might be slightly weaker than 1...c5 and 1...e5 ? Should I add it ?

looks good...

French defense is really good (not only because it has been my weapon as Black against 1.e4 for over 15 years ) Some strong players recommend French for beginners, some - not (meaning it is too complicated strategically). In any case 1. ... e6 is fun to play