FAQ - Reversed Openings

Hi!

I think a good way to broaden your opening repertoire with little effort, especially when playing White, is to use Reversed Openings of those you play as Black. I have experience with them so I decided to create a FAQ mainly for Beginners and Intermediate players, to share my personal perspective rather than a universal theory.

Q1 What exactly is a Reversed Opening?

A Reversed Opening occurs when White plays the same moves that Black would normally play, but with an extra tempo.

Q2 Which Reversed Openings are there?

Here is a list of some Reversed Openings:

White Black

King's Indian Attack King's Indian Defense

English Opening (1...e5 variation) Sicilian Defense

1.g3 (King´s Fianchetto) 1...g6 (Modern /Pirc Defenses) 

1.b3 (Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack) 1...b6 (Owen/English Defenses)

1.c3 1...c6

 1.Nc3 1...Nc6

....

Q3 What are the advantages of playing Reversed Openings?

Probably the main reason players choose Reversed Openings is that they save preparation time. You already know much of the strategy and typical tactics from your experience playing the same positions as Black, so adapting them with an extra tempo as White feels natural.

Have you ever tried Reversed Openings? They’re easier to prepare and surprisingly practical. I’ve had good results with them—what’s your experience? Feel free to ask any questions on this topic, I will do my best to reply.

Good luck!

maafernan chess.com coach

This whole thread is a hoax. Reverse Openings are NOT the way to go. You may wind up in a Reverse Open by circumstance, but that should be an inherited product of coming up with a legitimate opening and no the attitude of "I play this, let's play the reverse".

There is a pivotal reason behind this. It has to do with commitment. Pawn moves are committal. MANY of Black's Defenses are "Reactionary" based on a committal move by White. The strategy complete changes when the move is made ahead of commitment by the opponent.

Here are a few examples:

Bird's Opening vs Dutch Defense - The Dutch Defense, 1...f5, is played to gain dominance of the e4-square. White has WEAKENED his control of e4 when he played 1.d4. That pawn will never again be able to go to d3 to contest control of e4. Tack on ...Nf6, and in the case of the stonewall, ...d5 as well. One of White's pawns already cannot assist in breaking through with e4. If the pawn could still go to d3, then the e4-break may be easier to achieve. If your dark squares are under control with your pieces, and you could play f3 and d3 to get in e4, the breakthrough would be easy. So this explains why the Bird is INFERIOR to the Dutch. With 1.f4, Black has NOT committed to ...d5 or ...f5. While 1...d5 is a line against 1.f4, going for something else instead of the ...e5-break, Black has not committed to ...d5, and does have the option to play ...d6, fighting for the e5-square, making Bird's Opening INFERIOR to the Dutch Defense.

King's Indian Attack vs King's Indian Defense - If you have studied both openings, you will realize they are like apples and oranges. 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d3 e5 5.O-O Nf6 is actually lost for Black. On the Black side of a Reversed King's Indian, Black must go for the Reversed Fianchetto or Reversed Saemisch. Black doesn't have time to survive the Reversed Classical. The game does not play the same at all. In cases where Black doesn't commit to a full reversed King's Indian, and you wind up in a KIA vs French or KIA vs Sicilian (1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 and 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3, respectively), the play is nothing like the KID. In the KID, Black plays for ...f5, in the KIA, White goes for h4. The f-pawn almost never advances early.

English Opening w/ 1...e5 vs Sicilian Defense - Many lines are not playable for Black, like trying to play a Reversed Yugoslav Attack is just losing for Black - he would have go to for a Reversed Classical Sicilian, but at the same time, Black has not committed as much as White has in the Sicilian, and so Black can play moves that White might not normally make in the Sicilian, or cases where White must commit first and Black can react. For example, in the Sicilian, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6, White must decide first whether he wants to play the Boulder (3.Bc4) or the Rossolimo (3.Bb5) or the Open (3.d4). As Black, it's obvious he will play 3...cxd4 against the Open, but if White plays 3.Bc4, Black may play 3...e6, while if White plays 3.Bb5, Black may play 3...g6. Well, after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6, If Black has no intention of playing 3...d5, then he may play 3...Bc5 against 3.g3 and 3...Bb4 against 3.e3. Notice White must commit first.

Now, the English is a legitimate opening. You cannot always expect 1...e5 though. You have to be willing to play the Symmetrical, and then either the Reti or a QP opening if Black plays ...d5, like 1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 is the QGD (Moves other than 3.d4 or 3.cxd5 exd5 4.d4 are just bad) and 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5, here White is not forced to play d4, but instead, if you play 3.b3 or 3.e3 or 3.g3, you have the Reti Opening. So just because you play the Sicilian doesn't mean the English/Reti or English/Queen;s Gamibt will give you an easy life.

So as you can see, Reversing Openings doesn't ease anything. Certain variations are unplayable for Black while other variations are an advantage for Black compared to the reverse situation because he has not committed, and can alter based on White's "Extra Commitment" (rather than "Extra Move")

Good post!

I use Reverse Openings a lot. I play them for a practical advantage ... not a theoretical advantage.

I open the game up with either 1.d4 2.Nf3 3. e3 looking to play a Colle or 1.d4 2. e3 3. Bd3 looking to play a Stonewall Attack.

Obviously Black has some move order strategies to cross across White's plan in those lines. They usually involve an accelerated pawn to c5. I react to that plan by playing a Reverse Semi Slav, or a Reverse QGA or a Reverse Noteboom. In many cases Black doesn't expect dxc5 and himself being the one who is move ordered. (that's why I play them)

Play often develops totally different than the Original defense when you play them as White.

Outside of 1.d4 and 1. e4. I fail to see how one could think these are any less that everything else.

1.c4 Well 1...e5! Black is equal (written facetiously... but if you have played the English you get the jibe)

1. b4, 1. Nf3 1. b3, 1.g3 or even 1 f4.... Nothing wrong with these... but IMO they are no better or worse than playing a Reverse Opening.

Hi!

Some more answers to frequently asked questions to the subjetc of Reversed Openings:

Q4 Do Masters play Reversed Openings?

Yes, Masters often choose reversed setups to sidestep mainstream theory, gain psychological edges, or transpose into familiar pawn structures with White’s extra tempo.

Q5. Can you give examples?

Kasparov often employed the English Opening (1.c4 e5) as White.

Fischer frequently played the King’s Indian Attack as White (and the King’s Indian Defense as Black), as well as the Nimzo-Larsen Attack.

Nakamura regularly uses 1.b3 in speed chess, and Carlsen occasionally does the same.

Q6. Are Reversed Openings feasible?

Yes! They are certainly playable, but I wouldn’t recommend relying on them exclusively. Instead, they serve as an excellent way to broaden your repertoire and gain practical experience in familiar structures with an extra tempo.

Q7 Is 1...e5 a refutation to the English Opening 1. c4?

No it isn't. According to modern engines, after 1.c4, e5 the evaluation of the position is +0,24.

Q8 What is your opinion on the Nimzo-Larsen Attack 1.b3?

I have a lot of experiene with it and I think it is playable. Please see my post for details: Opening Repertoire: The Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack - Chess.com

Feel free to ask any questions on this topic, I will do my best to reply.

Good luck!

maafernan chess.com coach

These responses are misleading. Fischer did not just "randomly", "blindly", or even "consistently", play the King's Indian Attack.

I am not saying the KIA is a mistake. What is a mistake is just saying that the reason you play the KIA is because you play the KID.

There is a very specific time and place to play the KIA that is vastly different than the KID. In the KID, Black's idea is to allow White the big center, specifically c4, d4, and e4, viewing d4 as now weak since it can never be guarded by a pawn. So Black will play ...e5 or ...c5, looking to entice d5. If he plays ...c5, the idea is to open up his Bishop on g7 and attack on the dark squares. If he plays ...e5, he looks to entice d5 to take all pressure off of e5, and stabilize the center so he can execute the pawn break with ...f5.

The KIA is a totally different ball of wax. In the vast majority of cases, Black knows that because he goes second, he cannot afford to make a bunch of space-gaining pawn moves, and will rarely play ...e5, ...d5, and ...c5. Far more common is to play 2 out of the 3 if he can. Which two he plays determines whether or not the KIA is viable.

The viability of the KIA is the same as that of the Colle and the Catalan. All 3 of these openings have to do with domination of the light squares on the kingside, and the Black LSB must be blocked behind his own pawn chain for it to work.

Fischer predominantly played the KIA specifically when Black played the French, NOT systematically like many amateur mistakenly do.

After 1.e4 e6, already Black makes a move that Blocks the Bishop, so 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 (to avoid the queen trade) c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.Re1 b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 and White will storm the kingside while Black storms the Queenside.

A line like 1.e4 c5 2.d3?! (Better is 2.Nf3, and ONLY if 2...e6, THEN 3.d3!) d6 3.Nd2 e5 4.Ngf3, the fact that Black can bring his light-squared Bishop out to g4 is a bad sign for White, and even If White plays h3, now the pawn is stuck on he stopping ...Bg4 and White has no active kingside attack.

So again, your Blanket statements about reverse openings are either false, or at best misleading. The extra tempo changes the game completely, and understanding when the reverse opening works and when it doesn't is where you clearly lack the knowledge, and proceed to advertise playing reverse openings like a blind squirrel.

KID - White weakens d4 and the dark squares, black looks to lock down and stabilize and attack either on the wing (...e5) or the long diagonal (...c5)

KIA - Black has now "Weakened" the light squares. In fact, d5 is often Black's strong point in the KIA, UNLIKE d4 in the KID. Here, the viability of it relies on Black blocking his Light-Squared Bishop behind his own pawn chain.

Hi!

More on the subject of Reversed Openings:

Q9 What is the value of the extra tempo playing Reversed Openings as White?

The extra tempo gives you greater flexibility and allows you to choose more convenient variations, or prevent your opponent from selecting the most agressive replies.

Q10 Why this FAQ about Reversed Openings?

I often see players on forums asking for advice on Opening Repertoire. I share my own recommendations on my blog depending the player's level and preferences. Building a repertoire takes time, but in my experience, adding a Reverse Opening to your current repertoire, especially for players approacing the intermedite level,  can be less demanding and quite rewarding.

My original idea was to mainly answer questions from a practionner point of view rather than become involved in extended theoretical debates or exchanges that might feel personal.

Q11 When do you play Reversed Openings?

I mainly play them in online chess, or in OTB games when I do not feel much pressure to achieve an opening advantage. I prefer to surprise my opponent, avoid heavy opening preparation, and enjoy winning by simply playing chess.

Feel free to ask any questions on this topic, I will do my best to reply.

Good luck!

maafernan chess.com coach

Speaking of Reverse Openings

Here's a blitz of on Lichess The engine classifies this is an old Benoni but IMO its a Reverse Semi-Slav. In this case 5. dxc5 gives White an advantage

Hi!

I think the opening was classified as a Benoni because of the move order (1.d4, c5) although it transposed later into the Queen's Pawn Opening: Krause Variation which I agree resembles a reversed Semi-slav.

If on move 3 White had played 3. d5! (punishing 2...Nc6?) it would still be a Benoni but with an advantage for White.

Following the FAQ , I would add:

Q12 Are there reversed openings in Queen's Pawn games?

Yes, here is a short list with some Queen's Pawn Reversed Openings.

White Black

Colle Semi-slav

London Slav

Zuckertort Queen's Indian

Good luck!

maafernan - chess coach

There is no universal answer to give here. Some reversed openings are good weapons and play like very pleasant versions of their black counterparts, others are a waste of your advantage for no good reason.

for example, in a lot of lines with 1.b3 d5, white gets to play specific lines of the nimzo or queen's indian a tempi up. This tempi makes some plans which are subpar as black ,actually effective as white, for example, in lines like 1.b3 d5 2.bb2 c5 3.e3 nc6 4.bb4, with a non-forced bxc6 is actually pleasant for white whereas similar lines in the nimzo indian with or without b6, taking on c3 prematurely gives white too much initiative even with the permanent pawn structure damage.
here is an even crazier line. You ever heard of the norwegian rat? 1.e4 g6 2.d4 nf6!? 3.e5 nh5!?! The defense is actually slightly better than it looks but its not great and eval is around 0.9-1 in whites favor already. but a grandmaster on chessable created a repertoire with 1.g3 and actually recommends a reversed norwegian rat 1.g3 e5 2.nf3 e4 3.nh4!? which is pretty much equal but super tricky. Not only is it ok, but the engine thinks its superior to a reversed alekhine after 3.nd4 which is not what you would expect since the alekhine is a much more respectable defense to the norwegian rat.
moves like 1.e3, 1.d3 and 1.c3 on the other hand often play like reversed versions of black defenses where the extra tempo isnt much of an edge. They can still work, and if you put some elbow grease in, even trick black into entering lines a tempo up which you know are super pleasant for white

But saying reversed openings save you prep time is not always the case, in fact quite often its the opposite. take something like 1.c4 vs 1.c4 c5. IF you approach the english as a sicilian with a tempi off, may i remind that black hasnt committed any formation yet? *Sicilian* as black also restricts whites action whereas black has made no such commitment and white ought to prepare most of them.

Hi!

More Q&A:

Q13 Are Reversed Openings time-consuming to study?

I don't think so, especially if you are already used to playing their opposite-colour versions. For instance, I play the Modern as Black - quite a theoretical opening - and so I find the King's Fianchetto as White very playable and less theoretical.

Q14 Do you always achieve the positions you want when playing Reversed Openings?

No you don't. You need to be flexible. For instance, if you want to play a Reverse Sicilian, you can't be sure your opponent will allow it. After 1. c4, replies such as 1...e6, 1...Nf6 or 1...c5 will prevent you from reaching a Reversed Sicilian. On the other hand, after 1. g3, you might face 1...e5 which is the most common reply, when 2. c4 brings you to your Reversed Sicilian. Now, if they play 1...d5, if you are a King's Indian player as Black, then try 2. Nf3 that brings you to a reversed KID.

Good luck!

maafernan chess coach

sometimes reversed openings can have a advantage for example:

You might guess by the look of this, it is a reversed Nimzo-indian, but thats not all, look at white's b pawn, it has the setup of a queens indian, so sometimes extra tempo can have a reversed hybrid variation, and this leads to extra flexibillity and as a bonus, it also has surprise value for those who are not really into any indian defense and they might make blunders so overall i think its a decent opening

Hi!

Thanks for your comments. In the position shown below, I think it is better to play first 4. Bb2 and for instance if 4...e6, then 5. Bb5 or if 4...f6, then 5. d4 are both fine for White.

However, 4. Bb5 is well met by 4...f6 (with the idea of 5...e5) and White is almost forced to play 5.c4 since 5. d4 ??, Qa5 -+ . Of course 5.c4 is still playable, but not the type of structure I'm aiming for when I play 1. b3.

More in Q&A format:

15 Is move order important in Reversed Openings?

In general it is not extremely critical, but there are some exceptions. Similar to the situation above, consider the following sequence:

Here 3. Nf3 is a doubious move because after 3...f6! (played by Fischer against Petrosian once), White essencially losses the battle for the center right away.

So while Reversed Openings are in some way more forgiving regarding move order, we still need to stay alert.

Good luck!

maafernan chess coach