Openings Galore!

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Avatar of Nereus

              When I was younger, and just learning how to play I loved chess. Except my older brother would beat every single time without exception. Part of the reason I lost so much was that I didn't know any openings. I would play d4 and he would immediately respond with Grunfeld. I'd play e4, and he'd demolish me with Chopped Liver. So, in remembrance to my youth I will list all the openings I know...

  • Albin Counter-Gambit- 1. d4,d5 2.c4,e5, 3. dxe5,d4. Black surrenders a pawn for the sake of good development. Generally good for white.
  •  Alekhine's Defense- 1.e4,Nf6. Black entices the white pawns to advance by offering the King's knight as a target.
  • Benko Gambit- 1.d4,Nf6 2.c4,c5 3.d5, b5. A modern gambit which white generally finds safer to decline.
  • Benoni- 1.d4,c5. A relatively recent addition to blacks repertoire, more often seen in the form of the Modern Benoni- 1.d4,Nf6, 2.c4,c5.
  • Bird's Opening- 1.f4. A doubtful move since it exposes the white King to attack. Not much played.
  • Bishop's Opening- 1.e4,e5 2.bc4. Can be transposed into several well known lines.
  • Caro-Kann Defense- 1.e4,c6. A popular defense to the King's pawn, the Caro-Kann is sound, but ambitious. It avoids the drawback of the French- shutting in the Queen's bishop- but has other problems. Slightly favourable to White.
  • Centre Counter- 1.e4, d5. Black immediately counters in the centre. Vigourus play, normally with some advantage to White.
  • Centre Game- 1. e4,e5 2.d4. White relies on the initiative and breaks open the centre at once. Equal chances.
  • Danish Gambit-1.e4,e5 2.d4,exd4, 3.c3. Followed after 3...dxc3 by 4.Bc4,cxb2 5.bxb2. A projection of the Centre Game, the Danish gives white good chances in practice despite the loss of 2 gambit pawns, due to the free development obtained for the pieces.
  • Dutch Defense- 1.d4,f5. Black aims at controlling e4. The game is usually close in the early stages. white has slightly better of it as a rule.
  • English Opening- 1.c4 The fianchetto of the King's bishop is normal for the first player. White is often playing the Sicilian Defense with a move in hand, but black has several good lines.
  • Evan's Gambit- 1.e4,e5 2.Nf3,Nf6 3.bc4,bc5 4.b4 The Evans offers White many compensations for the pawn; a strong centre, as well as guick development and good attacking chances. The refutation, as is often the case with gambits, is for black to gice the pawn back at the right time.
  • Flank Openings- A whole complex of openings,grouped under this general heading, has enjoyed increased popularity in recent times. As the description suggests, these openings are characterized by the avoidance of an early occupation of the centre, at least at one side. The fianchetto of one or more bishops is a common feature. The aim is a timely pawn advance. The Flank Openings include the Kings Indian Attack, the Pirc, Robatsch, and some lines of the English, the Reti and others. A side which avoids early occupation of the centre must play energetically or br overwhelmed, whilst the side which occupies the centre first must be careful to avoid compromising the pawn structure.
  • Four Knight's Game- 1.e4,e5 2.Nf3,Nc6 3.Nc3, Nf6. A solid opening giving little advantage to the first player.
  • French Defense- 1.e4,e6. A common reply to e4. Both players now advance there Queen's pawns when Black has a secure, but rather restricted position. Popular with positional players who are content to work for an end game advantage. White usually plays for a King's side attack.
  • Giuoco Piano- 1.e4,e5 2.Nf3,Nc6 3.Bc4,Bc5. A very old opening. Sharp attacks by either side are not uncommon. Equal chances.
  • Grunfeld Defense- 1.d4,Nf6 2.c4,g6, 3. Nc3, Bc5. Black aims to exploit the a8-h1 diagonal on which white is weak.
  • King's Gambit- 1.e4,e5 2.f4 Once one of the most popular openings, the King's Gambit is now rarely played as White's second move is considered too loosening. The gambit is the starting point of many adventurous lines: Allgaier, Bishop's Gambit, Kieseritzsky, and Muzio are examples. The pawn offer may either be declined or accepted. In either case, Black has an easy game with correct play. The opening is highly tactical.
  • King's Indian Defense- 1.d4,Nf6 2.c4,g6 3.Nc3,Bg7. Now one of the most popular defenses, giving Black good chances. White usually adopts one of the two general systems: a large pawn centre with the King's bishop posted at e2 or d3, or a less ambitious pawn advance with the bishop posted at g2.  Black sometimes has difficulty in finding good squares for the minor pieces. The King's Indian can easily transpose into one or the other Flank Openings.

If you have any others to add please do so!

Avatar of BILL_5666
You could add the Ruy Lopez 1e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3Bb5.  Less common openings are the Vienna 1e4 e5 2Nc3, the Latvian or Center-Counter gambit 1e4 e5 2Nf3 f5 and the Nimzowich Defense, which I think is 1d4 Nc6.  The queen's gambit 1d4  d5 2c4, and the Queen's Indian and Nimzo-indian defenses. There are quite a few others but I have misplaced my openings book.
Avatar of mikiHUN
The Grunfeld is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 but you're right that black puts the a1-h8 diagonal to good use!
Avatar of Fotoman

Benko-Larsen 1.b3

Sokolsky 1.b4

Nimzowich 1e4...Nc6

Wilkes-Barre 1e4...e5, 2Nf3...Nc6 3Bc4...Nf6 4Ng5...Bc5 (not for the squeemish)

Smith Morra 1e4...c5, 2d4...cd4 3c3

 

Avatar of Aii
I wish i could see it all in action! I'm learning all the openings as best as i could, at the moment. (not that good, really trying hard to improve) Is there any way to show some visuals for the really good (well working) openings? It'd be very helpful, i'd be very appreciative.  Thanks alot for the openings! This helped lots.
Avatar of Graw81

Here are two good links for anyone who wants to find the name of an opening they are unfamiliar with or who would like to learn about openings in general.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chess_openings

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_openings

 

There are other links on wikipedia so get bookmarking people. 


Avatar of ToothlessTigerTim

I don't know how to get in the King's fianchetto's chess opening so can someone help me get there if you know how to.

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