Opening guide
Chess openings for beginners: a simple repertoire to start with
You do not need dozens of openings. Three principles, one plan with White and one answer to each of Black's main problems will carry you a long way. This guide shows the openings worth learning first, move by move, and gives you two free starter repertoires as PGN: White and Black.
The three opening principles
Control the center
Put a pawn on e4 or d4 (e5 or d5 with Black) and aim your pieces at the four central squares. Pieces in the center reach more of the board.
Develop knights and bishops quickly
Bring out a new piece on almost every move. Knights before bishops is a good default, and avoid moving the same piece twice without a reason.
Castle early
Castling, usually within the first ten moves, tucks the king away and brings a rook toward the center. Then connect the rooks and plan.
Best chess openings for beginners
| Opening | For | First moves | Why it suits beginners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Game | White | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 | Quick development, pressure on f7, easy plans |
| London System | White | 1. d4, 2. Bf4, 3. e3, 4. Nf3 | One setup against almost everything |
| Queen's Gambit | White | 1. d4 d5 2. c4 | Classical center play, few early traps |
| 1...e5 (Ruy Lopez, Italian) | Black vs 1. e4 | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 | Mirror the center and develop |
| Caro-Kann Defense | Black vs 1. e4 | 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 | Solid structure, few weaknesses |
| Queen's Gambit Declined | Black vs 1. d4 | 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 | Keeps d5, simple development |
Play through each opening
Fast development toward the center and the f7 square, then castle.
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Press Next to play through the line.
Openings for White
Italian Game
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, every white piece heads for the center or for f7. The quiet plan with c3, d3 and castling gives you a safe position with clear ideas, such as d4 later or a knight transfer toward g3.
London System
Play d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, c3, Nbd2 and Bd3 in almost any order. You spend less time on theory and more on middlegame plans. The drawback is that the positions can become predictable, so learn one active plan, such as the kingside attack with Ne5 and Qf3.
Queen's Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4 is not a real gambit: if Black takes on c4, White usually regains the pawn with a strong center. It suits players who like steady pressure more than early tactics.
Openings for Black
Against 1.e4, 1...e5teaches the most: you meet the Italian Game, the Ruy Lopez and the scholar's mate attempts, and your pieces develop naturally. If you prefer a sturdier structure, the Caro-Kann (1...c6 and 2...d5) keeps your position compact. Against 1.d4, the Queen's Gambit Declined with 1...d5 and ...e6 is solid and easy to understand.
Whatever you choose, check the early queen attacks first: the scholar's mate and its defenses are the most common trap at beginner level.
Common opening mistakes
- Bringing the queen out early, where it gets chased and costs you time.
- Moving the same piece twice while others stay at home.
- Pushing edge pawns (a- and h-pawns) instead of developing.
- Leaving the king in the center after the position opens.
- Grabbing a pawn and falling behind in development.
Download and train your repertoire
The White repertoire covers the Italian Game and simple answers to the Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann, Scandinavian and Alekhine. The Black repertoire answers 1.e4 with 1...e5 and 1.d4 with 1...d5, plus 1.c4 and 1.Nf3. Each file is one game with variations: open the opening repertoire builder, choose “Import from PGN” and paste it. Both fit in the free first repertoire of 20 lines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best chess opening for beginners?
With White, the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) is a strong first choice because every move develops a piece toward the center. The London System is a good alternative if you prefer the same setup every game. With Black, answer 1.e4 with 1...e5 and 1.d4 with 1...d5.
How many openings should a beginner learn?
One plan for White and one answer each to 1.e4 and 1.d4 are enough for a long time. Learn the ideas and the first five or six moves, then spend more time on tactics and endgames than on memorising theory.
What openings should beginners avoid?
Early queen attacks such as the scholar's mate, sharp gambits you do not understand, and anything that moves the same piece repeatedly. They can win quick games against other beginners, but they build bad habits.
How do I practice an opening?
Import one of the free PGN repertoires into the Chessdesk opening repertoire builder and train it. Your first saved repertoire is free and holds up to 20 lines, which is enough for both starter repertoires on this page.
Train your first repertoire
Your first saved repertoire is free, with up to 20 lines and training. Premium adds multiple repertoires, larger trees and a personal opening explorer across your games.