Opening guides
Chess openings, move by move
Each guide teaches one opening on a board you play: every move explained before you make it, then the line from memory, the ideas, the traps and a short quiz.
Openings for White
You move first and choose the fight.
- London SystemThe London System puts the dark-squared bishop on f4 before e3, then builds the c3-d4-e3 pyramid.5 lines · 5 quiz positions · 1 trap
- Jobava London SystemThe Jobava London develops the queen’s knight to c3 instead of c3 for the pawn.5 lines · 5 quiz positions
- Italian GameThe Italian Game, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, aims the bishop at f7, the weakest square in Black’s camp.4 lines · 5 quiz positions · 2 traps
- Fried Liver AttackAfter 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5?!, White sacrifices a knight with 6.Nxf7 and drags the black king into the open.5 lines · 5 quiz positions
- Vienna GambitThe Vienna, 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3, develops the queen’s knight first so the f-pawn stays free.5 lines · 5 quiz positions · 1 trap
- Danish GambitThe Danish Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3, offers up to two pawns for a big lead in development.5 lines · 5 quiz positions
- Scotch GameThe Scotch opens the centre on move three.5 lines · 6 quiz positions
- Alapin SicilianThe Alapin meets 1...c5 with 2.c3, preparing d4 and a full pawn centre.5 lines · 6 quiz positions
- King’s Indian AttackThe King’s Indian Attack is a setup more than a line: Nf3, g3, Bg2, castling, d3 and Nbd2.5 lines · 6 quiz positions
- English OpeningThe English Opening starts with 1.c4 and builds around a bishop on g2.5 lines · 6 quiz positions
Openings for Black
Answers to 1.e4 and 1.d4.
- Caro-Kann DefenseThe Caro-Kann, 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5, prepares ...d5 with the c-pawn so Black can fight for the centre without blocking the light-squared bishop.5 lines · 5 quiz positions · 1 trap
- Caro-Kann Advance VariationAfter 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5, White grabs space and closes the centre.5 lines · 5 quiz positions
- Sicilian DragonThe Dragon puts Black’s bishop on g7, aimed down the long diagonal at White’s queenside.5 lines · 5 quiz positions
- Scandinavian DefenseThe Scandinavian answers 1.e4 with an immediate strike at the centre.5 lines · 6 quiz positions
- French DefenseThe French Defense meets 1.e4 with ...e6 and ...d5, a solid pawn chain that Black attacks with ...c5 and ...f6.5 lines · 7 quiz positions
- Queen’s GambitAfter 1.d4 d5 2.c4, Black can hold the centre with ...e6 or take the pawn with ...dxc4 and return it for free development.4 lines · 6 quiz positions · 1 trap
- Nimzo-Indian DefenseThe Nimzo-Indian pins White’s c3 knight with ...Bb4 to fight for e4.5 lines · 6 quiz positions
- Slav DefenseThe Slav defends d5 with the c-pawn, so the light-squared bishop can leave before ...e6.4 lines · 6 quiz positions
- Budapest GambitThe Budapest Gambit answers 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 with 2...e5.4 lines · 6 quiz positions · 1 trap
- Alekhine DefenseThe Alekhine invites White to chase the knight and build a big pawn centre, then attacks it.5 lines · 6 quiz positions
- Petrov DefenseThe Petrov answers 2.Nf3 with a counterattack on e4 instead of defending e5.5 lines · 6 quiz positions · 1 trap
How to face an opening
What to play when your opponent chooses these.
- Ruy LopezThe Ruy Lopez, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5, is White’s most respected answer to 1...e5.5 lines · 6 quiz positions
- King’s GambitThe King’s Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.f4, offers a pawn to open the f-file.3 lines · 6 quiz positions · 1 trap
- Stafford GambitThe Stafford Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6, gives a pawn for quick traps.3 lines · 6 quiz positions · 1 trap
- Englund GambitThe Englund Gambit, 1.d4 e5, gives a pawn for one famous trap.4 lines · 6 quiz positions · 1 trap
- Ponziani OpeningThe Ponziani, 3.c3, prepares d4 but takes c3 from White’s knight.3 lines · 6 quiz positions
- Blackmar-Diemer GambitThe Blackmar-Diemer gives a pawn with f3 to open the f-file.2 lines · 6 quiz positions
10 traps from these openings
Short tactical shots on both sides, each played move by move with why the losing move looks natural.