Chess openings explained

Learn the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4): the plans, the main line, and the club-level traps. Watch it on the board, then try it yourself against a real engine — free, no sign-up.

Learn the Ruy Lopez / Spanish (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5): the pin on c6, the plans, and the famous 'Spanish torture' squeeze. Watch the main line, then try it against a real engine — free.

Learn the London System (1.d4 and Bf4): a solid, low-theory setup you can play against almost anything. The plans, the pitfalls, then try it yourself against a real engine — free.

Learn the Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6): a rock-solid reply to 1.e4 that frees the light-squared bishop. The plans, the structure, the pitfalls — then try it against a real engine, free.

Learn the Scotch Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4): open the centre on move three, the plans, the main line, and the club traps. Try it against a real engine — free, no sign-up.

Learn the Vienna Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3): a flexible King's Pawn opening with a delayed f4 punch. The plans, the gambit lines, the traps — try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the King's Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4): the romantic-era attacking gambit, its plans, key lines, and traps. Watch it, then try it against a real engine — free, no sign-up.

Learn the Bishop's Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4): aim at f7 before Nf3, dodge sharp defences, and learn the plans. Watch it, then try it against a real engine — free, no sign-up.

Learn the Ponziani (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3): an old, offbeat try for a big centre with d4. The plans, the key replies, the traps — try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Four Knights (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6): a symmetrical, principled opening, its plans and the Spanish Four Knights. Try it vs a real engine — free, no sign-up.

Learn the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5): Black's most popular, most aggressive reply to 1.e4, shown here in the Najdorf main line. The plans, the structure, the pitfalls — then try it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5): a rock-solid, strategic reply to 1.e4 built on a strong pawn chain. The plans, the structure, the pitfalls — then try it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the Scandinavian Defense (1.e4 d5): the most direct reply to 1.e4, hitting the centre at once. The plans, the queen retreat, the pitfalls — then try it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the Pirc Defense (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6): a flexible hypermodern reply to 1.e4 that invites a big centre to attack it. The plans, the pitfalls — then try it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the Alekhine Defense (1.e4 Nf6): a provocative hypermodern reply that dares White to chase the knight and overextend. The plans, the pitfalls — then try it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the Modern Defense (1.e4 g6): a flexible hypermodern reply that fianchettoes early and invites White's centre to attack it. The plans, the pitfalls — then try it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the Queen's Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4): why it's not a real pawn sacrifice, plus the Accepted and Declined lines. Then try it vs a real engine — free, no sign-up.

Learn the Catalan (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3): fianchetto to g2 and squeeze the long diagonal for lasting pressure. The plans, the pitfalls, then try it vs a real engine — free.

Learn the Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5): sidestep Black's main defences and harass the f6-knight. The plans, the pitfalls, then try it vs a real engine — free.

Learn the Colle System (1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3): an easy setup with Bd3 and c3 aiming for the e4 break and a kingside attack. Then try it vs a real engine — free.

Learn the English Opening (1.c4): a flexible flank opening fighting for the centre from the side, often with g3 and Bg2. Then try it vs a real engine — free.

Learn the Réti (1.Nf3 d5 2.c4): a flexible hypermodern system whose g2-bishop pressures the centre from afar. The plans, the pitfalls, then try it vs a real engine — free.

Learn the King's Indian (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6): let White take the centre, then hit back with ...e5 and a kingside attack. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Nimzo-Indian (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4): pin the knight, fight the centre with pieces, double White's c-pawns. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Queen's Gambit Declined (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6): hold the centre with a sound pawn chain and free it with ...c5. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6): support the centre with ...c6 and keep the light-squared bishop free on f5. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Grünfeld (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5): let White build a big centre, then blast it with the g7-bishop and ...c5. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5): grab kingside space, fight for e4, and play for a direct attack on the white king. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Evans Gambit (3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4): a wing pawn buys a big centre and a fast attack on f7. Plans, pitfalls and main line, then play it vs a real engine.

Learn the Scotch Gambit (3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4): leave the pawn, develop with threats at f7, attack first. Plans, traps and main line, then play it vs a real engine.

Danish Gambit (2.d4 exd4 3.c3): two pawns for two raking bishops and a violent attack. Plans, Schlechter's defence and the honest verdict, vs a real engine.

Learn the Max Lange Attack (5.O-O Bc5 6.e5): the forcing e-file storm from the Two Knights. The sequence, plans and traps, then try it vs a real engine.

Learn the Vienna Gambit (2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4): why taking loses to 4.e5, the correct 3...d5 main line, and White's attacking plans. Then try it vs a real engine.

Learn the Center Game (2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4): the Qe3 system, long castling and an attacking race. Plans, honest evals and pitfalls, then play vs a real engine.

The Wayward Queen Attack (1.e4 e5 2.Qh5) from Black's side: stop Scholar's Mate, punish the early queen, and win the opening. Practise it vs a real engine.

The Halloween Gambit (4.Nxe5): a whole knight for a scary pawn storm. Why engines refute it, how to punish it, when to play it. Try it vs a real engine.

Learn the Petrov Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6): a rock-solid reply to 1.e4, its plans, and the one trap to know. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Philidor Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6): a solid, low-theory answer to 1.e4, with plans and pitfalls. Try it against a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Two Knights Defense (3...Nf6 vs the Italian): meet 4.Ng5 with the main-line pawn sacrifice and its plans. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Berlin Defense (3...Nf6 vs the Ruy Lopez): the famous Berlin endgame, plans for both sides, pitfalls. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Marshall Attack (8...d5 in the Ruy Lopez): a sound pawn sacrifice for a lasting attack, with key plans. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

The Latvian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5) explained honestly: what engines think, when it works, and the main line. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

The Elephant Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5) explained honestly: why engines reject it, the main line, and when it works. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Nimzowitsch Defense (1.e4 Nc6): an offbeat but playable reply to 1.e4 with clear plans and pitfalls. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

The Stafford Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6) explained honestly: the traps, the refutation, and when to use it. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Sicilian Najdorf (5...a6): why the little pawn move rules modern chess, the plans for both sides, and the main line. Train it against a real engine, free.

Learn the Sicilian Dragon (5...g6): the Bg7 dragon bishop, the c-file attack, and how to survive the Yugoslav Attack. Train the line against a real engine, free.

Learn the Accelerated Dragon (2...Nc6 and 4...g6): dodge the Yugoslav Attack, aim for ...d5 in one go, and handle the Maroczy Bind. Train it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the Sveshnikov Sicilian (5...e5): why Black volunteers the d5 hole, the plans around it, and the main line. Train the opening against a real engine, free.

Learn the Alapin Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.c3): skip the Open Sicilian theory, build the d4 centre, and play the clear plans. Train the line against a real engine, free.

Learn the Closed Sicilian (2.Nc3 and g3): keep the centre shut, build a kingside attack with f4, and skip Open Sicilian theory. Train it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the Grand Prix Attack (2.Nc3 and f4) against the Sicilian: the f5 break, the Bb5 modern treatment, and the mating patterns. Train it vs a real engine, free.

Learn the Smith-Morra Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3): a pawn for open files and fast attack against the Sicilian. Train the gambit against a real engine, free.

Learn the Rossolimo (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5): the elite anti-Sicilian, the Bxc6 structures, and the plans for both sides. Train it against a real engine, free.

Learn the Sicilian Kan (4...a6): flexible, low-theory Sicilian with ...e6 and ...a6. Plans, main line, pitfalls. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Sicilian Taimanov (4...Nc6): flexible piece play, ...Qc7 and ...a6, the modern main line and plans. Try it against a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Panov Attack vs the Caro-Kann (3.exd5 and 4.c4): open lines, IQP attacking plans, the main line. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the King's Indian Attack: one setup vs almost everything, the e5 wedge and kingside attack plans. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn Owen's Defense (1.e4 b6): the queenside fianchetto surprise, the honest engine verdict, plans and pitfalls. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.

Learn the Hippopotamus Defense: the flexible fence setup, when to strike back, and its honest verdict. Try it vs a real engine, free, no sign-up.