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Chess openings explained

The ideas and plans in plain English — then play each opening yourself against a real engine that grades every move. No sign-up.

King's Pawn (1.e4 e5) · C50–C54 · You play White

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.

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Ruy Lopez (Spanish)

King's Pawn (1.e4 e5) · C60–C99 · You play White

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.

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Queen's Pawn (1.d4) · D02 · You play White

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.

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Caro-Kann Defense

Black vs 1.e4 · B10–B19 · You play Black

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.

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King's Pawn (1.e4 e5) · C45 · You play White

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.

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King's Pawn (1.e4 e5) · C25–C29 · You play White

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.

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King's Pawn (1.e4 e5) · C30–C39 · You play White

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.

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Bishop's Opening

King's Pawn (1.e4 e5) · C23–C24 · You play White

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.

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Ponziani Opening

King's Pawn (1.e4 e5) · C44 · You play White

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.

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Four Knights Game

King's Pawn (1.e4 e5) · C46–C49 · You play White

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.

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Sicilian Defense

Black vs 1.e4 · B20–B99 · You play Black

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.

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Black vs 1.e4 · C00–C19 · You play Black

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.

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Scandinavian Defense

Black vs 1.e4 · B01 · You play Black

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.

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Black vs 1.e4 · B07–B09 · You play Black

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.

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Alekhine Defense

Black vs 1.e4 · B02–B05 · You play Black

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.

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Black vs 1.e4 · B06 · You play Black

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.

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Queen's Pawn (1.d4) · D06–D69 · You play White

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.

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Catalan Opening

Queen's Pawn (1.d4) · E00–E09 · You play White

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.

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Trompowsky Attack

Queen's Pawn (1.d4) · A45 · You play White

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.

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Queen's Pawn (1.d4) · D04–D05 · You play White

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.

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English Opening

Flank opening (1.c4) · A10–A39 · You play White

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.

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Flank opening (1.Nf3) · A04–A09 · You play White

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.

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King's Indian Defense

Black vs 1.d4 · E60–E99 · You play Black

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.

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Nimzo-Indian Defense

Black vs 1.d4 · E20–E59 · You play Black

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.

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Queen's Gambit Declined

Black vs 1.d4 · D30–D69 · You play Black

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.

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Black vs 1.d4 · D10–D19 · You play Black

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.

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Grünfeld Defense

Black vs 1.d4 · D70–D99 · You play Black

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.

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Black vs 1.d4 · A80–A99 · You play Black

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.

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More openings on the way. BetterChess is a practice tool — we make no guarantee you'll reach 1800 or any rating. Lines are standard opening theory, every move checked legal with the board's engine.