Chess Openings Directory

Browse thousands of server-rendered chess openings and master theory

Master Chess Openings

Welcome to the programmatic chess openings reference. Choose an opening family below to view strategic overviews, engine evaluations, master game win percentages, move trees, and interactive chessboards.

Major Openings Families

B02 5 variations

Alekhine Defense

1. e4 Nf6

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A00 0 variations

Anderssen Opening

1. a3

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A57 4 variations

Benko Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5

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A58 0 variations

Benko Gambit Accepted

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6

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A56 6 variations

Benoni Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5

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A02 4 variations

Bird Opening

1. f4

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A02 0 variations

Bird's Opening

1. f4

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C23 1 variations

Bishop's Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4

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D00 0 variations

Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3

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E11 3 variations

Bogo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+

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B10 12 variations

Caro-Kann Defense

1. e4 c6

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E01 4 variations

Catalan Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2

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D00 0 variations

Closed Game

1. d4 d5

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D04 1 variations

Colle System

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3

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D05 0 variations

Colle-Zukertort System

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3

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A00 0 variations

Dunst Opening (Van Geet)

1. Nc3

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A80 9 variations

Dutch Defense

1. d4 f5

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A10 32 variations

English Opening

1. c4

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C47 4 variations

Four Knights Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6

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C00 18 variations

French Defense

1. e4 e6

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C44 0 variations

Goring Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3

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A00 2 variations

Grob Opening

1. g4

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D80 11 variations

Grünfeld Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5

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A45 0 variations

Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6

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C50 12 variations

Italian Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

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C30 11 variations

King's Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. f4

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C33 8 variations

King's Gambit Accepted

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4

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A07 2 variations

King's Indian Attack (Réti System / Barcza)

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3

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E60 12 variations

King's Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7

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C40 0 variations

King's Knight Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3

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C20 0 variations

King's Pawn Game

1. e4 e5

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B00 0 variations

King's Pawn Opening

1. e4

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D02 1 variations

London System

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4

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A00 0 variations

Mieses Opening

1. d3

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B06 2 variations

Modern Defense

1. e4 g6

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E20 13 variations

Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4

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A01 5 variations

Nimzo-Larsen Attack

1. b3

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B00 2 variations

Nimzowitsch Defense

1. e4 Nc6

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C42 3 variations

Petrov (Russian) Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

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C41 3 variations

Philidor Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6

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B07 3 variations

Pirc Defense

1. e4 d6

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A00 3 variations

Polish Opening (Sokolsky)

1. b4

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C44 2 variations

Ponziani Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3

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D06 23 variations

Queen's Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. c4

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D20 3 variations

Queen's Gambit Accepted

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4

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D30 18 variations

Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6

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E12 6 variations

Queen's Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6

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D00 0 variations

Queen's Pawn Game

1. d4 d5

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A40 0 variations

Queen's Pawn Opening

1. d4

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D01 0 variations

Richter-Veresov Attack

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5

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C60 16 variations

Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

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A04 5 variations

Réti Opening

1. Nf3

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A00 0 variations

Saragossa Opening

1. c3

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B01 6 variations

Scandinavian Defense

1. e4 d5

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C44 0 variations

Scotch Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4

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C45 3 variations

Scotch Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4

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D43 5 variations

Semi-Slav Defense

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6

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B20 56 variations

Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5

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D10 7 variations

Slav Defense

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6

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D00 0 variations

Stonewall Attack

1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 e6 4. f4

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D32 2 variations

Tarrasch Defense

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5

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C46 0 variations

Three Knights Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3

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D03 0 variations

Torre Attack

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5

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A45 0 variations

Trompowsky Attack

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5

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A00 0 variations

Van't Kruijs Opening

1. e3

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C29 0 variations

Vienna Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4

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C25 2 variations

Vienna Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3

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A00 0 variations

Ware Opening

1. a4

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