Chess openings for White and Black
Every opening here has an interactive board. Step through the main line, read why each move is played, then switch to Practice mode and play it yourself. There are 18 openings in total, covering the most popular choices for both colors.
Quick answer
The best chess openings for beginners are the Italian Game and the London System with White, the Caro-Kann or Scandinavian against 1.e4, and the Queen's Gambit Declined against 1.d4. They all follow the three opening rules: control the center, develop your knights and bishops, and castle early.
Not sure where to start? Read the best chess openings for beginners, then pick one opening for White, one defense against 1.e4 and one against 1.d4.
Openings for White: 1.e4
Open, active games. Start with the Italian Game or the Four Knights.
Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. Fast development and pressure on f7.
1.e4Ruy Lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. Slow, rich pressure on Black's center.
1.e4Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4. Opens the center right away.
1.e4Vienna Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3. A surprise weapon with a quick f4 attack.
1.e4Four Knights Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6. Natural, principled development.
1.e4Fried Liver Attack
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5. A wild knight sacrifice on f7.
Openings for White: 1.d4 and 1.c4
Solid, strategic games. The London System is the easiest to learn.
London System
1.d4 and 2.Bf4. One solid setup against almost anything.
1.d4Queen's Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4. Pressure on Black's center from move two.
1.c4English Opening
1.c4. Flexible control of d5 from the side.
Defenses for Black against 1.e4
The Caro-Kann and Scandinavian are the simplest; the Sicilian is the most ambitious.
Sicilian Defense
1.e4 c5. The most popular fighting reply to 1.e4.
vs 1.e4French Defense
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5. A solid pawn chain and counterattack.
vs 1.e4Caro-Kann Defense
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5. Rock-solid, with an active bishop.
vs 1.e4Scandinavian Defense
1.e4 d5. Simple, direct and easy to learn.
vs 1.e4Petrov Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6. Solid counterattack on e4.
Defenses for Black against 1.d4
The Queen's Gambit Declined and Slav are solid; the King's Indian is for fighters.
Queen's Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. Classical, solid and trusted.
vs 1.d4Slav Defense
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. Solid support for d5, active bishop.
vs 1.d4King's Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6. Let White take the center, then attack it.
vs 1.d4Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. Pin the knight, fight for e4.