Chess Wiki
Chess Openings Wiki
Opening families, variations, plans, pawn structures, and practical decisions for both sides. Each page below is a published starting point with related concepts and practical next steps.
Accelerated Dragon Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn accelerated dragon sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsAlapin Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn alapin sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsAlekhine Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn alekhine defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsAnti-Sicilian Plans: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn anti-sicilian plans in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsBenko Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn benko gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsBenoni Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn benoni defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsBird Opening: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn bird opening in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsBudapest Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn budapest gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsCaro-Kann Defense: Plans for Club Players
Learn the Caro-Kann through its solid center, active light-squared bishop, Advance structure, ...c5 and ...e5 breaks, piece placement, endgames, and common errors.
OpeningsCaro-Kann Advance: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn caro-kann advance in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsCaro-Kann Classical: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn caro-kann classical in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsCaro-Kann Panov: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn caro-kann panov in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsCatalan Opening: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn catalan opening in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsChigorin Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn chigorin defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsClassical Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn classical sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsClosed Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn closed sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsColle System: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn colle system in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsDanish Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn danish gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsDragon Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn dragon sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsDutch Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn dutch defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsDutch Stonewall: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn dutch stonewall in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsEnglish Opening: Control the Center from the Flank
Learn the English Opening through 1.c4, reversed Sicilian structures, kingside fianchetto, d4 and b4 breaks, piece placement, transpositions, and plans for both sides.
OpeningsEvans Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn evans gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsFour Knights Game: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn four knights game in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsFrench Advance: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn french advance in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsFrench Defense: Plans, Pawn Chains, and Breaks
Learn the French Defense through the e5–d4 pawn chain, Black's ...c5 and ...f6 breaks, White's space and kingside plans, the c8 bishop, and common mistakes.
OpeningsFrench Exchange: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn french exchange in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsFrench Tarrasch: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn french tarrasch in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsFrench Winawer: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn french winawer in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsFried Liver Attack: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn fried liver attack in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsGiuoco Piano: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn giuoco piano in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsGrünfeld Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn grünfeld defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsGrünfeld Exchange: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn grünfeld exchange in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsHalloween Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn halloween gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsHow to Choose an Opening Repertoire: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn how to choose an opening repertoire in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsItalian Game: Plans and Ideas for Both Sides
Learn the Italian Game through its move order, c3–d4 and d3 plans, piece placement, f7 tactics, Black's central counterplay, common mistakes, and study method.
OpeningsKalashnikov Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn kalashnikov sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsKan Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn kan sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsKing's Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn king's gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsKing's Indian Attack: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn king's indian attack in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsKing's Indian Classical: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn king's indian classical in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsKing's Indian Sämisch: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn king's indian sämisch in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsKing's Pawn Opening: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn king's pawn opening in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsKing's Indian Defense: Competing Plans
Learn the King's Indian through White's broad center, Black's ...e5 and ...c5 breaks, closed-center wing attacks, piece routes, tactics, and common errors.
OpeningsLarsen Attack: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn larsen attack in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsLondon System Without Autopilot
Learn the London System by plans rather than a fixed setup: bishop development, c3 and e3 structure, e4 and c4 breaks, Black's ...c5 and ...Qb6 pressure, and errors.
OpeningsLondon System Against Early ...c5: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn london system against early ...c5 in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsModern Benoni: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn modern benoni in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsModern Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn modern defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsNajdorf Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn najdorf sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsNimzo-Indian Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn nimzo-indian defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsNimzo-Indian Rubinstein: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn nimzo-indian rubinstein in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsNimzowitsch Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn nimzowitsch defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsOpen Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn open sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsOwen's Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn owen's defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsPetrov Defense: Active Equality, Not Passive Symmetry
Learn the Petrov Defense move order, the correct central sequence, typical piece placement and pawn breaks, tactical traps, endgame choices, and plans for both sides.
OpeningsPhilidor Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn philidor defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsPirc Defense: Invite the Center, Then Counter
Learn the Pirc Defense move order, White's broad center, Black's ...e5 and ...c5 breaks, kingside fianchetto, major White setups, tactical risks, and plans.
OpeningsQueen's Gambit Accepted: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn queen's gambit accepted in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsQueen's Gambit Declined: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn queen's gambit declined in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsQueen's Indian Petrosian System: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn queen's indian petrosian system in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsQueen's Pawn Opening: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn queen's pawn opening in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsQueen's Gambit: Plans Behind the Central Battle
Learn the Queen's Gambit move order, why c4 challenges d5, accepted and declined structures, White's e4 and minority plans, Black's freeing breaks, and mistakes.
OpeningsQueen's Indian Defense: Control e4 with a Plan
Learn the Queen's Indian move order, why ...b6 and ...Bb7 pressure e4, White's fianchetto and central plans, Black's ...d5 and ...c5 breaks, and typical errors.
OpeningsRéti Opening: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn réti opening in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsRossolimo Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn rossolimo sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsRuy López: Pressure, Development, and Plans
Learn the Ruy López move order, why Bb5 pressures e5 indirectly, typical c3–d4 plans, Black's queenside space, exchange structures, piece placement, and mistakes.
OpeningsRuy Lopez Berlin Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn ruy lopez berlin defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsRuy Lopez Exchange: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn ruy lopez exchange in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsRuy Lopez Marshall Attack: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn ruy lopez marshall attack in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsScotch Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn scotch gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsScotch Game: Open the Center with a Plan
Learn the Scotch Game move order, why 3.d4 opens the center, typical development and pawn structures, Black's active replies, tactical themes, and common mistakes.
OpeningsSemi-Slav Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn semi-slav defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsSicilian Defense: A Practical Map of the Opening
Learn the Sicilian Defense through its asymmetric structure, Open Sicilian move order, plans for both sides, d5 breaks, c-file play, typical tactics, and study choices.
OpeningsSlav Defense: A Sound Structure with Active Plans
Learn the Slav Defense move order, why ...c6 supports d5, how Black develops the c8 bishop, when to capture on c4, central breaks, piece placement, and common errors.
OpeningsSlav Exchange: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn slav exchange in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsSmith-Morra Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn smith-morra gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsStonewall Attack: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn stonewall attack in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsSveshnikov Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn sveshnikov sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsTaimanov Sicilian: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn taimanov sicilian in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsTrompowsky Attack: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn trompowsky attack in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsTwo Knights Defense: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn two knights defense in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsVienna Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn vienna gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.
OpeningsVienna Game: Flexible Development and the f4 Break
Learn the Vienna Game move order, White's f4 and d4 plans, piece placement, Black's central counterplay, Vienna Gambit ideas, tactical risks, and common mistakes.
OpeningsWing Gambit: Plans, Moves and Common Mistakes
Learn wing gambit in chess with a direct explanation, verified positions, practical decisions, common mistakes, and a focused practice task.