Opening lessons
Recommended levels, plans, traps to know, and annotated historic games — go beyond rote memorization.
Each lesson connects the opening to middlegame ideas. Use filters to find a line suited to your level.
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14 lessons
ECO C50
Easy
Italian Game
Sound development and central tension — ideal for learning fundamentals.
ECO C60
Intermediate
Ruy Lopez (Spanish)
The most analyzed opening in the world — rich structure and long-term plans.
ECO B20
Advanced
Sicilian Defense
Asymmetrical, fighting reply to 1.e4 — imbalance gives both sides chances.
ECO C00
Intermediate
French Defense
Solid e6–d5 structure; Black may accept a passive knight for a compact center.
ECO B02
Advanced
Alekhine's Defense
Hypermodern defense: Black tempts e4–e5 to attack the pawn chain later.
ECO D02
Easy
London System
Flexible White setup (d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3) — popular in blitz and to avoid heavy theory.
ECO D06
Intermediate
Queen's Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4: White offers a pawn for lines and pressure.
ECO E60
Advanced
King's Indian Defense
Kingside fianchetto, …d6, …e5 or …c5: frequent kingside fireworks.
ECO B10
Easy
Caro-Kann Defense
Solid …c6 then …d5: less early fire than the Sicilian, very popular at club level.
ECO E20
Advanced
Nimzo-Indian Defense
3.Bb4+: hypermodern — Black pins the knight while controlling e4.
ECO D70
Expert
Grünfeld Defense
Dynamic …d5 vs d4/c4: Black accepts a wide white center to counterattack.
ECO A10
Intermediate
English Opening
1.c4: flank central control — transpositions to countless plans.
ECO C51
Advanced
Evans Gambit
4.b4!: a pawn for open lines and initiative — romantic but still dangerous.
ECO A04
Intermediate
Réti Opening
1.Nf3: hypermodern — central control without an immediate e4/d4, highly flexible.