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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22 lessons
ECO C50
Easy
GuidedItalian Game
Sound development and central tension — ideal for learning fundamentals.
ECO C60
Intermediate
GuidedRuy Lopez (Spanish)
The most analyzed opening in the world — rich structure and long-term plans.
ECO B20
Advanced
GuidedSicilian Defense
Asymmetrical, fighting reply to 1.e4 — imbalance gives both sides chances.
ECO C00
Intermediate
GuidedFrench Defense
Solid e6–d5 structure; Black may accept a passive knight for a compact center.
ECO B02
Advanced
GuidedAlekhine's Defense
Hypermodern defense: Black tempts e4–e5 to attack the pawn chain later.
ECO D02
Easy
GuidedLondon System
Flexible White setup (d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3) — popular in blitz and to avoid heavy theory.
ECO D06
Intermediate
GuidedQueen's Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4: White offers a pawn for lines and pressure.
ECO E60
Advanced
GuidedKing's Indian Defense
Kingside fianchetto, …d6, …e5 or …c5: frequent kingside fireworks.
ECO B10
Easy
GuidedCaro-Kann Defense
Solid …c6 then …d5: less early fire than the Sicilian, very popular at club level.
ECO E20
Advanced
GuidedNimzo-Indian Defense
3.Bb4+: hypermodern — Black pins the knight while controlling e4.
ECO D70
Expert
GuidedGrünfeld Defense
Dynamic …d5 vs d4/c4: Black accepts a wide white center to counterattack.
ECO A10
Intermediate
GuidedEnglish Opening
1.c4: flank central control — transpositions to countless plans.
ECO C51
Advanced
GuidedEvans Gambit
4.b4!: a pawn for open lines and initiative — romantic but still dangerous.
ECO A04
Intermediate
GuidedRéti Opening
1.Nf3: hypermodern — central control without an immediate e4/d4, highly flexible.
ECO A02
Intermediate
RepertoireBird's Opening
Aggressive opening controlling e5 and preparing an attack
ECO A07
Easy
RepertoireKing's Indian Attack
Flexible setup with fianchetto, usable against anything
ECO A51
Intermediate
RepertoireBudapest Gambit
Aggressive gambit against 1.d4, seeking the initiative
ECO B07
Intermediate
RepertoirePirc Defense
Hypermodern defense with fianchetto and center counterattack
ECO C25
Intermediate
RepertoireVienna Game
Flexible opening preparing f4 or d4 with tactical possibilities
ECO C30
Advanced
RepertoireKing's Gambit
Aggressive gambit sacrificing a pawn for initiative and attack
ECO C44
Easy
RepertoireScotch Game
Direct opening quickly opening the center
ECO E00
Advanced
RepertoireCatalan Opening
Sophisticated opening combining the Queen's Gambit and fianchetto