Now that we understand a few opening ideas, we can start looking at some specific examples of chess openings. Before going into a list of some common openings, I first want to stress the importance of noticing and acting on opportunities and threats. Chess is a very dynamic game and anything can happen to completely change the game at any time. Make sure not to use these openings as “formulas,” but rather just guidelines to fundamental, solid chess. If while playing an opponent, you see a move that deviates from an opening that gives you a certain advantage, take it. On the other hand, if you notice a plan unfolding that would lead to an advantage for your opponent, act against it even if it changes the opening. Lastly, and most importantly, the first thing in mind should be to protect pieces. Don’t leave pieces hanging, or undefended, as that can be detrimental for your game.

The Many Openings of Chess

Before I begin, I would like to say I will mostly be focusing on e4 openings. Meaning white’s first move in these openings will be 1. e4.

To reiterate, white opens with this for many reasons. First, it opens a diagonal up for the Queen and the Bishop on f1. Also, white gains a hold of the center of the board as it occupies the e4 square and indirectly attacks the d5 square. Lastly, white gets the ability to castle much faster with this opening. Now, lets look at the possibilities of what can happen after this move.

The Italian Game

The Italian Opening can be seen at all levels of chess, from beginner to grandmaster. This is an opening that can typically be seen when starting out and will continue to be a strong opening as you progress through chess. In fact, former World Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov, once used a subset of the Italian Game known as Evan’s Gambit to beat another former World Champion, Vishy Anand. This game brought a lot of attention to the opening and made it extremely popular.

The opening goes as such:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 (defending the e5 pawn which is attacked by the Knight on f3)
3. Bc4

At this point, white has now reached the Italian game. Here, white has great center control, and has a wonderful bishop eyeing down black’s vulnerable f7 pawn. Ideas like Ng5 for white can lead to very aggressive attacks if Black does not play carefully. Though the opening has the possibility of becoming active for both black and white, it also has the potential of going into a very quiet and passive game. Both sides have equal attacking possibilities so the game can easily be equalized.

Moves for Black like 3. …d6, Be7,Nf6, or Bc5 (The Giuoco Piano) can best keep the game going. The Giuoco Piano is a very popular response for black.

However, this response can lead to Evan’s Gambit, a pawn sacrifice from White that can lead to an extremely strong pawn center. Evan’s Gambit goes as such:

1. b4 Bxb4
2. c3 Be7
3. d4

Now white has an extremely strong center, which can prevent Black from properly developing their pieces into the middle.

The Sicilian Defense

This opening is one of the most popular defenses for black to play in chess. It is typically not played with players that are just starting in chess, as it can be a lot to take in theoretically; however, it can start to be looked at after a little bit of play. It is one of the strongest ways for black to combat the e4 opening. It starts like this:

1. e4 c5

By playing c5, black takes away the d4 square and prevents white from having a strong, central position.

This game can further lead into a game known as the Najdorf Variation. The Najdorf, one of the most popular versions of the Sicilian Defense, is reached when these moves are played:

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a3

The move a3 might look peculiar, but it does a lot for black. It restricts the movement of both of the Knights and the light square Bishop, taking away pieces that white would want to move. Also, one main point of the Sicilian is to attack White’s Queen side of the board. Usually, White will end up castling Queen side and Black will castle King Side. So, playing this a3 move allows black to later play b5 which launches an attack on the Queen side. This opening can lead to some very active and exciting games.

A Few More Popular Openings

Some other important openings that people might begin playing as they keep progressing in chess are the Ruy Lopez, the Four Knights Defense, and the Scandinavian Defense.

The Ruy Lopez is reached when this is played:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5

Second, the Four Knights Defense is usually reached in beginner games. If studied well, it can be easy to use against a beginner. It gives both players a very symmetrical position and allows for some simple tactics to be played. I’m sure this will be an opening that will be encountered by any chess player that starts out. It goes as such:

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

Lastly, the Scandinavian Defense can be an extremely fun to play as it can lead to very active positions for Black and White. It starts like this:

1. e4 d5

Black counters White’s pawn move. If White takes the pawn on d5, then Black typically brings in the Queen by playing Qxd5. This can lead to some danger for Black as they prematurely use the Queen. But, if played well, Black can still have many attacking opportunities.

There are many more openings in chess that can be studied, but these are some that can be seen quite often. It’s important to study why certain openings are played and the ideas behind them. Having a strong opening can sometimes make or break a player’s game. On the other hand, as previously stated, make sure not to see these openings as “formulas,” but instead as guidelines for what to generally do. Much of chess should be centered around instinct, so in some situations, it may be better to do what you feel is best rather than some random “book move.”