Chess openings
Learn the most popular chess openings move by move, with the ideas behind each one. KessChess has 25 opening courses across 10 openings, each with a practice drill.
Giuoco Piano · Beginner · as White
A classic, calm way to start as White. Your bishop aims at Black’s weakest square, f7, and you build a strong centre before attacking.
Evans Gambit · Intermediate · as White
White gives a pawn to gain time and build a big centre, then attacks quickly.
Two Knights Defence · Intermediate · as Black
Black develops the knight to f6 at once and counterattacks e4.
Closed Ruy Lopez · Intermediate · as White
One of the oldest and most respected openings. White puts pressure on the knight that defends e5 and plays for a long-term edge.
Berlin Defence · Advanced · as Black
A famously solid defence used at world championship level. Black heads for a safe endgame.
Exchange Variation · Beginner · as White
White trades bishop for knight to damage Black’s pawns, then plays for a better endgame.
Queen’s Gambit Declined · Beginner · as White
White offers a pawn on c4 to pull Black’s central pawn away. It isn’t a real sacrifice, since White can usually win it back.
Queen’s Gambit Accepted · Beginner · as Black
Black takes the pawn, then gives it back to get free, easy development.
Slav Defence · Intermediate · as Black
Black protects d5 with c6 and gets the light-squared bishop out before e6.
London vs …d5 · Beginner · as White
A simple, solid setup you can play against almost anything. Learn the pattern once and use it every game.
London vs King’s Indian · Beginner · as White
The same London setup works against …g6: build the pyramid and keep the bishop.
Reversed Sicilian · Advanced · as White
A flexible opening where White controls the centre from the side and uses a long-range bishop on g2.
Symmetrical · Intermediate · as White
Both sides copy each other. Small advantages in timing decide the game.
Najdorf · Advanced · as Black
The fighting defence played by many world champions. Black gets an unbalanced position with chances to win.
Dragon · Advanced · as Black
Black puts the bishop on the long diagonal, named after the dragon shape of Black’s pawns.
Alapin · Beginner · as White
A simple, solid answer to the Sicilian: c3 prepares d4 so White gets a full pawn centre.
Classical · Intermediate · as Black
A solid, strategic defence. Black builds a strong pawn chain and later strikes at White’s centre.
Advance · Beginner · as Black
White pushes e5 to gain space. Black attacks the pawn chain at its base.
Winawer · Advanced · as Black
Black pins the knight and gives up the bishop to damage White’s pawns.
Classical · Beginner · as Black
Solid and safe. Black supports d5 with c6 and gets the light-squared bishop out before closing the position.
Advance · Intermediate · as Black
White grabs space. Black gets the bishop out first, then hits the centre with c5.
Classical · Advanced · as Black
Black lets White build a big centre, then attacks it. A favourite of attacking players.
Sämisch · Advanced · as Black
White builds a huge centre with f3. Black still strikes back with e5.
Main line · Beginner · as Black
Black attacks e4 straight away. It’s easy to learn and leads to simple, open positions.
Modern (…Nf6) · Intermediate · as Black
Black recaptures with the knight instead of the queen and fianchettoes the bishop.