Opening guides

The classic first opening: bishop to c4, aim at f7, castle quickly.

The next step after the Italian: the bishop goes to b5 and puts pressure on Black's knight.

An active answer to the Italian. Know how to meet the Fried Liver.

Hit back at White's centre pawn on move one, then follow one simple setup.

Develop all four knights and play: very little theory, solid positions.

One setup against almost everything with 1.d4. Easy to learn, hard to beat.

A fixed 1.d4 setup with one clear plan: prepare e4 and attack the king.

A solid pawn chain against 1.e4 and a healthy position without a bad bishop.

The classical reply to 1.d4 2.c4: keep your pawn on d5, develop, castle.

Pressure on d5 from move two. A principled 1.d4 opening for life.

Open the centre on move three and play with free pieces.

Give a pawn, aim at f7 and set problems from the first moves.

A trap-filled gambit for Black. Risky, but great fun in blitz.

2.Nc3 and often f4: an attacking setup with many tricks.

1.c4: a flexible, positional opening that often turns into a reversed Sicilian.

Unbalanced from move one: the fighting answer to 1.e4.

A solid pawn chain and counterattacks against White's centre.

Give White the centre, then attack the king with ...e5 and ...f5.

Pin the knight with ...Bb4 and fight for e4. One of Black's best replies to 1.d4.

Defend d5 with ...c6 and keep the light-squared bishop free.

Let White build a big centre, then hit it with ...d5, ...Bg7 and ...c5.

1.Nf3 and c4: control the centre from a distance.

1...f5 against 1.d4: an unbalanced fight for e4 and kingside chances.