Chess Drills
Advanced chess openings
The openings on this page are the systems strong players fight over. Most of them are replies to 1.d4, and many are hypermodern: Black lets White build a centre first and then attacks it with pieces and pawn breaks.
They reward understanding more than memory. The move orders are subtle, the pawn structures decide the plans, and a single inaccuracy can change the character of the game. Take one up when you enjoy long, strategic games and are ready to study model games, not just lines.
A repertoire to start with
Black against 1.d4, dynamic
Let White take the centre and then strike back: with ...e5 and a kingside attack in the King's Indian, or with ...c5 and pressure on d4 in the Grünfeld.
Black against 1.d4, solid
The Nimzo-Indian fights for e4 with pieces; the Slav keeps a rock-solid pawn on d5 with a free light-squared bishop.
With White
1.Nf3 and c4: a flexible system that keeps options open and lets you steer the game into structures you know.
All advanced openings
You play white
You play black
Questions
What makes an opening advanced?
Not the number of moves, but how much understanding it needs. In the King's Indian or the Grünfeld Black lets White have the centre on purpose, and you need to know exactly when and how to attack it.
Can I play these openings below 1800?
You can, and some players love them. But expect to lose some games while you learn. If you mostly want results, a classical reply like the Queen's Gambit Declined is easier to handle.
How should I study an advanced opening?
Learn the main lines here, then play through model games by strong players in your opening. Understanding the typical plans and pawn breaks is worth more than memorising long variations.
Other levels
Pick a few openings from this page and drill them with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.