Below are some of the best chess openings I would recommend in enhancing your strategies as a beginner which some advanced player might not even know! I’ve selected a few sources which best describes each opening to easily understand the concepts and possible variations.
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#1. Ruy Lopez Opening
The Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Game is long known to be one of the most popular openings in chess.
Click here to learn more about the Ruy Lopez Opening
#2. The Queen’s Gambit
The Queen’s Gambit, otherwise known as the oldest opening in chess discovered in the 1940s. You may have heard it from the hit series on Netflix.
Click here to learn more about The Queen’s Gambit
#3. Sicilian Defense
This is called a defence because this opening is commonly used by black to prevent the white in the centre game. Grandmasters consider the Sicilian Defense as a favourite defensive move for white if white moves to e4 and black moves to c5.
Click here to learn more about the Sicilian Defense
#4. Nimzo Indian Defense
Developed by Aron Nimzowitsch, The Nimzo Indian Defense is an opening to defend against the Queen’s Gambit. The Nimzo Defense developed to become popular amongst titled players.
Click here to learn more about the Nimzo Indian Defense
#5. English Opening
Starting with the c4 square, the English opening is a modern form of attack used by white. Howard Staunton, the first chess player who practices this opening and was the unofficial chess champion in 1843 – 1851.
Click here to learn more about the English Opening
#6. Reti Opening
First developed by GM Richard Reti and played in 1924 New York Tournament, the Reti Opening is a hypermodern opening for white. White starts of with Nf3, an unorthodox way of moving a piece as the usual moves by players would be pawns.
Click here to learn more about the Reti Opening
#7. Bird Opening
If not careful, black can take advantage of opportunities to attack the kingside of white’s formation. The Bird Opening is also a popular opening for white for high titled chess players.
Click here to learn more about the Bird Opening
#8. Catalan Opening
A great combination for the Queen’s Gambit and the Reti Opening. White focuses to control the d4 square of black and can easily attack black’s queenside formation.
Click here to learn more about the Catalan Opening
#9. Evans Gambit
A strange pawn sacrifice made by white to get a positional advantage over black’s pieces. The Evans Gambit is a variation white can make in the Italian Game (more about it down the list).
Click here to learn more about the Evans Gambit
#10. King’s Gambit
The King’s Gambit is the opposite of the Queen’s gambit in terms of pawn opening. Similarly, white offers a pawn sacrifice on the king’s side to eliminate black’s central pawn.
Click here to learn more about the King’s Gambit
#11. Italian Game
A quiet yet aggressive opening for white that starts with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. Allowing both white and black to grab the centre. This game was developed by Greco in the 1620s and known to be one of the old recorded chess openings.
Click here to learn more about the Italian Game.
#12. French Defense
Personally, I’ve used this in all my games as black if white moves e4. The French Defense allows black to attack queenside, weakening white’s defence and leaving the king vulnerable it not acted fast. However, this opening blocks black’s light square bishop, and if not careful, black can fall into its own trap.
Click here to learn more about the French Defense
#13. King’s Indian Defence
Black leaves the centre open for white and forms an attack unknowing to white. The King’s Indian Defense has a strong base of defense and slowly moving a few pieces. However, when white aggressively moves its pieces to control the centre, black must act fast in order to take control of the game.
Click here to learn more about the King’s Indian Defence
Conclusion
Whether you are just starting out with your game, or in need to improve your tactics, this list of openings I’ve recommend should already start improving once you got it. I absolutely love using these openings during my play and have improvised on variations myself!
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