The Best Openings in Chess

This article will introduce you to some of the best Chess openings (for White and Black), and some idea of the game progression from there.

The English Opening
White opens with 1.c4. (for the beginners to chess, let me break that down for you. This is the first move of the match = 1. c4=Pawn C advancing two spaces to Row 4. Trust me on this, the illustrations will make all of this much easier to understand).

This is a solid offense, and particularly effective because of its versatility. The point is to control the center of the board by eventually taking the d5 position on the board. You should expect Black to attempt a transition into an Indian Defense, with d4 and Nf6.

This Chess Opening for White is a solid, sturdy, and time tested opening in Chess, but because it has been around 'forever', there are also a lot of counters. I would use this opening against a less experienced player.

The Indian Defense
I guess the best way to explain this defense is to imagine Guerilla fighters, attacking at either flank to destroy a solid line's position. I prefer the Queen's Indian Defense which is a stalling defense to the aggressive English Opening. You let White take the center, while you rip his flank open, eventually controlling the center with your pieces as opposed to your pawns. The match would go something like this in a typical Chess match: White's Opening with d4 and the response, Nf6 (Knight to f6) - 2. c4 and e6 - 3. Nf3 and b6.

Some would consider this defense to be 'cheesy', but it is a good way to stall your opponent into a draw, or to wear them down. If you are playing against a very aggressive, very fast player, use the Queen's Indian Defense to slow them down. A large part of chess is the psychological aspect, and if you can force an opponent to rethink their playing strategy mid-game, you've won the match.

The Sicilian Defense
"Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!" ~ The Princess Bride

If you are playing multiple matches against the same opponent, The Sicilian Defense is a good follow up after playing a defense like The Queen's Indian Defense. As opposed to the stale mate defense, the Sicilian Defense is far more aggressive, and makes a frontal assault on the center of the board. It starts with White advancing e4. Black will follow up with c5. The reason this defense is such a useful defense besides its aggressive stance, is that e4 is such a common Opening in Chess - The King's Pawn Game.

Ruy Lopez Opening
The Spanish Opening is such a popular opening, learning to defend against it is crucial. It is an e4 opener, and because it is such a common opener, learning to defend against it is crucial. The Cordel defense is considered the classic counter for the Ruy Lopez opening, and for good reason: it works! Some chess players would call the Cordel defense outdated, but I've found it to be an effective counter. Back to the Ruy Lopez Opening, though. This Opening is kind of a bait and switch technique, making it appear as if you are trying to capture your opponent's e4. Essentially this Opening is about removing options from your opponent, thereby making it easier to anticipate their next move.

Well, these are just brief introductions to some of the common Openings in Chess. Frankly, I could go on for pages about one of these Openings. I would suggest not buying any books about Chess. There is so much free information online, that it is hardly necessary. Heck, even Wikipedia is a pretty strong source of knowledge for beginners. You learn a lot of history of the openers, and some basic strategies.

If you are in a Chess Club at school, and want an edge, then play chess against yourself. Learn 2 Openings for White, and 2 for Black. Learn those well, and then begin playing against yourself. You would think that you will always win ;), but the point here is to memorize the numerous strategies out there.

If you are playing at the tournament level, they know just as many Openings and how to counter them as you do. This is where you will have to learn to improvise! Remember, you can always change up your strategy, and should.

Good luck, and look me up for a match some time!