Opening theory in chess

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Opening Position
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation(FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Using this wikibook 3 White's first move 3.1 All possible first white moves 3.2 Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings 3.3 Statistics 4 Theory table 5 References

[edit] Introduction

In chess, unlike tennis, it is not possible to win by serving an ace.

– Irving Chernev, chess writer

The opening of a game of chess is a battle between two equally matched armies. There is no method that will secure one player a decisive advantage independent from what his opponent does. If there were, no one would play chess. Winning a game of chess depends on one's opponent making inaccurate moves. The question, "What is an inaccurate move?", can best be answered by trial and error.

Take the initial position on the right. It is White's move. Why do almost all serious players begin by moving either a central pawn or the king's knight? Simply because the results of millions of chess games have given these moves a better reputation than the alternatives. So you could say that White 'knows the secret' - except that after a handful of games have started with the same opening move, Black starts to realize that some ways of responding are better than others. Then White comes to know what to expect from Black...

Carry on this process over several centuries, bearing in mind that most chess positions contain a few potential moves that are just as good as one another (and some that are not as good but that might just throw an opponent off guard), and you will end up with enough opening theory to fill several encyclopedias. The question is who can remember the most!

[edit] Using this wikibook

To use this Wikibook you will need to be familiar with the rules of chess and the algebraic system of chess notation. While it is up to you how you proceed beyond that stage, most chess coaches would recommend that you gain a basic understanding of chess strategy before trying to learn any opening theory. For example, further down this page we explain that 1. e4 is a good move because it helps control the center. Why is controlling the center a good idea? That comes under chess strategy, which is discussed in the Chess Wikibook. A more detailed discussion is located in the Elements of chess strategy Wikibook.

Each page in this Wikibook corresponds to a single position, which will be shown in the diagram on that page. One or more links will appear in the main body of the text, representing possible moves in that position. Choose a move, click it, and reach a new position. You can navigate backwards by clicking on moves in the directory list that appears at the top of each page below the title.

You can use the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO) code index if you prefer to navigate to positions that way.

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the conventions for organization.

[edit] White's first move

White's first move selection is usually driven by the value of controlling the center squares of the board and allowing mobility of other white pieces. Hence, 1. e4 and 1. d4 are attractive first moves as they occupy important central squares, exert control of squares on the 5th rank, and allow White's bishops to develop. Secondary consideration is to deny Black those same benefits, thus the attractiveness of 1. d4 and 1. Nf3, preventing Black from playing 1...e5 without losing the pawn outright to a capture.

Here then are White's choices. Will White play along the popular King or Queen Pawn lines? Or will White open from a flank? Perhaps White will entertain an uncommon line to throw the game into dangerous but unexplored realms.

[edit] All possible first white moves

Quick Navigation	a4 a3 Na3	b4 b3	c4 c3 Nc3	d4 d3	e4 e3	f4 f3 Nf3	g4 g3	h4 h3 Nh3

[edit] Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings

ECO volume A : English Opening, Benoni Defence, Dutch Defence, King's Indian Attack, Benko Gambit, Old Indian, Birds Opening

ECO volume B : Sicilian Defence, Caro-Kann Defence, Pirc Defence, Modern Defence, Alekhines Defence, Scandinavian Defence

ECO volume C : Ruy Lopez, French Defence, Petroff Defence, King's Gambit, Philidor Defence, Giuoco Piano, Two Knights Defence, Scotch Game

ECO volume D : Queen's Gambit Declined, Queen's Gambit Accepted, Slav Defence, Tarrasch Defence, Grünfeld Defence, Queens Pawn

ECO volume E : Nimzo-Indian Defence, Queen's Indian Defence, King's Indian Defence, Catalan Opening, Bogo-Indian Defence

[edit] Statistics

Approximately chances: White win 39%, Draw 32%, Black win 29%
Estimated first move popularity:
e4 43%, d4 37%, Nf3 10%, c4 8%, g3 1%, b3 0.3%, f4 0.2%, Nc3 0.1%, b4 0.1%, all other moves less than 0.1%.

[edit] Theory table

For explanation of theory tables see theory table and for notation see algebraic notation.

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Sicilian Defence	e4 c5	Nf3 d6	d4 cxd4	Nxd4 Nf6	Nc3 a6	Be2 e6	=
Ruy Lopez	... e5	Nf3 Nc6	Bb5 a6	Ba4 Nf6	O-O Be7	Re1 b5	=
King's Indian Defence	d4 Nf6	c4 g6	Nc3 Bg7	e4 d6	Nf3 O-O	Be2 e5	=
Queen's Gambit Declined	... d5	c4 e6	Nc3 Nf6	Bg5 Be7	e3 O-O	Nf3 Nbd7	=
King's Indian Attack	Nf3 d5	g3 Nf6	Bg2 c6	O-O Bg4	d3 Nbd7	Nbd2 e5	=

Wikipedia has related information at Chess Opening

[edit] References

• Batsford Chess Openings 2 (1989, 1994). Garry Kasparov, Raymond Keene. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. 1999. Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.

This box: view • talk • edit Chess Openings
1. e4 e5	Open Game·King's Gambit·Bishop's Opening·Vienna·Petrov·Latvian Gambit·Scotch·Giuoco Piano·Two Knights·Ruy Lopez
1. e4 c5	Sicilian Defence·Closed Sicilian·Taimanov·Sveshnikov ·Kan Sicilian·Sicilian Dragon· Scheveningen·Najdorf
1. e4 other	French Defence·Caro-Kann Defence·Pirc Defence·Alekhine Defence·Modern·Scandinavian·Nimzowitsch
1. d4 Nf6	Indian Defence·King's Indian Defence·Nimzo-Indian·Queen's Indian·Grünfeld·Benoni·Budapest·Catalan
1. d4 d5	Closed Game·Queen's Gambit·Queen's Gambit Accepted·Queen's Gambit Declined·Chigorin·Slav·Semi-Slav·Marshall
1. d4 other	Dutch Defence·Old Benoni Defence·Englund Gambit·English Defence. Other: King's Indian Attack·Reti Opening
1.	a3 · Na3 · a4 · b3 · b4 · c3 · Nc3 · c4 · d3 · d4 · e3 · e4 · f3 · Nf3 · f4 · g3 · g4 · h3 · Nh3 · h4