View text source at Wikipedia


List of chess openings

This is a list of chess openings, organised by the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) code classification system. The chess openings are categorised into five broad areas ("A" through "E"), with each of those broken up into one hundred subcategories ("00" through "99"). The openings were published in five volumes of ECO, with volumes labeled "A" through "E".

A – Flank openings

[edit]

A00–A09

[edit]

White first moves other than 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4:

A02

A03 Bird's Opening, Dutch Variation:


A04


A05 Réti Opening: 1...Nf6

A06 Réti Opening: 1...d5

A07 Réti Opening, King's Indian Attack (Barcza System):

A08 Réti Opening, King's Indian Attack:

A09 Réti Opening:

A10–A39

[edit]

1.c4: English Opening

A10: 1.c4 (without: 1...g6 2.d4, 1...f5 2.d4, 1...b6 2.d4, 1...d6 2.e4, 1...d6 2.d4, 1...Nc6 2.d4)

A11 English, Caro–Kann defensive system, 1...c6 (without: 2.e4, 2.d4)

A12 English, Caro–Kann defensive system: 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3

A13 English Opening: 1...e6 (without 2.e4 or 2.d4)

A14 English, Neo-Catalan Declined: 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7

A15 English, Anglo-Indian Defence: 1...Nf6 (without: 2.d4, 2.g3 c6, 2.g3 e5, 2.Nf3 c5, 2.Nf3 e6, 2.Nf3 c6)


A16 English Opening, Anglo-Indian Defence: 2.Nc3 (without: 2...c5, 2...e5, 2...e6)


A17 English Opening, Hedgehog Defence: 2...e6 (without: 3.d4, 3.Nf3 c5, 3...d5 4.d4, 3...b5 4.d4, 3...Bb4 4.d4)

A18 English, Mikenas–Carls Variation: 3.e4 (without: 3...c5)

A19 English, Mikenas–Carls, Sicilian Variation: 3...c5

A20 English Opening: 1...e5 (without: 2.e4, 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3, 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3, 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3)

A21 English Opening: 2.Nc3 (without: 2...Nf6, 2...Nc6, 2...Bb4 3.g3 Nf6, 2...Bb4 3.Nf3 Nc6 2...Bb4 3.e3 Nf6)

A22 English Opening: 2...Nf6 (without: 3.Nf3 Nc6, 3.e3 Nc6, 3.g3 Nc6, 3.g3 c6, 3.g3 g6, 3.e4 Nc6 4.Nf3)

A23 English Opening, Bremen System, Keres Variation: 3.g3 c6

A24 English Opening, Bremen System with 1...e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 (without: 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6): 3.g3 g6

A25 English Opening, Sicilian Reversed: 2...Nc6 (without 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3)


A26 English Opening, Closed System: 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6


A27 English Opening, Three Knights System: 3.Nf3 (without: 3...Nf6)


A28 English Opening, Four Knights System: 3...Nf6 (without 4.g3)


A29 English Opening, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto: 4.g3


A30 English Opening, Symmetrical Defence: 1...c5 (without: 2.e4, 2.g3 g6 3.Nc3, 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3, 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3, 2.e3 Nf6 4.d4)


A31 English Opening, Symmetrical, Benoni formation: 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 (without: 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6, 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 e6, 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 e6)


A32 English Opening, Symmetrical: 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6


A33 English Opening, Symmetrical: 5.Nc3 Nc6


A34 English Opening, Symmetrical: 2.Nc3 (without 2...Nc6, 2...Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6, 2...Nf6 3.e4 e6, 2...e6 3.Nf3 Nf6, 4.g3 Nc6)


A35 English Opening, Symmetrical: 2...Nc6 (without 3.g3, 3.e4, 3.Nf3 Nf6, 4.g3 e6, 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4, 3.Nf3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7)


A36 English Opening, Symmetrical: 3.g3


A37 English Opening, Symmetrical: 3...g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3


A38 English Opening, Symmetrical: 5...Nf6


A39 English, symmetrical, main line with d4: 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 or 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 0-0 8.0-0


A40–A44

[edit]

1.d4 without 1...d5, 1...Nf6 or 1...f5: Atypical replies to 1.d4 A40 Queen's Pawn Game


A41 Queen's Pawn Game: 1...d6


A42 Modern Defence, Averbakh System, also Wade Defence: 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4


A43 Old Benoni Defence: 1...c5


A44 Old Benoni Defence: 2.d5 e5


A45–A49

[edit]

1.d4 Nf6 without 2.c4: Atypical replies to 1...Nf6 A45 Queen's Pawn Game, Trompowsky Attack: 1.d4 Nf6 (without 2.Nf3)


A46 Queen's Pawn Game, Torre Attack: 2.Nf3


A47 Queen's Indian Defence: 2...b6


A48 King's Indian, East Indian Defence: 2...g6


A49 King's Indian, Fianchetto without c4: 3.g3


A50–A55

[edit]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 without 2...e6 or 2...g6: Atypical Indian systems A50 Queen's Pawn Game: 1. d4 Nf6 2.c4 (without 2...d6 2...e5, 2...e6, 2...g6 or 2...c5)


A51 Budapest Gambit Declined: 2...e5


A52 Budapest Gambit: 3.dxe5 Ng4


A53 Old Indian Defence: 2...d6


A54 Old Indian, Ukrainian Variation: 3.Nc3 e5


A55 Old Indian, Main line: 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.e4


A56–A79

[edit]

Benoni Defence (and Benko Gambit): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5

A56 Benoni Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5


A57 Benko Gambit: 3.d5 b5


A58 Benko Gambit Accepted: 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6


A59 Benko Gambit, 7.e4: 5...Bxa6 6.Nc3 d6 7.e4


A60 Benoni Defence: 3.d5 e6


A61 Benoni Defence: 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6


A62 Benoni, Fianchetto Variation without 9...Nbd7: 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0


A63 Benoni, Fianchetto Variation, 9...Nbd7: 9.Nbd7


A64 Benoni, Fianchetto Variation, 11...Re8: 9...Nbd7: 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 Re8


A65 Benoni, 6.e4: 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4


A66 Benoni, Pawn Storm Variation: 6...g6 7.f4


A67 Benoni, Taimanov Variation: 7...Bg7 8.Bb5+


A68 Benoni, Four Pawns Attack: 7...Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0


A69 Benoni, Four Pawns Attack, Main line: 9.Be2 Re8


A70 Benoni, Classical with e4 and Nf3: 6...g6 7.Nf3


A71 Benoni, Classical, 8.Bg5: 7... Bg7 8.Bg5


A72 Benoni, Classical without 9.0-0: 7...Bg7 8.Be2 0-0


A73 Benoni, Classical, 9.0-0: 9.0-0


A74 Benoni, Classical, 9...a6, 10.a4: 9...a6 10.a4


A75 Benoni, Classical with 9...a6 and 10...Bg4: 9...a6 10.a4 Bg4


A76 Benoni, Classical, 9...Re8: 9...Re8


A77 Benoni, Classical, 9...Re8, 10.Nd2: 10.Nd2


A78 Benoni, Classical with 9...Re8 and 10...Na6: 10...Na6


A79 Benoni, Classical, 11.f3: 11.f3


A80–A99

[edit]

Dutch Defence: 1.d4 f5 A80 Dutch Defence: 1.d4 f5


A81 Dutch Defence: 2.g3


A82 Dutch, Staunton Gambit 2.e4


A83 Dutch, Staunton Gambit, Staunton's line 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5


A84 Dutch Defence 2.c4: 2.c4


A85 Dutch with 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3: 2... Nf6 3.Nc3


A86 Dutch with 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3: 2... Nf6 3.g3


A87 Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation: 3...g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3


A88 Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation with 5...0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 c6: 5...0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 c6


A89 Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation with 5...0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 Nc6: 5...0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 Nc6


A90 Dutch Defence 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2: 3...e6 4.Bg2


A91 Dutch Defence 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7: 4...Be7


A92 Dutch Defence 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0: 5.Nf3 0-0


A93 Dutch, Stonewall, Botvinnik Variation 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 d5 7. b3: 6.0-0 d5 7. b3

A94 Dutch, Stonewall with 6.0-0 d5.7.b3 c6 8.Ba3: 7... c6 8.Ba3


A95 Dutch, Stonewall with 6.0-0 d5.7.Nc3 c6: 6.0-0 d5 7.Nc3 c6


A96 Dutch, Classical Variation 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 d6: 6.0-0 d6


A97 Dutch, Ilyin–Genevsky Variation 7.Nc3 Qe8: 7.Nc3 Qe8


A98 Dutch, Ilyin–Genevsky Variation with 7.Nc3 Qe8 8.Qc2: 8.Qc2


A99 Dutch, Ilyin–Genevsky Variation with 7.Nc3 Qe8 8.b3: 8.b3

B – Semi-Open Games other than the French Defence

[edit]

B00–B19

[edit]

1.e4 without 1...c5, 1...e6 or 1...e5 B00 King's Pawn Opening without 1...e5, 1...e6, 1...d5, 1...Nf6, 1...g6, 1...d6, 1...c6, 1...c5.


B01 Scandinavian Defence (Center Counter Defence): 1...d5 (without 2.Nf3 (Tennison Gambit, A06))


B02 Alekhine's Defence: 1.e4 Nf6


B03: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 (including the Exchange Variation and Four Pawns Attack)


B04: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 (Modern Variation without 4...Bg4)


B05: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 (Modern Variation with 4...Bg4)


B06 Robatsch (Modern) Defence, including Monkey's Bum

B07 Pirc Defence

B08 Pirc, Classical (Two Knights) System

B09 Pirc, Austrian Attack


B10 Caro–Kann Defence


B11 Caro–Kann, Two knights, 3...Bg4


B12 Caro–Kann Defence


B13 Caro–Kann, Exchange Variation


B14 Caro–Kann, Panov–Botvinnik Attack, 5...e6


B15 Caro–Kann Defence


B16 Caro–Kann, Bronstein–Larsen Variation


B17 Caro–Kann, Steinitz Variation, Smyslov Systems


B18 Caro–Kann, Classical Variation


B19 Caro–Kann, Classical, 7...Nd7


B20–B99

[edit]

1.e4 c5: Sicilian Defence
















































































C – Open Games and the French Defence

[edit]

C00–C19

[edit]

1.e4 e6: French Defence





















C20–C99

[edit]

1.e4 e5: Open Game













































































D – Closed Games and Semi-Closed Games

[edit]

D00–D69

[edit]

1.d4 d5: Closed Game







































































D70–D99

[edit]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 with 3...d5: Grünfeld Defence



























E – Indian Defences

[edit]

E00–E59

[edit]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6: Indian systems with ...e6





























































E60–E99

[edit]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 without 3...d5: Indian systems with ...g6 (except Grünfeld)





































Statistics

[edit]
Moves 1800–1900 1901–1935 1935–1998
1. e4 e5 63% 31% 15%
1. e4 other 23% 20% 35%
1. d4 d5 10% 28% 15%
1. d4 other 3% 16% 23%
1. other 5% 12%

These statistics show a movement away from symmetrical defences to asymmetrical defences. In particular, in reply to 1.e4, the Sicilian and French defences, and to 1.d4 the Indian defences. Also, particularly amongst strong players, an increased use of the English Opening for White.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Watson, John (1998), Secrets of modern chess strategy (Part 2: New ideas and the modern revolution), London: Gambit, p. 93
[edit]