Chess Article #85:
The Chess opening
Part Two of Two Parts
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
++3. Classification of chess openings
The beginning chess position offers White twenty possible first
moves. Of these, 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.Nf3, and 1.c4 are by far the most
popular as these moves do the most to promote rapid development and
control of the center. A few other opening moves are considered
reasonable but less consistent with opening principles than the
four most popular moves. The Dunst Opening, 1.Nc3, develops a
knight to a good square, but is somewhat inflexible because it
blocks White's c-pawn; also, after 1...d5 the knight is liable to
be kicked to an inferior square by ...d4. (Note that after 1.Nf3
the analogous 1...e5? just loses a pawn.) Bird's Opening, 1.f4,
addresses center control but not development and weakens the king
position slightly. The Sokolsky Opening 1.b4 and the King's and
Queen's fianchettos 1.b3 and 1.g3 aid development a bit, but they
only address center control peripherally and are slower than the
more popular openings. The eleven remaining possibilities are
rarely played at the top levels of chess. Of these, the best are
merely slow such as 1.c3, 1.d3, and 1.e3. Worse possibilities
either ignore the center and development like 1.a3, weaken White's
position (for instance, 1.f3 and 1.g4), or place the knights on
poor squares (1.Na3 and 1.Nh3).
Black has twenty possible responses to White's opening move. Many
of these are mirror images of the most popular first moves for
White, but with a tempo less. Defenses beginning with 1...c6 and
1...e6, often followed by the center thrust 2...d5, are also
popular. Defenses with an early ...d6 coupled with a kingside
fianchetto are also commonly played.
The most important scheme of classifying chess openings for serious
players is by ECO code, a series of 500 opening codes assigned by
the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. Although these codes are
invaluable for the serious study of the chess opening, they are not
very practical for a broad survey of the chess opening as the codes
obscure common structural features between related openings.
A simple descriptive categorization of the chess opening is King's
Pawn Openings, Queen's Pawn Openings, and Others. Since these
categories are still individually very large, it is common to
divide each of them further. One reasonable way to group the
openings is
* Double King Pawn or Open Games (1. e4 e5)
* Single King Pawn or Semi-Open Games (1. e4 other)
* Double Queen Pawn or Closed Games (1. d4 d5)
* Single Queen Pawn or Semi-Closed Games (1. d4 other)
* Flank openings (including 1. c4, 1. Nf3, 1. f4, and others)
* Unusual first moves for White
The Indian systems (1. d4 Nf6) are the most important of the Semi-
Closed Games, and warrant separate treatment.
++3.A Open games (1. e4 e5)
Ruy Lopez
Giuoco Piano
King's Gambit
White starts by playing 1. e4 (moving his King's pawn two spaces).
This is the most popular opening move and it has many strengths --
it immediately works on controlling the center, and it frees two
pieces (the queen and a bishop). The oldest openings in chess
follow 1. e4. Bobby Fischer rated 1. e4 as "best by test". On the
downside, 1. e4 places a pawn on an undefended square and weakens
d4 and f4; the Hungarian master Gyula Breyer melodramatically
declared that "After 1. e4 White's game is in its last throes". If
Black mirrors White's move and replies with 1. ... e5, the result
is an open game.
The most popular second move for White is 2. Nf3 attacking Black's
king pawn, preparing for a kingside castle, and anticipating the
advance of the queen pawn to d4. Black's most common reply is 2.
... Nc6, which usually leads to the Ruy Lopez (3. Bb5), Scotch Game
(3. d4), or Italian Game (3. Bc4). If Black instead maintains
symmetry and counterattacks White's center with 2. ... Nf6 then the
Petrov's Defense results. The Philidor Defense (2. ... d6) is not
popular in modern chess because it allows White an easy space
advantage while Black's position remains cramped and passive,
although solid. Other responses to 2. Nf3 are not seen in master
play.
The most popular alternatives to 2. Nf3 are the Vienna Game (2.
Nc3), the Bishop's Opening (2. Bc4), and the King's Gambit (2. f4).
These openings have some similarities with each other, in
particular the Bishop's Opening frequently transposes to variations
of the Vienna Game. The King's Gambit was extremely popular in the
19th century. White sacrifices a pawn for quick development and to
pull a black pawn out of the center. The Vienna Game also
frequently features attacks on the Black center by means of a f2-f4
pawn advance.
In the Center Game (2. d4) White immediately opens the center but
if the pawn is to be recovered after 2. ... exd4, White must
contend with a slightly premature queen development after 3. Qxd4.
An alternative is to sacrifice one or two pawns, for example in the
Danish Gambit.
Many other variations after 1. e4 e5 have been studied; see Open
Game for details.
* 1. e4 e5 Double King's Pawn Opening or Open Game
* 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Ruy Lopez
* 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Scotch Game
* 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Italian Game
* 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 Four Knights Game
* 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 Petrov's Defense
* 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 Philidor Defense
* 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Vienna Game
* 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bishop's Opening
* 1. e4 e5 2. f4 King's Gambit
* 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Center Game
* 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 Danish Gambit
++3.B Semi-open games (1. e4, Black plays something other than
1. ... e5)
* Sicilian Defense: 1. e4 c5
* French Defense: 1. e4 e6
* Caro-Kann Defense: 1. e4 c6
* Scandinavian Defense: 1. e4 d5
* Pirc Defense: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6
* Alekhine's Defense: 1. e4 Nf6
* Modern Defense: 1. e4 g6
In the semi-open games White plays 1. e4 and Black breaks symmetry
immediately by replying with a move other than 1. ... e5. The most
popular Black defense to 1. e4 is the Sicilian (1. ... c5), but the
French (1. ... e6, normally followed by 2. d4 d5) and the Caro-Kann
(1. ... c6, normally followed by 2. d4 d5) are also very popular.
The Pirc and the Modern are closely related openings that are also
often seen, while the Alekhine and the Scandinavian have made
occasional appearances in World Chess Championship games.
The Sicilian and French Defenses lead to unbalanced positions that
can offer exciting play with both sides having chances to win. The
Caro-Kann Defense is solid as Black intends to use his c-pawn to
support his center (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5). Alekhine's, the Pirc and
the Modern are hypermodern openings in which Black tempts White to
build a large center with the goal of attacking it with pieces.
Other semi-open games have been studied but are less common.
++3.C Closed games (1. d4 d5)
* Double Queen's Pawn Opening or Closed Game: 1. d4 d5
* Queen's Gambit: 1. d4 d5 2. c4
* Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA): 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
* Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD): 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
* Slav Defense: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
* Stonewall Attack: 1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. f4
(a typical move sequence)
* Colle System: 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3
The openings classified as closed games begin 1. d4 d5. The move 1.
d4 offers the same benefits to development and center control as
does 1. e4, but unlike with the King Pawn openings where the e4
pawn is undefended after the first move, the d4 pawn is protected
by White's queen. This slight difference has a tremendous effect on
the opening. For instance, whereas the King's Gambit is rarely
played today at the highest levels of chess, the Queen's Gambit
remains a popular weapon at all levels of play. Also, compared with
the King Pawn openings, transpositions between variations are more
common and critical in the closed games.
The most important closed openings are in the Queen's Gambit family
(White plays 2. c4). The Queen's Gambit is somewhat misnamed, since
White can always regain the offered pawn if desired. In the Queen's
Gambit Accepted, Black plays ... dxc4, giving up the center for
free development and the chance to try to give White an isolated
queen pawn with a subsequent ... c5 and ... cxd5. White will get
active pieces and possibilities for the attack. Black has two
popular ways to decline the pawn, the Slav (2. ... c6) and the
Queen's Gambit Declined (2. ... e6). Both of these moves lead to an
immense forest of variations that can require a great deal of
opening study to play well. Among the many possibilities in the
Queen's Gambit Declined are the Orthodox Defense, Lasker's Defense,
the Cambridge Springs Defense, the Tartakower Variation, and the
Tarrasch and Semi-Tarrasch Defenses. Black replies to the Queen's
Gambit other than 2. ... dxc4, 2. ... c6, and 2. ... e6 are
uncommon.
The Colle System and Stonewall Attack are classified as Queen's
Pawn Games because White plays d4 but not c4. They are also
examples of Systems, rather than specific opening variations. White
develops aiming for a particular formation without great concern
over how Black chooses to defend. Both systems are popular with
club players because they are easy to learn, but are rarely used by
professionals because a well prepared opponent playing Black can
equalize fairly easily. The Stonewall is characterized by the White
pawn formation on c3, d4, e3, and f4, and can be achieved by
several move orders and against many different Black setups. The
move sequence given for the Stonewall is typical.
Other closed openings have been studied but are less common.
++3.D Indian systems (1.d4 Nf6)
* Modern Benoni: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5
* Benko Gambit (or Volga Gambit): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
* Nimzo-Indian Defense: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
* Queen's Indian Defense: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
* Catalan Opening: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3
* Gr`unfeld Defense: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
* King's Indian Defense (KID): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7
The Indian systems are asymmetrical defenses to 1. d4 that employ
hypermodern chess strategy. Fianchettos are common in many of these
openings. As with the closed games, transpositions are important
and many of the Indian defenses can be reached by several different
move orders. Although Indian defenses were championed in the 1920s
by players in the hypermodern school, they were not fully accepted
until Soviet players showed in the late 1940s that these systems
are sound for Black. Since then, Indian defenses have been the most
popular Black replies to 1.d4 because they offer an unbalanced game
with chances for both sides. The usual White second move is 2. c4,
grabbing a larger share of the center and allowing the move Nc3, to
prepare for moving the e-pawn to e4 without blocking the c-pawn.
Black's most popular replies are:
* 2. ... e6, freeing the king's bishop and leading into the
Nimzo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Defense, Bogo-Indian
Defense, Modern Benoni, or regular lines of the Queen's Gambit
Declined;
* 2. ... g6, preparing a fianchetto of the king's bishop and
entering the King's Indian Defense or Gr`unfeld Defense; and
* 2. ... c5, the Modern Benoni, with an immediate counter-punch
in the center.
Advocated by Nimzowitsch as early as 1913, the Nimzo-Indian Defense
was the first of the Indian systems to gain full acceptance. It
remains one of the most popular and well-respected defenses to 1.d4
and White often adopts move orders designed to avoid it. Black
attacks the center with pieces and is prepared to trade a bishop
for a knight to weaken White's queenside with doubled pawns.
The King's Indian Defense is aggressive and somewhat risky, and
generally indicates that Black will not be satisfied with a draw.
Although it was played occasionally as early as the late 19th
century, the King's Indian was considered inferior until the 1940s
when it was featured in the games of Bronstein, Boleslavsky, and
Reshevsky. Fischer's favored defense to 1.d4, its popularity faded
in the mid-1970s. Kasparov's successes with the defense restored
the King's Indian to prominence in the 1980s.
Ernst Gr`unfeld debuted the Gr`unfeld Defense in 1922.
Distinguished by the move 3. ... d5, Gr`unfeld intended it as an
improvement to the King's Indian which was not considered entirely
satisfactory at that time. The Gr`unfeld has been adopted by World
Champions Smyslov, Fischer, and Kasparov.
The Queen's Indian Defense is considered solid, safe, and perhaps
somewhat drawish. Black often chooses the Queen's Indian when White
avoids the Nimzo-Indian by playing 3. Nf3 instead of 3. Nc3. Black
constructs a sound position that makes no positional concessions,
although sometimes it is difficult for Black to obtain good winning
chances. Karpov is a leading expert in this opening.
The Modern Benoni Defense is a risky attempt by Black to unbalance
the position and gain active piece play at the cost of allowing
White a pawn wedge at d5 and a central majority. Tal popularized
the defense in the 1960s by winning several brilliant games with
it, and Bobby Fischer occasionally adopted it, with good results,
including a win in his 1972 world championship match against Boris
Spassky. Often Black adopts a slightly different move order,
playing 2. ... e6 before 3. ... c5 in order to avoid the sharpest
lines for White.
The Benko Gambit is often played by strong players, and is very
popular at lower levels. Black plays to open lines on the queenside
where White will be subject to considerable pressure. If White
accepts the gambit, Black's compensation is positional rather than
tactical, and his initiative can last even after many piece
exchanges and well into the endgame. White often chooses instead
either to decline the gambit pawn or return it.
The Catalan Opening is characterized by White forming a pawn center
at d4 and c4 and fianchettoing his king's bishop. It resembles a
combination of the Queen's Gambit and R`eti Opening. Since the
Catalan can be reached from many different move orders, (one
Queen's Gambit Declined-like move sequence is 1.d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 Nf6 4. g3), it is sometimes called the Catalan System.
The most important Indian Defenses are listed above, but many
others have been studied and played.
++3.E Other Black responses to 1.d4
* Benoni Defense: 1. d4 c5
* Dutch Defense: 1. d4 f5
Of the defenses to 1. d4 other than 1. ... d5 and 1. ... Nf6, the
most important are the Dutch Defense and the Benoni Defense.
The Dutch, an aggressive defense adopted for a time by World
Champions Alekhine and Botvinnik, and played by both Botvinnik and
challenger David Bronstein in their 1951 world championship match,
is still played occasionally at the top level by Short and others.
Another fairly common opening is the Benoni Defense, which may
become very wild if it develops into the Modern Benoni, though
other variations are more solid.
Several other uncommon semi-closed openings have been named and
studied.
++3.F Flank openings (including English, R`eti, Bird's, and
White fianchettoes)
* Larsen's Opening: 1. b3
* Sokolsky Opening: 1. b4
* English Opening: 1. c4
* R`eti Opening (characteristically followed by fianchettoing
one or both bishops, and without an early d4): 1. Nf3
* King's Indian Attack (KIA): 1. Nf3, 2. g3, 3. Bg2, 4. 0-0, 5.
d3, 6. Nbd2, 7. e4 (moves may be played in many different
orders)
* Bird's Opening: 1. f4
* Benko Opening: 1. g3
The flank openings are the group of White openings typified by play
on one or both flanks. White plays in hypermodern style, attacking
the center from the flanks with pieces rather than occupying it
with pawns. These openings are played often, and 1. Nf3 and 1. c4
trail only 1. e4 and 1. d4 in popularity as opening moves.
If White opens with 1. Nf3, the game often becomes one of the d4
openings (closed games or semi-closed games) by a different move
order (this is called transposition), but unique openings such as
the R`eti and King's Indian Attack are also common. The R`eti
itself is characterized by White playing 1. Nf3, fianchettoing one
or both bishops, and not playing an early d4 (which would generally
transpose into one of the 1. d4 openings).
The King's Indian Attack (KIA) is a system of development that
White may use in reply to almost any Black opening moves. The
characteristic KIA setup is 1. Nf3, 2. g3, 3. Bg2, 4. 0-0, 5. d3,
6. Nbd2, and 7. e4, although these moves may be played in many
different orders. In fact, the KIA is probably most often reached
after 1. e4 when White uses it to respond to a Black attempt to
play one of the Semi-open games such as the Caro-Kann, French, or
Sicilian, or even the open games which usually come after 1. e4 e5.
Its greatest appeal may be that by adopting a set pattern of
development, White can avoid the large amount of opening study
required to prepare to meet the many different possible Black
replies to 1. e4.
The English Opening (1. c4) also frequently transposes into a d4
opening, but it can take on independent character as well including
the Symmetrical Variation (1. c4 c5) and the Reversed Sicilian (1.
c4 e5).
Larsen's Opening (1. b3) and the Sokolsky Opening (1. b4) are
occasionally seen in grandmaster play. Benko used 1. g3 to defeat
both Fischer and Tal in the 1962 Candidates Tournament in Curagao.
With Bird's Opening (1. f4) White tries to get a strong grip on the
e5-square. The opening can resemble a Dutch Defense in reverse
after 1. f4 d5, or Black may try to disrupt White by playing 1. ...
e5!? (From's Gambit).
++3.G Unusual first moves for White
First moves other than the king's pawn (1. e4), queen's pawn (1.
d4), or flank openings (1. b3, 1. b4, 1. c4, 1. Nf3, 1. f4, or 1.
g3) are not regarded as effective ways to exploit White's first-
move advantage and thus are rarely played. Although some of these
openings are not actually bad for White, each of the twelve
remaining possible first moves suffers one or more of the following
defects compared to the more popular choices:
* too passive for White (e.g. 1. d3, 1. e3, 1. c3, 1. Nc3)
* gratuitously weakens White's position (e.g., 1. f3, 1. g4)
* does little to aid White's development or control the center
(e.g., 1. a3, 1. a4, 1. h3, 1. h4)
* develops a knight to an inferior square (1. Na3 or 1. Nh3).
========== The blind-chess mailing list View list information and change
your settings: //www.freelists.org/list/blind-chess List archives:
//www.freelists.org/archives/blind-chess =========
