List of chess openings facts for kids
Chess openings are the first few moves players make in a game of chess. Think of them as the starting plan for how you'll set up your pieces. These first moves are super important because they help you control the center of the board, develop your pieces, and keep your king safe.
There are many different openings, and they all have names. Chess players study these openings to get a good start in their games.
Contents
How Openings Have Changed
Over time, the most popular chess openings have changed. Early on, many players liked to make moves that mirrored each other, like both players moving their pawn to e4 and then e5. This is called a symmetrical defense.
But as chess players got better, they started using more asymmetrical defenses. This means the players don't mirror each other's moves. For example, after White plays 1.e4, Black might respond with moves like 1...c5 (the Sicilian Defense) or 1...e6 (the French Defense). These moves lead to different kinds of games.
Stronger players also started using openings like the English Opening (1.c4) more often for White.
King's Pawn Openings
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A King's Pawn opening starts when White moves their king's pawn two squares forward to e4 (1.e4). This is a very common and strong first move because it controls the center of the board.
Common Replies to 1.e4
When White plays 1.e4, Black has many ways to respond. Here are some of the most common:
Symmetrical Replies (1...e5)
These openings happen when Black also moves their king's pawn two squares forward to e5, mirroring White's first move.
- King's Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4
- Ruy Lopez: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
- Vienna Game: 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3
- Giuoco Piano: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
- Evans Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
- Petrov's Defense: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
- Philidor's Defense: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6
Asymmetrical Replies (Other than 1...e5)
These openings happen when Black responds to 1.e4 with a move other than 1...e5, creating a less mirrored position.
- Alekhine's Defense: 1.e4 Nf6
- Caro-Kann Defense: 1.e4 c6
- French Defense: 1.e4 e6
- Sicilian Defense: 1.e4 c5
- Open variations: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 followed by 3.d4
- Closed variations: 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 not followed by d4
- Centre Counter (also called Scandinavian Defense): 1.e4 d5
- Pirc Defense: 1.e4 d6 (can also be played against 1.d4)
- Modern Defense: 1.e4 g6 (can also be played against 1.d4)
Queen's Pawn Openings
A Queen's Pawn opening starts when White moves their queen's pawn two squares forward to d4 (1.d4). This move also helps control the center of the board.
Common Replies to 1.d4
Just like with 1.e4, Black has many ways to respond to 1.d4.
Symmetrical Replies (1...d5)
These openings happen when Black also moves their queen's pawn two squares forward to d5.
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4
- Queen's Gambit Declined: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
- Slav Defense: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
Asymmetrical Replies (Other than 1...d5)
These openings happen when Black responds to 1.d4 with a move other than 1...d5.
- Dutch Defense: 1.d4 f5
- Benoni Defense: 1.d4 c5 or 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5
- Benko Gambit: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
- King's Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
- Grünfeld Defense: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
- 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
- Budapest Gambit: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5
Other First Moves
While 1.e4 and 1.d4 are the most common first moves for White, there are other ways to start a game.
- Réti Opening: 1.Nf3, often followed by 2.c4 or 2.g3
- English Opening: 1.c4
- Bird's Opening: 1.f4
Learning More About Chess
It's hard to learn about chess openings when you're just starting out. You need to understand the basic ideas of chess first. Books that show whole games with simple explanations are a great way to learn.
Here are some books that can help you learn chess:
- Chernev, Irving 1998. Logical chess: move by move. London:Batsford. ISBN: 0-7134-8464-0
- Chandler, Murray 2004. Chess for children. London:Gambit. ISBN: 978-1904600060
- King, Daniel 2000. Chess: from first moves to checkmate. London:Kingfisher. Illustrated, 64 pages. ISBN: 0-7534-0447-8
- Pritchard, David Brine 2008. The right way to play chess. 8th ed, Right Way. ISBN: 978-0716021995
- Wolff, Patrick 2005. The complete idiot’s guide to chess. 3rd ed, New York:Alpha. ISBN: 0-02-861736-3
Images for kids
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A robot playing chess.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Aperturas de ajedrez para niños
