Typically, there are four widely accepted (and most common) opening moves for white. They are e4, d4, c4, and Nf3. We will consider each below, as well as some possible alternatives to these moves. In general, the goals of the opening are to attack and/or occupy the center, develop the pieces (especially the knights and bishops) and increase mobility of the pieces, prepare defenses for your king (often through castling), and preparing your attack on your opponent.
King's Pawn Opening (1. e4)
In the King's Pawn Opening, white plays aggressively - opening lines for the queen and king's-side bishop, attacks and occupies the center, and prepares for d4 later on to develop a classical center.
Black has several responses to e4 which are in approximate order of popularity c5, e5, e6, c6, d6, d5, g6, Nf6, or Nc6. The first, c5, leads to the popular Sicilian Defense. Through this opening, white and black both play aggressively in an attack-counterattack style. A typical second move might be 2. Nf3 Nc6.
The second, e5, leads to several popular variations, most notably the Ruy Lopez (or Spanish) Opening - 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. The Ruy Lopez if often countered with the Morphy Defense 3... a6. Other variations of 1. e4 e5 typically include King's Gambit, Vienna Game, Bishops Opening, and Center Game.
The move e6 leads to the French Defense which prepares for the later d5.
Queen's Pawn Opening (1. d4)
Typical responses to 1. d4 are 1... d5 and Nf6. Also, the Dutch Defense 1... f5 is frequently used. Generally, the Queen's Pawn Opening invites a more closed game (as compared to the King's Pawn Opening's more open, tactical games). Also, d4 tends to be used less frequently, especially be amateur players. Finally, there are generally less traps and pitfalls with d4 based opening when compared to e4 openings. Usually moves which appear natural have no serious ramifications.
English Opening (1. c4)
The English Opening is very versatile and easily transposes into other openings. For example, 1... e5 leads to a Reversed Sicilian position, and e6 usually leads to the Queen's Gambit Declined. Typical responses by black are 1... Nf6, e5, e6, c5, g6, c6, or f5. The move 1... c5 leads to the symmetrical variation, which is often considered quite difficult to play.
Nf3 Opening
This opening is also quite versatile, particularly allowing white to either transpose or not transpose into various variations. This can be a useful tactic for avoiding certain positions while inviting others. White keeps the tempo and his position while waiting for black to provide more information as to how the opening will go before committing to a line. Generally e5 lines are avoided (as the knight can take the pawn), so more typical are d5 lines and sometimes c5 lines. Frequent responses by black include Nf6, d5, c5, and g6.
Other Openings
Other openings for white are typically considered dubious and for some mistakes. The moves 1. a4, h4, Na3, Nh3 are generally considered mistakes. The moves 1. a3, b3, b4, c3, d3, E3, f4, g3, and Nc3 are generally considered playable, and occasionally used as tactics for white. Black responses to these moves are usually e5 or d5 depending on the specific circumstance.
Modern Chess Openings was created in 1911.
Michael Basman has written: 'Chess openings' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess 'The New st George (Cadogan Chess)' 'Batsford second chess course' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess 'Jovenes Jugadores De Ajedrez/Chess for Kids' 'Play the St. George' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess 'Chess for Kids (Superguides)'
In the Chess Openings website one can find information about everything to do with chess game openings. One can see related instructional videos there as well.
William Roland Hartston has written: 'Personality profiles of managers' -- subject(s): Middle managers, Personality assessment 'Karpov-Korchnoi 1974' -- subject(s): Tournaments, 1974, Chess 'Benoni (111P) (Batsford Algebraic Chess Openings)' 'How to cheat at chess' -- subject(s): Miscellanea, Chess 'The Benoni' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess 'The Penguin book of chess openings' -- subject(s): Chess, Openings, Collections of games
Vladimir Zagorovsky has written: 'Romantic chess openings' -- subject(s): Chess, Collections of games, Openings
The most common response to 1. nf3 in chess openings is 1...d5.
Bruce Pandolfini has written: 'Square one' -- subject(s): Chess problems, Chess for children, Chess 'Principles of the new chess' -- subject(s): Chess 'Weapons of chess' -- subject(s): Chess 'Beginning chess' -- subject(s): Chess problems, Chess 'Chess openings' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess, Openingen (schaken), Tactiek 'More chessercizes' -- subject(s): Chess problems 'Every Move Must Have a Purpose' 'The chess doctor' -- subject(s): Chess problems 'Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess' 'Q&A Way in Chess' 'Power mates' -- subject(s): Checkmate (Chess) 'Let's play chess!' -- subject(s): Chess, Juvenile literature 'Chessercizes' -- subject(s): Chess, Collections of games, Study and teaching 'The winning way' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess 'More chess openings' -- subject(s): Chess, Openings 'BEST OF CHESS LIFE AND REVIEW, VOLUME 1 (Fireside Chess Library)' 'Kasparov's winning chess tactics' -- subject(s): Chess, Collections of games, Tournaments
T. D. Harding has written: 'Sicilian: Lines With...E5' 'Evans Gambit And A System Versus Two Knights' Defense' 'Vienna opening' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess 'The Italian Game' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess 'The chess computer book' -- subject(s): Computer chess 'Openings for the club player' -- subject(s): Openings, Chess 'Better chess for average chess-players' -- subject(s): Chess 'Eminent Victorian chess players' -- subject(s): Chess players, Chess, Biography 'Correspondence chess in Britain and Ireland, 1824-1987' -- subject(s): Collections of games, Chess, Correspondence chess, History 'Sicilian Richter Rauzer'
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Some recommended e5 openings for black in chess include the Sicilian Defense, French Defense, and Caro-Kann Defense.
Some of the best openings for bullet chess include the Sicilian Defense, the King's Indian Defense, and the French Defense. These openings are known for their solid foundations and ability to create dynamic positions quickly.
For beginners, the best white openings to learn and master are the Italian Game, the Ruy Lopez, and the Queen's Gambit. These openings are solid, straightforward, and help develop good fundamentals in chess strategy.