Theoria

The best chess openings for beginners

A good first repertoire does three things: it develops the pieces quickly, fights for the center, and leads to positions whose plans are easy to understand. Every opening below does all three. None of them needs long memorized lines to stay safe, and each leads to structures you will meet again and again as you improve.

Pick one opening for White, one answer to 1. e4 and one answer to 1. d4. That covers most of the games you will play. The statistics come from Lichess games at every level, so they show how each opening works out in practice, not only among masters.

For White

  1. Italian Game

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

    The bishop goes to c4, aimed at f7, and White is ready to castle on move four. Its plans, c3 and d4 or a slower buildup with d3, are the classical lessons of open games.

    2.0M games · White scores 52%50%46%

  2. London System

    1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4

    White sets up the same way against almost anything: d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, Bd3 and c3. Fewer lines to learn than any other start, and a solid position every game.

    185k games · White scores 53%51%45%

  3. Queen's Gambit

    1. d4 d5 2. c4

    2. c4 offers a pawn that Black usually can’t keep, to draw Black’s d-pawn away from the center. It teaches central control and piece play, and it stays a top choice at every level.

    1.8M games · White scores 54%52%43%

  4. Scotch Game

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4

    3. d4 opens the center at once. The lines are short and direct, and White gets free development without much theory to learn.

    922k games · White scores 55%53%43%

For Black against 1. e4

  1. Caro-Kann Defense

    1. e4 c6

    1...c6 prepares ...d5 with a solid pawn chain behind it. The light-squared bishop usually gets out before ...e6, so Black avoids the French Defense’s main problem.

    2.5M games · Black scores 50%48%48%

  2. 1...e5 and 2...Nc6

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6

    Black matches White’s center pawn with one of its own and develops just as quickly. The resulting open games are the most instructive positions in chess.

    4.4M games · Black scores 47%51%45%

  3. Scandinavian Defense

    1. e4 d5

    1...d5 challenges e4 on the first move. After 2. exd5 Qxd5 the plans are simple, and White can’t steer the game into a long theoretical line.

    3.3M games · Black scores 49%49%48%

For Black against 1. d4

  1. Queen's Gambit Declined

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6

    2...e6 holds d5 with a pawn rather than a piece. Black’s position is solid, and the freeing breaks ...c5 and ...e5 give it a clear plan.

    657k games · Black scores 46%51%44%

  2. Slav Defense

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6

    2...c6 defends d5 while keeping the c8-bishop’s diagonal open. A sturdy setup that leaves White few targets.

    502k games · Black scores 47%51%44%

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