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Chess openings

Pick an opening and play through it move by move, with a short reason for each move. Then drill it from memory. Two clean drills and it counts as learned.

 

Play as White

Italian Game

The classic first opening: quick development, a bishop aimed at f7 and an early castle.

12 moves

Ruy Lopez

Also called the Spanish. White puts pressure on the knight that defends e5 and plays for a long squeeze.

16 moves

Scotch Game

White opens the centre right away with d4. Direct and easy to learn.

16 moves

Queen's Gambit

White offers a side pawn to win control of the centre. A favourite of world champions.

14 moves

London System

One setup against almost anything: pawns on d4, e3 and c3 with the bishop out on f4.

15 moves

English Opening

White starts on the side with c4 and controls the centre from a distance.

14 moves

Play as Black

Sicilian Defence

The most popular reply to e4. Black fights for the centre from the side and plays for a win.

14 moves

French Defence

A solid wall of pawns on e6 and d5. Black lets White grab space, then hits the pawn chain.

16 moves

Caro-Kann Defence

Black supports d5 with c6 and gets the light-squared bishop out early. Safe and sound.

16 moves

Scandinavian Defence

Black hits e4 on move one. Simple to learn, with clear plans for both sides.

12 moves

King's Indian Defence

Black lets White take the centre, castles fast, then strikes back. Sharp and full of attacking chances.

16 moves

Slav Defence

Against the Queen's Gambit, Black holds d5 with c6 and keeps the light-squared bishop free.

16 moves
More info

How it works

  • Learn: the board shows which piece to move and where, with a note on why. The other side answers by itself.
  • Drill: the same line with no help. A wrong move doesn’t count against the board: try again, and after two misses the move is shown.
  • Learned: finish a drill twice with no mistakes. Drill a random one from the list to keep them fresh.

Which opening should I learn first?

With White, the Italian Game or the London System: both have simple plans. With Black, learn one answer to 1.e4 (the Caro-Kann or the Scandinavian are the easiest) and one to 1.d4 (the Slav). Play them in real games at Chess to see where they lead.

Questions

Do I need to memorize every move? No. The notes explain the ideas: control the centre, develop the knights and bishops, castle. If you know why a move is played, you’ll find it again when your opponent goes off the line.

Where is my progress saved? In this browser, like the rest of the site. Nothing to sign up for.