King’s Gambit

If you like adventures, King’s Gambit is the Opening you need to play as White. In this variation, the first player is sacrificing a pawn in move number two. Usually, the middlegame will be sharp and dynamic. If you are an aggressive player who enjoys open positions, then you are on the right site.

This opening is rarely played among top masters nowadays. However, it is a very interesting option for beginners and club players.

Some theory and ideas in King’s Gambit                                   

We have King’s Gambit after the moves

1.e4 e5 2.f4!

The idea of this move … Read more

Catalan Opening

Today we are going to study a very famous and strong variation for White: Catalan Opening. The Best Masters in the World still play it very often, so, definitely, it is a pretty good opening, and at the same time it is an easy and interesting option for players wanting to improve. We are going to analyze and understand some theory, general plans and typical development squares for white pieces.

Great Masters who played Catalan Opening

Great Chess legends like Garry Kasparov, Viktor Korchnoi, Vladimir Kramnik, and Viswanathan Anand played Catalan Opening in their Chess Careers, … Read more

Dutch Defense

Hi, everyone. If you are looking for a new and strong defense against Queen’s Pawn, then you are on the right site. In this post, we are going to study Dutch Defense, an interesting and sometimes dynamic variation.

1.d4 f5

The idea with this move (1. … f5) is to control the center with a pawn. The drawback, compared to other first moves for Black like 1. … Nf6 or 1. … d5 is that it is not developing any piece. However, Black is taking some really interesting space in the Kingside, which could be important in … Read more

Slav Defense

Are you having trouble playing against Queen’s Gambit? In this post, we will study a strong and popular variation against it: Slav Defense. This is a fantastic line, they play it in the Elite, but at the same time, it is a good option for beginners and club players.

We have Slav on the board after the moves:

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6

Some theory and ideas in Slav Defense                 

When White plays 2.c4 Black has two main options: to accept the Gambit with dxc4 (Queen’s Gambit Accepted) or decline the Gambit by protecting the pawn on d5. … Read more

Alapin Variation

Alapin Variation is considered one of the best and most solid systems White can play against Black’s first move 1. … c5. King’s Pawn players, face Sicilian Defense very often, and when White chooses the mainline, Open Sicilian with 2.Nf3 and 3.d4 later, Black has a set of sharp and strong lines, like Najdorf, Scheveningen, Pelikan, Kan, Dragon…

1.e4 c5 2.c3

But when White plays 2. c3, all those options are off the table for Black. The game is going to be slower and quieter, which in general is annoying for Sicilian players. Not so much theory is … Read more

Italian Game

Italian Game is a strong, interesting, and easy to play and learn Opening for White. That is why it is very often recommended for beginners. At the same time, great masters play it very frequently in the Elite. In this post, we will analyze some theory, main plans, pawn structures, and typical squares for pieces.

1.e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4

This is the basic position, White’s light squares Bishop is developed to c4, which is a very active square, targeting f7.

Some theory and ideas         

At this point, Black has two main options:

• 3. … Nf6 Two

The Top 10 Defensive Chess Openings for Black and White

Do you like to play quiet and solid positions? Do you prefer to avoid risky and open middlegames? In this article, we analyze The Top 10 Defensive Chess Openings for Black and White.

English

ECO A10-A39 (ECO is the Code for this line in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings)

1.c4

This is a very solid and interesting system. The first player will improve the position step by step. There are some different ways to play English, but in general, the positions will be slow and with interesting maneuvers.… Read more

Queen’s Gambit

Have you ever heard or read about Queen’s Gambit? You think it is an interesting opening but you do not understand it very well and you are not sure how or where to start? Well, if that is your situation, then you are on the right site because in this post we are going to learn and understand from the very beginning how to play this strong variation.

1.d4 d5 2.c4

The idea with the second move c4 is to attack Black’s central pawn, and trade it for a Bishop pawn, which should be very convenient for … Read more

Nimzo-Indian Defense

Are you having some trouble when facing Queen’s Pawn? Would you like to learn and play some interesting and annoying variation against it? In this post, we are going to analyze a very strong system: Nimzo-Indian Defense (named after the great Aaron Nimzowitsch).

This is one of the best lines Black can play against Queen’s Pawn, the second player is getting a balanced game in almost the lines, and it is really hard for White to get anything from the opening in these variations. It is strongly recommended for all levels, from beginners to masters, and it … Read more

Caro-Kann Defense

Hi everyone. In this post, we are going to analyze and learn how to play the famous and strong Caro-Kann Defense. According to my database, this variation is the fourth most common move Black can reply against King’s Pawn (only Double King’s Pawn, Sicilian and French are more frequently played).

1.e4 c6

It is important to understand the first move Black plays 1. … c6. Ok, they want to fight for the center and play d5, that is clear, but you might be wondering why with c6? That move is not developing (unlike 1. … e6, which clears … Read more