Queen's Gambit openings
1.d4 d5 2.c4 — not a true gambit, since the pawn can always be regained. White challenges the centre from the side and plays for lasting space and the minority attack. The Declined, Accepted, Slav and Semi-Slav split on one question: whether Black defends d5, gives it up for activity, or props it up with a pawn.
4 openings
- Queen's Gambit Declined (D30) — Classical and solid — control the centre with pieces
- Queen's Gambit Accepted (D20) — Accept the pawn and fight for equality with active play
- Slav Defence (D19) — Defend d5 with the c-pawn and the problem bishop walks free
- Semi-Slav — Botvinnik Variation (D44) — Both sides give up material in the opening and neither king ever feels safe
All families
- Sicilian Defence openings — 7 openings
- Ruy López openings — 5 openings
- Italian Game and other open games — 6 openings
- Scotch Game openings — 4 openings
- Romantic gambit openings — 4 openings
- French Defence openings — 4 openings
- Caro-Kann Defence openings — 4 openings
- Queen's Gambit openings — 4 openings
- Indian Defence openings — 7 openings
- Dutch Defence openings — 3 openings
- Offbeat defences for Black — 4 openings
- System openings for White — 4 openings
- Chess opening traps — 11 openings
Browse by difficulty
- Chess openings for beginners — 25 openings
- Chess openings for intermediate players — 30 openings
- Advanced chess openings — 12 openings