All chess openings

Advanced chess openings

Sharp, theory-heavy openings where the positions get complicated early and knowing the plan behind each move matters more than the move order itself. These are the lines played at the top, and they reward preparation.

12 openings

• Sicilian Defence — Najdorf (B90) — Sharp and asymmetric — Black fights for the full point
• Sicilian Defence — Dragon (B70) — Opposite-side castling, all-out attacks on both wings
• Sicilian Defence — Sveshnikov (B33) — A permanent hole on d5 traded for two bishops and raw activity
• Ruy López — Marshall Attack (C89) — Black sacrifices a pawn in the Spanish and attacks for the next thirty moves
• Ruy López — Open Variation (C80) — Grab the e4-pawn and take the Spanish somewhere White can't grind you
• King's Gambit Accepted (C39) — The romantic era in one move — a pawn for the centre, the f-file and a fight
• French Defence — Winawer (C18) — Trade a bishop for doubled pawns, then let White eat the kingside
• Semi-Slav — Botvinnik Variation (D44) — Both sides give up material in the opening and neither king ever feels safe
• King's Indian Defence (E60) — Allow White the centre then attack it with pieces and pawns
• Grünfeld Defence (D85) — Invite White to build a huge centre — then spend the game demolishing it
• Modern Benoni (A70) — A ruined structure and a queenside majority — Tal's favourite kind of chess
• Dutch Defence — Leningrad (A87) — Fianchetto the bishop, build a powerful kingside presence