All chess openings

Chess openings that open files

Lines that trade centre pawns early and hand the rooks somewhere to go. Play revolves around who occupies the open file first, and what the pieces can do once the position is no longer blocked by pawns.

10 openings

• Smith-Morra Gambit (B21) — Give up a pawn to get every piece out and both open files for free
• Vienna Gambit (C29) — A King's Gambit with the knight already developed and the king safer
• Scotch Game — Classical (C45) — Open play and piece activity from move three
• Scotch Gambit (C44) — Sacrifice a pawn for rapid development and open lines
• 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
• 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
• Benko Gambit (A59) — One pawn for two open files and pressure that never, ever stops
• Catalan Opening (E00) — Long-term bishop pressure down the g2 diagonal