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The 5 Most Played Openings by Grandmasters with Black and White Pieces
The opening phase of a chess game determines the character and flavor of the game. And at the Grandmaster level, there are so many openings that it can feel overwhelming…
3 Popular Traps in the Scotch
While the Scotch is sound enough to appear at the top level, it hides some nasty traps that can punish unprepared opponents, especially in rapid and blitz games. Most of…
3 Popular Traps in the French Defense
There are various traps you can play against the French Defense. This Defense has long been a headache for players using 1.e4 openings. It has a reputation for being solid,…
3 Popular Traps in the Ruy Lopez Opening
There is a popular saying in the chess world- E4 is best by test. This is one I will agree with, considering how rich the E4 opening is. Of all…
The 5 Most Effective Ways to Play Against The Sicilian Defense
The Sicilian Defense has been called the most combative opening against 1.e4 openings. It is sharp, flexible, and designed to take the game to White right from the start. The…
Top 5 Most Effective Chess Traps for Beginners and Intermediates
There's something very satisfying about springing a well-laid chess trap. That moment when your opponent's confident smile fades as they realize their "obvious" move just lost them the game. But…
How To Play the Giuoco Piano For White And Black
The Giuoco Piano is one of the most popular openings in the chess world. It is derived from the Italian Game and is a favorite of most grandmasters and very…
How To Play the Benko Opening For White And Black
The Benko Opening (also known as the Hungarian Opening) is a unique opening that begins with 1. g3. It is called the Benko opening in honor of the famous Hungarian…
How To Play the Danish Gambit For White And Black
The Danish Gambit is an aggressive opening for White that stems from the King's pawn opening (1. e4). This opening is an excellent option for players who love fast-paced adrenaline-fueled…
How To Play The Bird’s Opening For White And Black
The Bird's Opening is a unique opening that starts with the development of a flank pawn (1. f4). That's why it's called a flank opening. White's idea is to control…
How To Play The Larsen’s Opening For White And Black
The Larsen's opening is an unorthodox or flank opening that starts with 1. b3. b3 is an unconventional opening that does not immediately attack the center, rather, White focuses on…
How To Play The Queen’s Indian Defense For White And Black
The Queen's Indian Defense is an opening choice for Black players who want a solid and stable opening against the queen's pawn opening (1. d4). The Queen’s Indian centers around…
How To Play The Evans Gambit For White And Black
The Evans Gambit is a very sharp attacking line that stems from the Italian Game. The opening starts with the sacrifice of a wing pawn by White. This pawn sacrifice…
How To Play The Philidor Defense For White and Black
The Philidor Defense is a calm way for Black to approach the King's pawn opening by White. The main idea behind this opening is to protect the e5 pawn by…
What Is The Best Response To 1. d4 For Black?
So you're playing a game of chess and your opponent opens with 1. d4, looking to control the center of the board. Now what? As a chess player, the move…
What Is The Best Response To 1. e4 For Black?
Some of the most common replies to e4 are the Sicilian Defense, the French Defense, the Caro-Kann Defense, the Pirc Defense, the Alekhine defense and the Scandinavian Defense. We also…
How to Play the Catalan Opening: Ideas And Variations
The Catalan Opening is a very flexible opening that White can employ to gain a solid position before moving into the middlegame. The Catalan Opening was created by Grandmaster Savielly…
Crush Your Opponents With The King’s Indian Attack: A Dynamic Opening Approach
The King's Indian Attack (KIA) is a chess opening known for its flexibility and adaptability. It arises after the moves 1.Nf3 and 2.g3 by white. This opening allows White to…
How To Play the Scotch Game For White And Black
The Scotch Game is an opening move for White that looks to attack the center and create an opening attacking game. The opening got its name from a correspondence match…
How to Play The Popular Sicilian Defense: A Comprehensive Guide for Chess Players
The Sicilian Defense is one of the oldest and most popular openings in chess. Dating as far back as the late 16th century, this opening has been played and analyzed…
How To Play The Nimzo-Indian Defense For White And Black
The Nimzo-Indian Defense is one of the best defenses to the queen’s pawn opening (1. d4). The opening is a hypermodern style of opening as Black starts by developing their…
How To Play The Caro-Kann Defense For White And Black
The Caro-Kann Defense is a solid and careful opening Black can use to combat the king's pawn opening (1. e4). Its origins can be traced back to the early 1880s…
The Complete English Opening Repertoire for White and Black
The English opening is a unique type of opening where White seeks to control the center without using the e or d-pawns. In the English, the c-pawn, which is a…
The King’s Gambit: A Sharp Opening for Sharp Minds
You're an ambitious chess player looking to surprise your opponent and gain an early advantage. You want to play sharp, tactical chess and attack from the very first move. Then…
