A Few Chess Openings for Beginners
By Vishaal
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Friday, December 03, 2010
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The following is instruction for some and refresher for others, read on…..
In chess the word "opening" has two common meanings: the first stage of a chess game and also the first sequence of moves.
A good opening will provide better protection of the King, control over an area of the board (particularly the center), greater mobility for pieces, and possibly opportunities to capture opposing pawns and pieces. Some are direct, while others are more subtle and indirect approaches toward these goals.
Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings (as initiated by White) or defenses (as created in reply by Black). A sequence of opening moves that is considered standard (often cataloged in a reference work such as the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings) is referred to as "the book moves", or simply "book". When a game begins to deviate from known opening theory, the players are said to be "out of book".
The Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO) is a classification system for the opening moves in a game of chess. Instead of the traditional names for the openings, ECO is a unique coding system. There are five main categories, "A" to "E", each of which is divided into one hundred sub-categories.
Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO) code index.
How to Learn Chess Openings
1. Find and use (there are a number online and book and DVD) resources that can help you learn and provide you a good sense of how to play the openings and the types of positions to which they lead. i.e. Google the opening name
2. Read to understand and learn the ‘plan’ (strengths and weaknesses) of the opening. Many openings focus on the defense of a single piece or positional advantage.
3. Memorize the different move orders (and variations) of the opening. The easiest way to do this is to set up a board and play through the moves for both sides by yourself.
4. Practice the usage of the opening against opponents and note when it works well and when it doesn't. After you've played a game, look it over (analyze) and see which of your mistakes you could have avoided with a better opening play.
Opening Nomenclature
The oldest openings tend to be named for geographic places and people. Chess players' names are the most common sources of opening names. The name given to an opening often is named for the player who was the first to popularize it or to publish analysis of it.
Game: Used only for some of the oldest openings, for example Scotch Game, Vienna Game, and Four Knights Game.
Opening: Along with Variation, this is the most common term.
Variation: Usually used to describe a line within a more general opening, for example the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined.
Defense: Always refers to an opening chosen by Black, such as Two Knights Defense or King's Indian Defense, unless, of course, it has 'reversed' in front of it, which makes it an opening for white. The term "defense" does not imply passivity; many defenses are quite aggressive (such as the Nimzo-Indian Defense).
Gambit: An opening that involves the sacrifice of material, usually one or more pawns. Gambits can be played by White or Black. The full name often includes Accepted or Declined depending on whether the opponent took the offered material, as in the Queen's Gambit Accepted and Queen's Gambit Declined.
Opening types - Categories
Open Game (aka Double King Pawn game): White moves 1. e4 e5
Semi-Open Game (aka Single King Pawn games): White plays 1.e4 and Black breaks symmetry immediately by replying with a move other than 1...e5.
Closed Game: Game begins 1.d4 d5.
Semi-Closed Game (or Semi-Closed Opening): White plays 1.d4 but Black does not make the symmetrical reply 1...d5.
Flank Opening: White attacks the center from the flanks with pieces rather than occupying it with pawns.
Closed openings may stifle players who are learning the game, therefore I advocate a focus on playing open positions and gambits with both colors to improve. Learn to improve tactics and attacking play. (and learn to appreciate games where it takes longer for the fireworks to begin).
List of common chess openings
Scotch Game - violent attack on the centre, using rapid and aggressive development principles.
Type: Kings Pawn OPEN
ECO: C45
1.e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6
Giuoco Piano (aka. The Italian Opening) - White takes aim at Blacks weak f7 Pawn.
Type: Kings Pawn OPEN
ECO: C50-C54
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
Ruy Lopez (aka the Spanish Game) - White threatens to trade the bishop against the knight, leaving the pawn undefended.
Type: Kings Pawn OPEN
ECO: C60-C99
1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Pirc Defense - Black does not immediately fight for the center, but prepares counter-play while White advances his pawns.
Type: Kings Pawn SEMI-OPEN
ECO: B07-B09
1.e4 d6
Caro-Kann Defense - Black gives up the centre in exchange for easier development.
Type: Kings Pawn SEMI-OPEN
ECO: B10-B19
1.e4 c6
Sicilian Defense - a counter-attacking opening in which players typically attack on opposite sides of the board.
Type: Kings Pawn SEMI-OPEN
ECO: B20-B99
1.e4 c5
French Defense - White usually attacks king-side, while Black tries to get a chance at the queen-side.
Type: Kings Pawn SEMI-OPEN
ECO: C00-C19
1.e4 e6
Queen's Gambit - White immediately responds to Black's attempt to gain a foothold in the center by striking out with his c-pawn.
Type: Queens Pawn CLOSE
ECO: D06-D69
1.d4 d5 2. c4
Indian Defenses - In an Indian defense to a Queen's Pawn opening, Black replies with the idea of contesting the centre by more indirect means than straightforward pawn play.
Type: Queens Pawn SEMI-CLOSE
ECO: E00-E59
King's Indian Defense - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4
Nimzo-Indian Defense - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3
Queen's Indian Defense - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3
Grünfeld Defense - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3
English Opening - Black prepares to develop the Queenside Bishop
Type: Queens Pawn FLANK
ECO: A10-A39
1.c4
Réti Opening - White opens with an immediate gambit, advancing his Queen's Bishop's Pawn to threaten Black's Queen Pawn.
Type: Queens Pawn FLANK
ECO: A04-A09 
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4
Note, Modern Chess Openings
(MCO 15th edition) is considered the world's most current and comprehensive one-volume reference work on the chess openings.
(MCO 15th edition) is considered the world's most current and comprehensive one-volume reference work on the chess openings. Category: Chess Tips , Openings in Chess
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