Openings Tutorial



1.
[{F:W}{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR WHITE}Throughout Chess history, players have been studying the various ways to start Chess games. There are hundreds of possibilities, and variations on those possibilities, each affecting the outcome of the game. Experienced players eventually develop favorite moves, and many of these Openings, or Opening Books, have names. In this tutorial we'll introduce you to several of the most popular Openings. But you can also go to Chessmaster's Library and study other variations. You'll find over 2,000 Opening Books referenced there.{W:OBL_001}]

2.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR WHITE}When you use Chessmaster, if you look in the lower left corner of your screen, you'll find the name of the Opening you're currently using. This opening, you'll notice, is called the Sicilian Defense. It's characterized by White playing on the {K:Sicilian Defense}{D:4400}{D:10500}{N:e4}e-file and Black playing on the {D:1800}{N:c5}{D:2000}{C}{D:18000}{K}c-file, so pieces are not exchanged as quickly as they would be if the Pawns were played on adjacent files. This is one of the oldest and most popular Opening systems, and there are a number of continuing variations on it. Many players, including Bobby Fischer, have played it.{W:OBL_002}]

3.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR WHITE}{D:7800}{K:French Defense}In contrast to the Sicilian is the French Defense. The Opening moves in the French are: {S:e2e4}e4; and {D:1600}{S:e7e6}e6. The lack of open files in this position will result in fewer pieces being taken early in the game. This means it's considered to be a closed position. One of the disadvantages of this Opening for Black is that the {D:16400}{N:c8}{A:Bc8f5}{D:3000}{R}{C}light-squared Bishop will have a hard time getting developed.{W:OBL_003}]

4.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR WHITE}{K:Ruy Lopez}Another of the most popular Openings is called the Ruy Lopez, or Spanish. The moves of the Ruy Lopez Opening are: {D:8600}{S:e2e4}e4; {D:1800}{S:e7e5}e5; {D:1200}{S:g1f3}{D:1600}{A:Wf3e5}{D:1800}{R}Nf3, attacking the Pawn; {S:b8c6}{D:1500}{A:Bc6e5}Nc6, defending the Pawn; and {D:1800}{R}{S:f1b5}{D:1000}{A:Wb5c6}{D:2000}{R}Bb5, attacking the defender. Memorize the look of the board in this position and you'll always be able to recognize the Ruy Lopez Opening.{W:OBL_004}]

5.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR WHITE}{K:King's Indian}The next Opening we'll look at is called the King's Indian. The moves of the King's Indian Opening are: {D:7600}{S:d2d4}d4; {D:1500}{S:g8f6}Nf6; {D:1600}{S:c2c4}c4; {D:1600}{S:g7g6}g6; {D:1600}{S:b1c3}Nc3; and {D:1900}{S:f8g7}Bg7. There are other variations of Indian Defenses as well. They are usually characterized by the development of the {D:9100}{A:Bf8g7}{D:2000}{R}Bishop toward the side. When a Bishop is placed on {D:2500}{N:b2g2}b2 or g2 for White, or {D:3250}{N:b7g7}b7 or g7 for Black it's called a fianchetto. {D:2000}{C}{D:8500}Getting your Bishop to one of these squares means it's poised to take advantage of the{A:Bg7a1}{D:2000}{R}{C} long diagonal.
{W:OBL_005}]

6.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR WHITE}{K:Queen's Gambit}The last opening we'll look at is called the Queen's Gambit. A gambit is an Opening in which you plan to lose material in exchange for fast development of your pieces or control of the center. The moves of the Queen's Gambit Accepted are: {D:16700}{K:Queen's Gambit Accepted }{S:d2d4}d4; {D:1400}{S:d7d5}d5; {D:1400}{S:c2c4}c4; and, since Black will have a difficult time holding onto his d5 Pawn, he plays {D:7800}{S:d5c4}dxc4. {D:5500}{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR WHITE}{K:Queen's Gambit Declined}In another version of the Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Gambit Declined, the moves are: {D:3500}{S:d2d4}d4; {D:1400}{S:d7d5}d5; {D:1300}{S:c2c4}c4; and in this version, Black opts to support his Pawn rather than sacrifice it, so he plays {D:7600}{S:e7e6}e6.{K: }{K}{W:OBL_006}]

7.
[{B:r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/1B2p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R}
{Q:From which opening book is this board setup?{W:OPN_001};
Queen's Gambit Accepted;This board setup is not from that opening book.{W:OPN_004};
Sicilian Defense;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
Ruy Lopez;Correct.{W:cor};
French Defense;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};3}]

8.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/4p3/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{Q:Which opening book results in this board setup?{W:OPN_002};
King's Indian;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
French Defense;That's right.{W:tr};
Queen's Gambit Declined;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
Sicilian Defense;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};2}]

9.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR}
{Q:Which opening book results in this board setup?{W:OPN_002};
King's Indian;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
Sicilian;This board setup is not from that opening book.{W:OPN_004};
Queen's Gambit Accepted;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
Queen's Gambit Declined;Correct.{W:cor};4}]

10.
[{B:rnbqk2r/ppppppbp/5np1/8/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R1BQKBNR}
{Q:Which opening book results in this board setup?{W:OPN_002};
Sicilian;This board setup is not from that opening book.{W:OPN_004};
King's Indian;You got it right.{W:ygir};
Queen's Gambit Accepted;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
Ruy Lopez;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};2}]

11.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/16/2pP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR}
{Q:From which opening book is this board setup?{W:OPN_001};
Queen's Gambit Declined;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
Queen's Gambit Accepted;Correct.{W:cor};
Sicilian;This board setup is not from that opening book.{W:OPN_004};
French Defense;This board setup is not from that opening book.{W:OPN_004};2}]

12.
[{B:rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR}
{Q:From which opening book is this board setup?{W:OPN_001};
Sicilian;That's correct.{W:tc};
King's Indian;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
Queen's Gambit Declined;That is not the correct opening book.{W:OPN_003};
French Defense;This board setup is not from that opening book.{W:OPN_004};1}]