This is a list of chess openings, organised by the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) code classification system. The chess openings are categorised into five broad areas ("A" through "E"), with each of those broken up into one hundred subcategories ("00" through "99"). The openings were published in five volumes of ECO, with volumes labeled "A" through "E".

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2013)


  • Polish Opening, Birmingham Gambit: 1...c5
  • Polish Opening, Outflank Variation: 1...c6
  • Polish Opening, Schuhler Gambit: 1...c6 2.Bb2 a5 3.b5 cxb5 4.e4
  • Polish Opening, Myers Variation: 1...d5 2.Bb2 c6 3.a4
  • Polish Opening, Bugayev Attack: 1...e5 2.a3
  • Polish Opening, Wolferts Gambit: 1...e5 2.Bb2 c5
  • Polish Opening, Dutch Defence: 1...f5
  • Barnes Opening, Hammerschlag Variation: 1...e5 2.Kf2
  • Myers Defence 1...g5[1]
  • Koola-Koola Variation: 1...a5
  • Myers Variation: 1...d5 2.d4 c5 3.e4
  • Kádas Gambit: 1...c5 2.b4
  • Kádas Gambit with 3.c3: 1...e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3
  • Steinbok Gambit: 1...f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.d3
  • Schneider Gambit: 1...g5
  • Modern Variation: 1...e5
  • Classical Variation: 1...d5
  • Indian Variation: 1...Nf6
  • Symmetrical Variation: 1...b6
  • English Variation: 1...c5
  • Polish Variation: 1...b5
  • Dutch Variation: 1...f5
  • From's Gambit: 1...e5 (without: 2.e4)
  • Symmetrical Variation: 1...f5
  • Mujannah-Sturm Gambit: 2.c4
  • Lasker Variation: 2.e3
  • Williams Gambit: 2.e4
  • Santassiere's Folly: 2.b4
  • Nimzowitsch–Larsen Attack: 2.b3
  • Keres Variation: 2...Bg4
  • Yugoslav Variation: 2...c6
  • Advance Variation: 2...d4
  • Advance Variation, Michel Gambit: 2...d4 b4 3. f6
  • Accepted: 2...dxc4
  • Accepted, Keres Variation: 2...dxc4 3.e3 Be6

A10–A39

1.c4: English Opening

  • English Anglo-Dutch: 1...f5
  • English Vector: 1...d5
  • English, Jaenisch Gambit: 1...b5
  • English Bogoljubov Variation: 3...Bg4
  • English London Defence: 3...Nf6 4.g3 Bf5
  • Anglo-Grünfeld: 2...d5
  • Botvinnik System: 6.e4
  • Geller Variation: 6.g3 Qb6
  • Four Knights: 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3

A40–A44

1.d4 without 1...d5, 1...Nf6 or 1...f5: Atypical replies to 1.d4

A45–A49

1.d4 Nf6 without 2.c4: Atypical replies to 1...Nf6

A50–A79

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 without 2...e6 or 2...g6: Atypical Indian systems

A80–A99

1.d4 f5: Dutch Defence

B – Semi-Open Games other than the French Defence

B00–B19

1.e4 without 1...c5, 1...e6 or 1...e5

B20–B99

1.e4 c5: Sicilian Defence

C – Open Games and the French Defence

C00–C19

1.e4 e6: French Defence

C20–C99

1.e4 e5: Open Game

D – Closed Games and Semi-Closed Games

D00–D69

1.d4 d5: Closed Game

D70–D99

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 with 3...d5: Grünfeld Defence

E – Indian Defences

E00–E59

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6: Indian systems with ...e6

E60–E99

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 without 3...d5: Indian systems with ...g6 (except Grünfeld)

Statistics

Moves 1800–1900 1901–1935 1935–1998
1. e4 e5 63% 31% 15%
1. e4 other 23% 20% 35%
1. d4 d5 10% 28% 15%
1. d4 other 3% 16% 23%
1. other 5% 12%

These statistics show a movement away from symmetrical defences to asymmetrical defences. In particular, in reply to 1.e4, the Sicilian and French defences, and to 1.d4 the Indian defences. Also, particularly amongst strong players, an increased use of the English Opening for White.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "King's Fianchetto Opening: Myers Defense - Chess Openings".
  2. ^ Watson, John (1998), Secrets of modern chess strategy (Part 2: New ideas and the modern revolution), London: Gambit, p. 93