Ponderchess / Explore the game
Openings
3,865 named lines in 150 families, from the open Lichess opening catalogue. Step through any line, see what players choose next, and discover the ideas behind the moves.
Popular openings
e4 c5
Sicilian Defense
Black answers the king's pawn asymmetrically, fighting for d4 from the side and steering toward unbalanced positions where both sides play for a win.
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6
Ruy Lopez
White attacks the knight that defends e5, building long-term pressure rather than threatening anything immediately.
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6
Italian Game
The bishop aims straight at f7, the weakest point in Black's camp, and the game can be quiet or wild depending on Black's reply.
e4 e6
French Defense
Black challenges the centre at once from a solid base, accepting a cramped light-squared bishop in return for a resilient pawn structure.
e4 c6
Caro-Kann Defense
Like the French, Black challenges e4 immediately, but supports d5 with the c-pawn so the light-squared bishop can come out before ...e6.
d4 d5 c4 e6
Queen's Gambit Declined
Black declines the offered pawn and keeps a solid pawn on d5.
d4 Nf6 c4 g6
King's Indian Defense
Black lets White build a big centre, then strikes at it with ...e5 or ...c5 while the bishop on g7 waits on the long diagonal.
d4 Nf6 Nf3 g6
London System
A setup White can play against almost anything, popular from club level to the elite.
Famous variations
- Najdorf Variation · Sicilian Defense
- Dragon Variation · Sicilian Defense
- Accelerated Dragon · Sicilian Defense
- Sveshnikov Variation · Sicilian Defense
- Taimanov Variation · Sicilian Defense
- Scheveningen Variation · Sicilian Defense
- Alapin Variation · Sicilian Defense
- Smith-Morra Gambit · Sicilian Defense
- Rossolimo Variation · Sicilian Defense
- Berlin Defense · Ruy Lopez
- Marshall Attack · Ruy Lopez
- Exchange Variation · Ruy Lopez
- Open Variation · Ruy Lopez
- Evans Gambit · Italian Game
- Two Knights Defense · Italian Game
- Fried Liver Attack · Italian Game
- Traxler Counterattack · Italian Game
- Winawer Variation · French Defense
- Advance Variation · French Defense
- Tarrasch Variation · French Defense
- Advance Variation · Caro-Kann Defense
- Stafford Gambit · Petrov's Defense
- Scotch Gambit · Scotch Game
- Exchange Variation · Queen's Gambit Declined
- Orthodox Defense · Queen's Gambit Declined
- Ragozin Defense · Queen's Gambit Declined
- Tartakower Defense · Queen's Gambit Declined
- Exchange Variation · Slav Defense
- Meran Variation · Semi-Slav Defense
- Botvinnik Variation · Semi-Slav Defense
- Orthodox Variation · King's Indian Defense
- Sämisch Variation · King's Indian Defense
- Four Pawns Attack · King's Indian Defense
- Fianchetto Variation · King's Indian Defense
- Rubinstein System · Nimzo-Indian Defense
- Classical Variation · Nimzo-Indian Defense
- Sämisch Variation · Nimzo-Indian Defense
- Exchange Variation · Grünfeld Defense
- Russian Variation · Grünfeld Defense
- Open Defense · Catalan Opening
- Closed Variation · Catalan Opening
- Stonewall Variation · Dutch Defense
- Leningrad Variation · Dutch Defense
- Modern Variation · Benoni Defense
- Symmetrical Variation · English Opening
- Kasparov-Petrosian Variation · Queen's Indian Defense
All openings
150 families
- Sicilian DefenseGuidee4 c5B20–B99 · 400 lines
- Ruy LopezGuidee4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bb5C60–C99 · 235 lines
- French DefenseGuidee4 e6C00–C19 · 211 lines
- Queen's Gambit DeclinedGuided4 d5 c4 e6D02–D69 · 211 lines
- Italian GameGuidee4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4C50–C59 · 187 lines
- English OpeningGuidec4A10–C20 · 176 lines
- King's Gambit AcceptedGuidee4 e5 f4 exf4C33–C39 · 137 lines
- King's Indian DefenseGuided4 Nf6 c4 g6 Nc3E60–E99 · 119 lines
- Caro-Kann DefenseGuidee4 c6B10–B19 · 110 lines
- Nimzo-Indian DefenseGuided4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nc3 Bb4E20–E59 · 104 lines
- Queen's Pawn Gamed4A40–D05 · 82 lines
- Semi-Slav DefenseGuided4 d5 c4 e6 Nc3 c6D30–D49 · 72 lines
- Dutch DefenseGuided4 f5A80–A99 · 69 lines
- Benoni DefenseGuided4 c5A40–A79 · 66 lines
- Queen's Gambit AcceptedGuided4 d5 c4 dxc4D20–D29 · 63 lines
- Grünfeld DefenseGuided4 Nf6 c4 g6 Nc3 d5A56–E60 · 59 lines
- Queen's Indian DefenseGuided4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 b6E12–E19 · 58 lines
- Alekhine DefenseGuidee4 Nf6B02–B05 · 56 lines
- Indian Defensed4 Nf6A43–E60 · 53 lines
- King's Gambit DeclinedGuidee4 e5 f4 Bc5C30–C32 · 53 lines
- Scotch GameGuidee4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4C44–C45 · 53 lines
- Slav DefenseGuided4 d5 c4 c6D10–D19 · 52 lines
- Petrov's DefenseGuidee4 e5 Nf3 Nf6C42–C43 · 50 lines
- Four Knights GameGuidee4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Nc3 Nf6C47–C50 · 49 lines
- Zukertort OpeningGuideNf3A04–A41 · 47 lines
- Scandinavian DefenseGuidee4 d5B01 · 45 lines
- Philidor DefenseGuidee4 e5 Nf3 d6C41 · 44 lines
- Nimzowitsch DefenseGuidee4 Nc6B00 · 43 lines
- Réti OpeningGuideNf3 d5 c4A09–A14 · 43 lines
- Bishop's OpeningGuidee4 e5 Bc4C23–C43 · 41 lines
- Vienna GameGuidee4 e5 Nc3C25–C29 · 41 lines
- Modern DefenseGuidee4 g6A04–B27 · 39 lines
- King's Pawn Gamee4B00–C44 · 38 lines
- Pterodactyl Defensee4 g6 d4 Bg7 Nc3 c5A40–B27 · 33 lines
- Van Geet OpeningNc3A00–C31 · 33 lines
- Catalan OpeningGuided4 Nf6 c4 e6 g3E00–E09 · 32 lines
- Bird OpeningGuidef4A02–B21 · 28 lines
- Pirc DefenseGuidee4 d6B00–B09 · 28 lines
- Tarrasch DefenseGuided4 d5 c4 e6 Nc3 c5D32–D34 · 27 lines
- Neo-Grünfeld DefenseGuided4 Nf6 c4 g6 f3 d5D70–D79 · 25 lines
- Polish OpeningGuideb4A00–A05 · 25 lines
- Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Acceptedd4 d5 e4 dxe4 Nc3 Nf6D00 · 22 lines
- Bogo-Indian DefenseGuided4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 Bb4+E11 · 21 lines
- Grob OpeningGuideg4A00 · 20 lines
- Hungarian OpeningGuideg3A00–A07 · 20 lines
- King's Indian AttackGuideNf3 d5 g3A05–A08 · 20 lines
- Blackmar-Diemer GambitGuided4 d5 e4D00 · 18 lines
- Center GameGuidee4 e5 d4C20–C22 · 18 lines
- Nimzo-Larsen AttackGuideb3A01–A06 · 18 lines
- Latvian GambitGuidee4 e5 Nf3 f5C40–C44 · 17 lines
- Ponziani OpeningGuidee4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 c3C44 · 16 lines
- Vienna Gambit, with Max Lange Defensee4 e5 Nc3 Nc6 f4C25 · 15 lines
- Old Indian DefenseGuided4 d6 c4A41–A55 · 14 lines
- Queen's Indian Defense, with e3d4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 d5E14 · 14 lines
- Rat Defensee4 d6 f4A41–C00 · 11 lines
- Benko Gambit Acceptedd4 Nf6 c4 c5 d5 b5A57–A59 · 10 lines
- Trompowsky AttackGuided4 Nf6 Bg5A45 · 10 lines
- Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Declinedd4 d5 e4 dxe4 Nc3 Nf6D00 · 9 lines
- Englund GambitGuided4 e5A40 · 9 lines
- Kádas Openingh4A00 · 9 lines
- Latvian Gambit Acceptede4 e5 Nf3 f5 exf5C40 · 9 lines
- Benko GambitGuided4 Nf6 c4 c5 d5 b5A57–A59 · 8 lines
- Owen DefenseGuidee4 b6B00 · 8 lines
- Richter-Veresov Attackd4 Nf6 Nc3 d5 Bg5D01 · 8 lines
- English Defensed4 b6A40 · 7 lines
- Englund Gambit Declinedd4 e5 d5A40 · 7 lines
- Ware Openinga4A00 · 7 lines
- Barnes Openingf3A00–C20 · 6 lines
- Benko Gambit Declinedd4 Nf6 c4 c5 d5 b5A57 · 6 lines
- Danish Gambit Acceptede4 e5 d4 exd4 c3 dxc3C21 · 6 lines
- Lion Defensee4 d6 d4 Nf6 f3B00–B07 · 6 lines
- Rubinstein Openingd4 Nf6 Nf3 e6 e3 c5D05 · 6 lines
- Three Knights OpeningGuidee4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Nc3C46 · 6 lines
- Torre AttackGuided4 Nf6 Nf3 e6 Bg5A46–A48 · 6 lines
- Borg Defensee4 g5A40–B00 · 5 lines
- King's Indian Attack, with Bf5Nf3 Nf6 g3 d5 Bg2 c6A07 · 5 lines
- Van't Kruijs Openinge3A00 · 5 lines
- Elephant GambitGuidee4 e5 Nf3 d5C40 · 4 lines
- London SystemGuided4 Nf6 Nf3 g6 Bf4A48–D02 · 4 lines
- Mieses Openingd3A00 · 4 lines
- Mikenas Defensed4 Nc6A40 · 4 lines
- Sodium AttackNa3A00 · 4 lines
- St. George Defensee4 a6B00 · 4 lines
- Amar OpeningNh3A00 · 3 lines
- Blumenfeld Countergambitd4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 c5E10 · 3 lines
- Colle Systemd4 g6 Nf3 Bg7 e3 c5A04–A40 · 3 lines
- King's Knight Openinge4 e5 Nf3C40–C44 · 3 lines
- King's Pawn Openinge4 e5 b3C20 · 3 lines
- London System, with Be2d4 Nf6 Nf3 g6 Bf4 Bg7A48 · 3 lines
- Portuguese Openinge4 e5 Bb5C20 · 3 lines
- Rapport-Jobava Systemd4 d5 Nc3 Nf6 Bf4D01 · 3 lines
- Amazon Attackd4 d5 Qd3A45–D00 · 2 lines
- Anderssen's Openinga3A00 · 2 lines
- Carr Defensee4 h6B00 · 2 lines
- Clemenz Openingh3A00 · 2 lines
- English Orangutanc4 Nf6 b4A15 · 2 lines
- Formationa3 e5 b3 d5 c3 Nf6A00 · 2 lines
- Goldsmith Defensee4 h5B00 · 2 lines
- Hippopotamus Defensee4 Nh6B00 · 2 lines
- Horwitz Defensed4 e6A40 · 2 lines
- Kangaroo Defensed4 e6 c4 Bb4+A40 · 2 lines
- King's Indian Attack, with e6Nf3 Nf6 g3 d5 Bg2 e6A07 · 2 lines
- Marienbad Systemd4 Nf6 Nf3 b6 g3 Bb7A47 · 2 lines
- Mexican Defensed4 Nf6 c4 Nc6A50 · 2 lines
- Polish Defensed4 b5A40 · 2 lines
- Polish Opening, with d5b4 d5A00 · 2 lines
- Pseudo Queen's Indian Defensed4 Nf6 Nf3 b6A47 · 2 lines
- Slav Indiand4 Nf6 c4 c6A40–A50 · 2 lines
- Ware Defensee4 a5B00 · 2 lines
- Zukertort DefenseNf3 Nh6 d4 g6A04 · 2 lines
- Amsterdam Attacke3 e5 c4 d6 Nc3 Nc6A00 · 1 line
- Australian Defensed4 Na6A40 · 1 line
- Barnes Defensee4 f6B00 · 1 line
- Basque Openingd4 Nf6 b3A45 · 1 line
- Blumenfeld Countergambit Acceptedd4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 c5E10 · 1 line
- Bongcloud AttackGuidee4 e5 Ke2C20 · 1 line
- Canard Openingd4 Nf6 f4A45 · 1 line
- Center Game Acceptede4 e5 d4 exd4C21 · 1 line
- Creepy Crawly Formationh3 d5 a3 e5A00 · 1 line
- Czech Defensee4 d6 d4 Nf6 Nc3 c6B07 · 1 line
- Danish GambitGuidee4 e5 d4 exd4 c3C21 · 1 line
- Danish Gambit Declinede4 e5 d4 exd4 c3 d5C21 · 1 line
- Döry Defensed4 Nf6 Nf3 Ne4A46 · 1 line
- Dresden Openinge4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 c4 Nf6C44 · 1 line
- Duras Gambite4 f5B00 · 1 line
- East Indian Defensed4 Nf6 Nf3 g6A48 · 1 line
- French Defense, Classical, 4. Bg5e4 e6 d4 d5 Nc3 Nf6C12 · 1 line
- Fried Fox Defensee4 f6 d4 Kf7B00 · 1 line
- Global Openingh3 e5 a3A00 · 1 line
- Gunderam Defensee4 e5 Nf3 Qe7C40 · 1 line
- Irish Gambite4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Nxe5C44 · 1 line
- King's GambitGuidee4 e5 f4C30 · 1 line
- Lasker Simul Specialg3 h5A00 · 1 line
- Lemming Defensee4 Na6B00 · 1 line
- London System, with Bd3d4 Nf6 Nf3 g6 Bf4 Bg7A48 · 1 line
- Montevideo Defensed4 Nc6 d5 Nb8A40 · 1 line
- Paleface Attackd4 Nf6 f3A45 · 1 line
- Queen's Gambitd4 d5 c4D06 · 1 line
- Queen's Indian Acceleratedd4 Nf6 c4 b6A50 · 1 line
- Queen's Indian Defense, with e3, Bb4+ Lined4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 Bb4+E14 · 1 line
- Queen's Pawn, Mengarini Attackd4 Nf6 c4 g6 Qc2E60 · 1 line
- Rapport-Jobava System, with e6d4 d5 Nc3 e6 Bf4D01 · 1 line
- Robatsch Defensed4 d6 Nf3 g6 c4 Bg7A41 · 1 line
- Saragossa Openingc3A00 · 1 line
- Semi-Slav Defense Acceptedd4 d5 c4 c6 Nf3 Nf6D44 · 1 line
- Valencia Openingd3 e5 Nd2A00 · 1 line
- Vulture Defensed4 Nf6 c4 c5 d5 Ne4A56 · 1 line
- Wade Defensed4 d6 Nf3 Bg4A41 · 1 line
- Yusupov-Rubinstein Systemd4 Nf6 Nf3 e6 e3A46 · 1 line
- Zaire Defensed4 Nc6 d5 Nb8 e4 Nf6A40 · 1 line