Opening Library
Every opening worth knowing — from the Italian Game and Caro-Kann to the Stafford Gambit and the Grob. Each one has its own page with video lessons, key ideas, and common mistakes.
Accelerated Dragon
Black fianchettoes immediately with ...g6 before playing ...d6. Avoids the Yugoslav Attack but allows the Maroczy Bind.
Alekhine Defense
1.e4 Nf6 — provoke White's pawns forward, then attack them. Pure hypermodernism.
Caro-Kann Defense
The solid alternative to the French: 1.e4 c6 preparing ...d5. Black gets a strong pawn structure and active light-squared bishop.
Elephant Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5!? — refuted in serious play but a fun online surprise weapon. Sacrifices a pawn for chaos.
French Defense
1.e4 e6 — Black builds a solid pawn chain with ...d5 and counterattacks on the queenside. Closed positions, deep strategy.
Modern Defense
1.e4 g6 — fianchetto first, decide the central setup later. Flexible and offbeat.
Nimzowitsch Defense
1.e4 Nc6 — develop a knight first and stay flexible. Often transposes into Pirc-like setups.
Owen's Defense
1.e4 b6 — fianchetto the queen's bishop, surprise weapon. Rare but tricky.
Petrov Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 — Black mirrors White's attack on the e-pawn. Extremely solid, slightly drawish, played by elite GMs.
Pirc Defense
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 — Black lets White build a big center, then attacks it. Hypermodern philosophy.
Rousseau Gambit
Italian Game with 3...f5 — Black sacrifices a pawn for active play and to avoid Italian theory.
Stafford Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6!? — internet-famous trap-laden gambit popularized by Eric Rosen. Wins games against unprepared opponents.
Two Knights Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 — Black develops the knight aggressively, leading to sharp Italian-Game lines (Fried Liver, Traxler, Polerio).