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Chess

Last updated: 5 Aug 2020 ·
Posted in wiki#notes

Openings

Open games 1.e4 e5

  • King's Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.f4
    • King's Gambit Accepted 2...exf4
      • King's Knight's Gambit 3.Nf3
      • Bishop's Gambit 3.Bc4
        • Cozio Variation 3...Qh4+ 4.Kf1 d6
      • Fischer Defense 3.d6
    • King's Gambit Declined
      • Falkbeer Countergambit 2...d5
      • Classical Defense 2...Bc5
  • Ruy Lopez Opening (Spanish Game) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
    • Main line 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O
    • Closed Variation 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7
    • Berlin Defense 3...Nf6
    • Exchange Variation 3...a6 4.Bxc6
    • Open Variation 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4
    • Schlieman-Jaenisch Gambit 3...f5
    • Marshall Attack 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5
  • Italian Game 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
    • Giuoco Piano 3...Bc5
    • Giuoco Pianissimo 3...Bc5 4.d3 or 3...Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3
    • Evans Gambit 3...Bc5 4.b4
      • Evans Gambit Declined 3...Bc5 4.b4 Bb6
    • Two Knights Defense 3...Nf6
      • Fried Liver Attack (Fegatello Attack) 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 Kxf7
      • Traxler Counterattack (Wilkes-Barre Variation) 4.Ng5 Bc5
  • Scotch Game 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
    • Schmidt Variation 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
    • Classical Variation 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5
    • Scotch Gambit 3...exd4 4.Bc4
      • Dubois Réti Defense 3...exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6
    • Goring Gambit 3...exd4 4.c3
      • Double Pawn Sacrifice Variation 3...exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4
      • Goring Gambit Declined 3...exd4 4.c3 d5
    • Malaniuk Variation 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Bb4+
  • Vienna Game 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3
    • Falkbeer Variation 2...Nf6
    • Falkbeer, Mieses Variation 2...Nf6 3.g3
    • Vienna Gambit 2...Nf6 3.f4
    • Max Lange Defense 2...Nc6
    • Anderssen Defense 2...Bc5
    • Frankenstein–Dracula Variation 2...Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4
  • Danish Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3

Semi-open games 1.e4

  • Sicilian Defense 1.e4 c5
    • Closed Variation 2.Nc3
      • 2...Nc6
      • 2...e6
      • 2...d6
      • 2...a6
    • Open Variation 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 or 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
    • Najdorf Variation 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
    • Alapin Variation 2.c3
      • 2...Nf6
      • 2...d5
    • Dragon Variation 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6
    • Accelerated Dragon 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6
    • French Variation 2.Nf3 e6
    • Hyperaccelerated Dragon, Fianchetto, Pterodactyl Defense 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7
  • French Defense 1.e4 e6
    • Tarrasch Variation 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2
    • Winawer Variation 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4
    • Classical French 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5
    • Advance Variation 2.d4 d5 3.e5
    • Exchange Variation 2.d4 d5 3.exd5
  • Caro-Kann Defense 1.e4 c6
    • Main line 2.d4 d5
      • 3.Nc3 and 3.Nd2
        • Classical Variation 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5
        • Modern Variation 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7
        • 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+
          • Bronstein–Larsen Variation 5...gxf6
          • Korchnoi (or Tartakower) Variation 5...exf6
        • Gurgenidze Variation 3.Nc3 g6
      • Advance Variation 3.e5
      • Exchange Variation 3.exd5 cxd5
        • Main line: 4.Bd3
        • Panov–Botvinnik Attack 4.c4
      • Fantasy Variation 3.f3
    • Two Knights Variation 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 (or 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3)
  • Scandinavian Defense 1.e4 d5
    • 2...Qxd5
      • 3...Qa5
      • 3...Qd6
      • 3...Qd8
    • 2...Nf6
  • Pirc Defense 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6
  • Alekhine's Defense 1.e4 Nf6
    • Main line 2.e5 Nd5
      • Four Pawns Attack 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4
      • Exchange Variation 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6
      • Modern Variation 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3
      • O' Neill Variation 4...Bg4!?
      • Balogh Variation 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4
      • Two Pawns Attack 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5
      • Two Knights Variation 3.Nc3

Closed games 1.d4 d5

  • Queen's Gambit 1.d4 d5 2.c4
    • Slav Defense 2...c6
      • Main line 2...c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4
      • Modern Line, Quiet Variation 2...c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3
      • Semi-Slav 2...c6 3.Nf3 e6
      • Chameleon (Chebanenko Slav) 1.d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6
      • Exchange Variation 2...c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.cxd5 Against
      • Bled Attack 2...c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Nh4
      • Modern Line, Quiet Variation 2...c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bd3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2
      • Chameleon 2...c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5
    • Queen's Gambit Declined 2...e6
      • Elephant Trap 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7
    • Queen's Gambit Accepted 2...dxc4
    • Albin Countergambit 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5
      • Lasker Trap 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3? Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3! 6.Bxb4?? exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1=N+! 8.Ke1 Qh4+ 9.Kd2 Nc6 (or 9.g3 Qe4+) 10.Bc3 Bg4
  • London System 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4
    • Main line 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 e6 6.Ngf3 Bd6 7.Bg3 O-O 8.Bd3 b6 9.Qe2 Bb7
    • Indian Setup 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 d6
    • Jobava London 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4

Indian defenses 1.d4 Nf6

  • King's Indian Defense 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
    • Main line 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6
    • Samisch 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3
    • Averbakh 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5
    • Petrosian 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.d5
    • Four Pawns Attack 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4
    • Makogonov Setup 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3.
  • Nimzo-Indian Defense 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
    • Rubinstein Variation 4.e3
      • Hubner Variation 4...c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6
    • Classical Variation 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3
    • Three Knights Variation 4.Nf3
    • Kmoch Variation 4.f3
    • Samisch Variation 4.a3
    • Leningrad 4.Bg5
    • Romanishin-Kasparov 4.g3
    • 4.Bd2
    • Spielmann Variation 4.Qb3
  • Queen's Indian Defense 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6
    • Fianchetto Nimzowitsch Variation 4.g3 Ba6
    • Fianchetto Traditional Line 4.g3 Bb7
    • Petrosian Variation 4.a3
    • Kasparov Variation 4.Nc3
    • Spassky System 4.e3
  • Bogo-Indian Defense 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+
    • 4.Bd2
      • Nimzowitsch Variation 4...Qe7
      • Wade-Smyslov Variation 4...a5
      • Vitolins Variation 4...c5
      • Exchange Variation 4...Bxd2+
      • Retreat Variation 4...Be7
    • 4.Nbd2 (Grünfeld Variation )
      • 4...b6
      • 4...O-O
      • 4...d5
  • Grünfeld Defense 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
    • Exchange Variation 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3
    • Russian Variation 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 7.e4
    • Petrosian Variation 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.cxd5 Nxg5 7.Nxg5 e6
    • Brinckmann Attack 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O
    • Stockholm Variation 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4 7.e3 Be6
    • Accelerated Russian 4.Qb3
    • Zaitsev Gambit 4.h4
  • Catalan Opening 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 or 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3
    • Open Catalan
    • Closed Catalan
    • Anti-Catalans
  • Benko Gambit (Volga Gambit) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
    • Half-Accepted 4.cxb5 a6
    • Accepted 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6
  • Trompowsky Attack 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5
    • 2...Ne4
    • 2...e6
    • 2...d5
    • 2...c5
    • 2...g6
  • Modern Benoni 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6

Semi-closed games 1.d4

  • Dutch Defense 1.d4 f5
    • Leningrad Variation 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6
    • Stonewall Formation 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.c4 d5 5.Nf3 c6
    • Classical Dutch 2.g3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.c4 Be7
    • Hopton Attack 2.Bg5
      • Trap: 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.Bg3 f4 5.e3 fxg3?? 6.Qh5#
    • Staunton Gambit 2.e4
  • Benoni Defense 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5

Flank openings 1.Nf3, 1.c4, 1.b3, 1.b4, 1.f4, 1.g3, 1.g4

  • King's Indian Attack 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3
    • Yugoslav Variation 2...Nf6
    • Keres Variation 2...Bg4
    • Sicilian Variation 2...c5
  • Réti Opening 1.Nf3
    • Reti Gambit 1...d5 2.c4
  • English Opening 1.c4
    • Reversed Sicilian 1...e5
    • Symmetrical English 1...c5
    • Four Knights' Variation 1...e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6
    • Bremen System 1...e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3
    • Closed Variation 1...e5 2.Nc3 Nc6
    • Symmetrical Four Knights' 1...c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6
    • Ultra-Symmetrical Line 1...c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7
    • Hedgehog Defense 1...c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.O-O Be7
  • Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack 1.b3
    • 1...e5
    • 1...d5/1...Nf6
  • Bird's Opening 1.f4

Irregular openings

[*]

  • King's Fianchetto Opening (Benko's Opening) 1.g3
  • Polish Opening (Orangutan/Sokolsky Opening) 1.b4
    • 1...e5
    • 1...d5/1...Nf6 (Schiffler-Sokolsky Variation)
    • 1...c6
  • Grob's Attack 1.g4
    • 1...d5
      • Grob Gambit Accepted 2.Bg2 Bxg4
      • Grob Gambit Declined 2.Bg2 c6
    • 1...e5
  • Anderssen's Opening 1.a3
  • Ware Opening 1.a4
  • Saragossa Opening 1.c3
  • Mieses Opening 1.d3
  • Van 't Kruijs Opening 1.e3
  • Barnes Opening (Gedult's Opening) 1.f3
  • Clemenz Opening (Basman's Attack) 1.h3
  • Desprez Opening (Kadas Opening) 1.h4
  • Durkin Opening (Durkin's Attack/Sodium Attack) 1.Na3
  • Dunst Opening 1.Nc3
  • Amar Opening (Paris Opening/Ammonia Opening/Drunken Knight Opening) 1.Nh3

Unusual openings

  • Bongcloud Attack 1.e4 e5 2.Ke2
    • Double Bongcloud 2...Ke7
  • The Monkey's Bum 1.e4 g6 2.Bc4 Bg7 3.Qf3 e6 4.d4 Bxd4 5.Ne2 Bg7 6.Nbc3
  • Grand Prix Attack (Toilet Variation) 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5
  • Hillbilly Attack 1.e4 c6 2.Bc4
  • Hippopotamus Defense

See also: List of chess traps

Endgames

Basic checkmates

  • Queen mate
    • Queen and rook mate
    • Queen and bishop mate
    • Queen and knight mate
  • Rook mate
    • Two rooks mate
  • Two bishops mate
  • Bishop and knight mate

Other important checkmates

See also:

Checkmate patterns

  • Checkmate patterns - Wikipedia
  • Scholar's mate 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6?? 4.Qxf7#
  • Fool's mate (two-move checkmate) 1.(f3, f4 or g4) (e6 or e5) 2.(g4 if 1.f3 or 1.f4, or either f3 or f4 if 1.g4) Qh4#