Build your repertoire
The openings you pick will live here. No need to learn everything: one weapon as White plus an answer to 1.e4 and to 1.d4 is enough.
Where to start
a starter selectionKing's Pawn Opening for White
A free beginner course: 1.e4, development and castling. The main scheme is the Four Knights, plus how to punish 2…f6 and ready-made answers to the Sicilian, the French, the Caro-Kann and the Scandinavian.
King's Pawn Opening for Black
A free beginner course: how to meet 1.e4. The Petrov against 2.Nf3 and ready-made answers to every early raid — Scholar's Mate, the King's Gambit, the Vienna and the Centre Game.
Slav Defence — a solid repertoire for Black
The Slav for Black: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6, with the main trump the light-squared bishop coming to f5 OUTSIDE the pawn chain. Clear recipes against the Exchange, the quiet systems, 3.Nc3, the Geller Gambit and the aggressive Ne5/Bg5.
Pirc Defence — a universal repertoire for Black
The Pirc: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 — one setup against everything: …Bg7, castling and a counterblow in the centre. Plans against the Classical, the Austrian Attack, the 150 Attack and early e5 pushes. Flexible, combative, no cramming.
The whole library
pick and add to your repertoireThe quiet Italian (c3, d3, Nbd2, Bb3, Re1) — one reliable positional setup against everything: the Giuoco Piano, the Two Knights, the Hungarian and tricks like 3…Nd4. A slow squeeze and the d4 break at the right moment.
A free beginner course: 1.e4, development and castling. The main scheme is the Four Knights, plus how to punish 2…f6 and ready-made answers to the Sicilian, the French, the Caro-Kann and the Scandinavian.
The main line is the classical Scotch 4.Nxd4. Gambit branches: the Scotch Gambit 4.Bc4 (including the Max Lange Attack) and the Göring Gambit 4.c3.
The classical Caro-Kann: 3…Bf5 against the main lines and clear recipes against everything you actually meet at club level — from the Exchange and the Panov to 2.Bc4 and the Fantasy 3.f3.
The French: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 — one system of plans against every pawn chain: …c5, …Nc6, …Qb6 pressing d4 (Advance, Steinitz, Tarrasch), and an active setup against the Exchange. Solid, clear, no cramming.
A free beginner course: how to meet 1.e4. The Petrov against 2.Nf3 and ready-made answers to every early raid — Scholar's Mate, the King's Gambit, the Vienna and the Centre Game.
The symmetrical 2…Nf6 against 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3. Main line 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 with the classical setup; 3.d4 and the transposition into the Four Knights (3.Nc3) are covered too.
The Pirc: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 — one setup against everything: …Bg7, castling and a counterblow in the centre. Plans against the Classical, the Austrian Attack, the 150 Attack and early e5 pushes. Flexible, combative, no cramming.
The modern Scandinavian: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 — one sturdy setup against everything (…Nf6, …a6, …Bf5/…Bg4, …c6, …e6, …Nbd7, …Be7/…g6, castling). The queen is safe on d6, and the structure is Caro-like without the theory.
The asymmetrical answer to 1.e4, playing for a win with Black. The core is the Najdorf (2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6), and every Anti-Sicilian gets a short answering scheme you don't have to learn in depth.