The Oxford Companion to Chess ''The Oxford Companion to Chess'' is a reference book on the game of chess written by David Vincent Hooper and Kenneth Whyld. The book is written in an encyclopedia format. The book belongs to the Oxford Companions series. Details The first ed ...

'' lists 1,327 named openings and variants. Chess players' names are the most common sources of opening names. The name given to an opening is not always that of the first player to adopt it; often an opening is named for the player who was one of the first to popularise it or to publish analysis of it.

A

*Abonyi Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Nec6 – named after István Abonyi *Adams Attack of the

Sicilian Defence The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the following moves: :1. e4 c5 The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4. The opening 1.d4 is a statistically more successful opening for Whi ...

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 – named after Weaver W. Adams *Adler Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 – named after Mór Adler * Alapin's Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 – named after Semyon Alapin * Alapin Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.c3 – named after Semyon Alapin * Albin Countergambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 – named after Adolf Albin *Alburt Variation of the Alekhine's Defence – 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 – named after Lev Alburt *Alekhine–Chatard Attack on the

French Defence The French Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. e4 e6 This is most commonly followed by 2.d4 d5. Black usually plays ...c5 soon after, attacking White's and gaining on the . The French has a reputation for solidity ...

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 – named after

Alexander Alekhine Alexander Aleksandrovich Alekhine. He disliked when Russians sometimes pronounced the of as , , which he regarded as a Yiddish distortion of his name, and insisted that the correct Russian pronunciation was . (March 24, 1946) was a Russian ...

and Eugene Chatard * Alekhine's Defence – 1.e4 Nf6 – named after

*Alekhine Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 – named after

* Allgaier Gambit of the

King's Gambit The King's Gambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. e4 e5 :2. f4 White offers a pawn to divert the black e-pawn. If Black accepts the gambit, White may play d4 and Bxf4, regaining the gambit pawn with domination, or direc ...

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ng5 – named after Johann Baptist Allgaier *

Amar Opening The Amar Opening (also known as the Paris Opening, or the Drunken Knight Opening) is a chess opening defined by the move: : 1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. Nh3, Nh3 Analogous to calling the Durkin Opening the "Sodium Attack," this opening could be ca ...

– 1.Nh3 – named after Charles Amar * Anderssen's Opening – 1.a3 – named after

Adolf Anderssen Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen (6 July 1818 – 13 March 1879)"Anderssen, Adolf" in ''Encyclopædia Britannica, The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 385. was a German chess master. ...

*Arkell–Khenkin Variation of the Caro–Kann Defense – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 – named after Keith Arkell and Igor Khenkin *Averbakh System of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 – named after Yuri Averbakh

B

* Balogh Defense – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 – named after János Balogh * Barcza System – 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 – named after Gedeon Barcza * Barnes Opening – 1.f3 – named after Thomas Wilson Barnes *Basman Defence – 1.e4 g5 – named after Michael Basman *Becker Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h6 – named after Albert Becker *Bellon Gambit – 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 b5 – named after Juan Manuel Bellón López *

Benko Gambit The Benko Gambit (or Volga Gambit) is a chess opening characterised by the move 3...b5 in the Benoni Defence arising after: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4, d4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6, Nf6 :2. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. ...

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 – named after Pal Benko * Benko's Opening – 1.g3 – named after Pal Benko *Bird Defense of the

Ruy Lopez The Ruy Lopez (; ), also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. e4 e5 :2. Nf3 Nc6 :3. Bb5 The Ruy Lopez remains one of the most popular chess openings, featuring many variations. In ...

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 – named after Henry Bird *

Bird's Opening Bird's Opening (or the Dutch Attack) is a chess opening characterised by the move: : 1. f4 Named after 19th century English player Henry Bird, Bird's opening is a standard flank opening. White's strategic ideas involve control of the e5-squa ...

– 1.f4 – named after Henry Bird * Blackburne Shilling Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 – named after Joseph Henry Blackburne * Blackmar–Diemer Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 – named after Armand Blackmar and Emil Josef Diemer * Blumenfeld Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nf3 b5 – named after Benjamin Blumenfeld *Boden–Kieseritzky Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxe4 4.Nc3 – named after Samuel Boden and Lionel Kieseritzky *

Bogo-Indian Defence The Bogo-Indian Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. d4 Nf6 :2. c4 e6 :3. Nf3 Bb4+ The position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 is common. The traditional move for White here is 3.Nc3, threatening to set up a big pawn centre wi ...

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ – named after Efim Bogoljubov *Bogoljubov Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 – named after Efim Bogoljubov *Boleslavsky Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 e5 – named after Isaac Boleslavsky * Bongcloud Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.Ke2 – named after Chess.com user Lenny_Bongcloud, who used this opening many times, and kept losing *Bonsch-Osmolovsky Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Ne7 – named after Mikhail Bonsch-Osmolovsky *Botvinnik System of the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 – named after

Mikhail Botvinnik Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik (; ; – May 5, 1995) was a Soviet and Russian chess grandmaster who held five world titles in three different reigns. The sixth World Chess Champion, he also worked as an electrical engineer and computer sci ...

*Botvinnik Variation of the

English Opening The English Opening is a chess opening that begins with the move: : 1. c4 A flank opening, it is the fourth most popular and, according to various databases, one of the four most successful of White's twenty possible first moves. White begins ...

– 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.e4 – named after

*Brentano Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g5 – named after

Franz Brentano Franz Clemens Honoratus Hermann Josef Brentano (; ; 16 January 1838 – 17 March 1917) was a German philosopher and psychologist. His 1874 '' Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint'', considered his magnum opus, is credited with having reintrod ...

*Breyer Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qf3 – named after Gyula Breyer *Breyer Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nb8 – named after Gyula Breyer

C

* Camara Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7 – named after International Master Hélder Câmara *Capablanca Variation of the Reti Opening – 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb2 Bg4 – named after

José Raúl Capablanca José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera (19 November 1888 – 8 March 1942) was a Cuban chess player who was the third World Chess Championship, world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. A chess prodigy, he was widely renowned for his exceptional Chess ...

* Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 – named after Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann *Carrera Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qh5 – named after Pietro Carrera * Chekhover Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 – named after Vitaly Chekhover *Chigorin Defence of the

Queen's Gambit The Queen's Gambit is the chess opening that starts with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 It is one of the oldest openings and is still commonly played today. It is traditionally described as a '' gambit'' because White appears to sacrifice the ...

– 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 – named after

Mikhail Chigorin Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin (also ''Tchigorin''; ; – ) was a Russian chess player. He played two World Championship matches against Wilhelm Steinitz, losing both times. The last great player of the Romantic chess style, he also served as a ma ...

*Chigorin Variation of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 – named after

*Chigorin Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 – named after

* Clemenz Opening – 1.h3 – named after Hermann Clemenz *Cochrane Gambit of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 – named after John Cochrane * Colle System – 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 – named after Edgard Colle *Colman Variation of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3 Rb8 – named after Eugene Ernest Colman *Cozio Defence of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 – named after Carlo Cozio * Cunningham Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 – named after

Alexander Cunningham Major General Sir Alexander Cunningham (23 January 1814 – 28 November 1893) was a British Army engineer with the Bengal Sappers who later took an interest in the history and archaeology of India. In 1861, he was appointed to the newly crea ...

D

Damiano Defence The Damiano Defence is a chess opening beginning with the moves: # e4 e5 # Nf3 f6? The defence is one of the oldest chess openings, with games dating back to the 16th century. It is a weak opening that gives a large advantage for White after 3. ...

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 – named after Pedro Damiano although he gave the refutation rather than endorsing it * Desprez Opening – 1.h4 – named after Marcel Desprez *Döry Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Ne4 – named after Ladislaus Döry *Dubov Tarrasch – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 – named after Daniil Dubov * Dunst Opening – 1.Nc3 – named after Ted A. Dunst *Duras Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c4 – named after Oldřich Duras * Durkin Opening – 1.Na3 – named after Robert Durkin

E

*Eisenberg Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nh3 – named after Louis Eisenberg * Englund Gambit – 1.d4 e5 – named after Fritz Englund *Epishin Variation of the

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 d6 8.g3 Bg7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.Rb1 – named after

Vladimir Epishin Vladimir Epishin (born 11 July 1965 in Leningrad) is a Russian chess grandmaster. Tournament play He finished third in the 58th USSR Chess Championship in 1991. He won the 1987 St. Petersburg Championship. Other tournament successes include ...

* Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 – named after William Davies Evans

F

*Fajarowicz Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 – named after Sammi Fajarowicz * Falkbeer Countergambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 – named after Ernst Falkbeer * Fischer Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 – named after

Bobby Fischer Robert James Fischer (March 9, 1943January 17, 2008) was an American Grandmaster (chess), chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Championship, World Chess Champion. A chess prodigy, he won his first of a record eight US Chess Champi ...

*Fleissig Variation of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Nc2 – named after Bernhard Fleissig *Flohr–Mikenas–Carls Variation of the

– 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 – named after Salo Flohr,

Vladas Mikėnas Vladas Mikėnas (17 April 1910 – 3 November 1992) was a Lithuanian and Soviet chess player and journalist. He was awarded the titles of International Master and Honorary Grandmaster by FIDE. Early career Vladas Mikėnas played for Lithuani ...

and Carl Johan Margot Carls *Flohr Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3 – named after Salo Flohr *Flohr Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qa4+ – named after Salo Flohr * Frankenstein–Dracula Variation of the Vienna Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 – named after

Frankenstein's monster Frankenstein's monster, commonly referred to as Frankenstein, is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' as its main antagonist. Shelley's title compares the monster's ...

and

Count Dracula Count Dracula () is the title character of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. He is considered the prototypical and archetypal vampire in subsequent works of fiction. Aspects of the character are believed by some to have been i ...

*From's Gambit of the

– 1.f4 e5 – named after

Martin Severin From Martin Severin Janus From (8 April 1828 – 6 May 1895) was a Danish chess master known for creating From's Gambit. From's Gambit is a sharp response to Bird's Opening, requiring precision from both players. Personal life Born in Nakskov, F ...

*Furman Variation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 – named after Semyon Furman

G

*Gajewski Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 d5 – named after Grzegorz Gajewski *Glek Defense of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Na6 – named after Igor Glek *Glek Variation of the Four Knights Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 – named after Igor Glek *Gligoric – Taimanov Variation of the King's Indian Defence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 – named after

Svetozar Gligorić Svetozar Gligorić ( sr-Cyrl, Светозар Глигорић; 2 February 1923 – 14 August 2012) was a Serbian and Yugoslav chess grandmaster and musician. He won the championship of Yugoslavia a record 11 times, and is considered the best ...

and Mark Taimanov *Goglidze Attack – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 – named after Viktor Goglidze *Göring Gambit of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 – named after Carl Göring *Grivas Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 – named after Efstratios Grivas * Grob's Attack – 1.g4 – named after Henri Grob * Gunderam Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7 – named after Gerhard Gunderam *Gurgenidze Defense of the

Modern Defense The Modern Defense (also known as the Robatsch Defence after Karl Robatsch) is a hypermodern chess opening in which Black allows White to occupy the with pawns on d4 and e4, then proceeds to attack and undermine this "ideal" center without att ...

– 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 h5 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze *Gurgenidze Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 b5 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze *Gurgenidze Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.b4 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze *Gusev Countergambit of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 3.cxd5 Nf6 – named after Yuri Gusev * Greco Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6 – named after

Gioachino Greco Gioachino Greco ( – ), surnamed Cusentino and more frequently ''il Calabrese'', was an Italian chess player and writer. He recorded some of the earliest chess games known in their entirety. His games, which never indicated players, were q ...

* Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 – named after Ernst Grünfeld

H

*Hanham Variation of the Philidor Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 – named after James Hanham *Harrwitz Attack of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bf4 – named after Daniel Harrwitz * Hodgson Attack – 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 – named after Julian Hodgson *Hopton Attack of the

Dutch Defence The Dutch Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: : 1. d4 f5 Black's 1...f5 stakes a claim to the e4-square and envisions an attack in the middlegame on White's ; however, it also weakens Black's kingside to some extent, espec ...

– 1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 – named after Hopton * Horwitz Defense – 1.d4 e6 – named after Bernhard Horwitz *Hromádka System of the

Benoni Defence The Benoni Defense, or simply the Benoni, is a chess opening characterized by an early reply of ...c5 against White's opening move 1.d4. The original form of the Benoni, now known as the Old Benoni, is characterized by : 1. b:Chess Opening Theor ...

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 d6 – named after Karel Hromádka *Hübner Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 – named after Robert Hübner

I

*Ilyin-Genevsky Variation of the

– 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 Qe8 – named after Alexander Ilyin-Genevsky

J

*Janowski Variation of the Old Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 – named after

Dawid Janowski Dawid Markelowicz Janowski (25 May 1868 – 15 January 1927; often spelled ''David'') was a Polish chess player. Several opening variations are named after Janowski. Biography Born into a Jewish-Polish family in Wołkowysk, Russian Empire ...

*Jasnogrodsky Defense of the Rice Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.0-0 Bxe5 9.Re1 Qe7 10.c3 Nh5 – named after Nicolai Jasnogrodsky * Jerome Gambit of the

Italian Game The Italian Game is a family of chess openings beginning with the moves: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4, e4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5, e5 :2. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3, Nf3 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3 ...

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ – named after Alonzo Wheeler Jerome

K

*Kan Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 – named after Ilya Kan *Karklins–Martinovsky Variation of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nd3 – named after Chicago masters Andrew Karklins and Eugene Martinovsky *Karpov Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 – named after

Anatoly Karpov Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (, ; born May 23, 1951) is a Russian and former Soviet Grandmaster (chess), chess grandmaster, former World Chess Championship, World Chess Champion, ⁣and politician. He was the 12th World Chess Champion from 1975 ...

*Karpov Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nd7 – named after

*Kasparov Variation of

Pirc Defense The Pirc Defence ( ) is a chess opening characterised by the response of Black to 1.e4 with 1...d6 and 2...Nf6, followed by ...g6 and ...Bg7, while allowing White to establish a with pawns on d4 and e4. It is named after the Slovenian grandmaste ...

– 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 – named after

Garry Kasparov Garry Kimovich Kasparov (born Garik Kimovich Weinstein on 13 April 1963) is a Russian Grandmaster (chess), chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion (1985–2000), political activist and writer. His peak FIDE chess Elo rating system, ra ...

*Katalymov Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 – named after Boris Katalymov *Keene Defense to the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Qh4+ 3.g3 Qe7 – named after

Raymond Keene Raymond Dennis Keene (born 29 January 1948) is an English chess grandmaster, a FIDE International Arbiter, a chess organiser, and a journalist and author. He won the British Chess Championship in 1971 and was the first player from England t ...

*Keres Attack of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 – named after

Paul Keres Paul Keres (; 7 January 1916 – 5 June 1975) was an Estonian chess grandmaster and chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s, and narrowly missed a chance at a World Chess Championship match on five ...

* Keres Defence – 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4+ – named after

*Keres Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Ne2 – named after

*Kevitz Variation of the

– 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 Nc6 – named after Alexander Kevitz *Kholmov Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Be6 – named after

Ratmir Kholmov Ratmir Dmitrievich Kholmov ( Russian: Ратмир Дмитриевич Холмов) (13 May 1925 in Shenkursk – 18 February 2006 in Moscow) was a Russian chess Grandmaster. He won many international tournaments in Eastern Europe during his ...

*Kieseritzky Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 – named after Lionel Kieseritzky *Knorre Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Nc3 – named after Viktor Knorre *Koltanowski Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4 – named after George Koltanowski *Kondratiyev Variation of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 c5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bd2 – named after Pavel Kondratiyev *Konikowski Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 d5 – named after

Jerzy Konikowski Jerzy Konikowski (born 24 January 1947, in Bytom, Poland) is a Polish–German chess master, problemist and author. He was a Polish national team trainer in 1978–1981 (the Polish Women's national team won bronze medal in the 9th Chess Olymp ...

* Konstantinopolsky Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 – named after

Alexander Konstantinopolsky Alexander Markovich Konstantinopolsky (; 19 February 1910 – 21 September 1990) was a Soviet chess player, trainer and writer. He was a five-time champion of Kiev, and trained the world title challenger David Bronstein from a young age. He wa ...

* Kopec System – 1.e4 c5 2.Bd3 – named after Danny Kopec

L

*Lamb Defense of the Blackmar–Diemer Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Nc6 named after F. Lamb * Larsen's Opening – 1.b3 – named after Bent Larsen *Lasker Defence of the Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.0-0 d6 7.d4 Bb6 – named after

Emanuel Lasker Emanuel Lasker (; December 24, 1868 – January 11, 1941) was a German chess player, mathematician, and philosopher. He was the second World Chess Champion, holding the title for 27 years, from 1894 to 1921, the longest reign of any officially ...

*Lasker Defence of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 Ne4 – named after

*Leko Gambit of the Anti-Grünfeld – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 e5 – named after Peter Leko *Leonhardt Variation of the Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 b5 – named after Paul Saladin Leonhardt * Levitsky Attack – 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 – named after Stepan Levitsky *Levenfish Attack in the Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.f4 – named after

Grigory Levenfish Grigory Yakovlevich Levenfish (; – 9 February 1961) was a Soviet chess player who scored his peak competitive results in the 1920s and 1930s. He was twice Soviet champion, in 1934 (jointly with Ilya Rabinovich) and 1937. In 1937 he drew a m ...

*Levenfish Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 b6 – named after

* Lisitsin Gambit of the Zukertort Opening – 1.Nf3 f5 2.e4 – named after Georgy Lisitsin *Lolli Variation of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 – named after Giambattista Lolli *Lucena Defence of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Be7 – named after Luis Ramirez de Lucena *Lundin Defense – 1.d4 Nc6 – named after Erik Lundin *Lutikov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.f3 – named after Anatoly Lutikov *Lutikov Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.Bc2 – named after Anatoly Lutikov

M

* MacLeod Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.c3 – named after Nicholas MacLeod *Makogonov System of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 – named after Vladimir Makogonov *Makogonov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.b4 – named after Vladimir Makogonov * Maróczy Bind of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 – named after

Géza Maróczy Géza Maróczy (; 3 March 1870 – 29 May 1951) was a Hungarian chess player, one of the leading players in the world in his time. He was one of the inaugural recipients of the Grandmaster (chess), International Grandmaster title from FIDE in 1 ...

*Marshall Attack of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 – named after Frank Marshall * Marshall Defense to the

– 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 – named after Frank Marshall *Marshall Gambit in the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 – named after Frank Marshall *Marshall Gambit of the Tarrasch Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e4 – named after Frank Marshall *Marshall Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 d5 – named after Frank Marshall * Max Lange Attack of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Bc5 6.e5 – named after Max Lange *McCutcheon Variation of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 – named after John Lindsay McCutcheon * McDonnell Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 6.Nc3 – named after Alexander McDonnell * Mieses Opening – 1.d3 – named after Jacques Mieses *Mikenas Variation of the

Modern Benoni The Modern Benoni is a chess opening that begins with the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6. It is classified under the ECO codes A60–A79. After the initial moves, Black proceeds to capture on d5, creating a majority of black pawns on t ...

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.e5 – named after

*Miles Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bf4 – named after Tony Miles *Moeller Attack of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 – named after Jorgen Moeller * Monticelli Trap of the

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 b6 6.g3 Bb7 7.Bg2 0-0 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.Ng5 – named after Mario Monticelli *Morozevich Variation of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7 – named after Alexander Morozevich *Morozevich Variation of the Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Ndb7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 – named after Alexander Morozevich *Morphy Defense to the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 – named after Paul Morphy *Morphy Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nh3 – named after Paul Morphy *Muzio Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 – named after Mutio d'Alessandro, a third-rate Neapolitan player, following a mistranslation by Jacob Sarratt of Alessandro Salvio

N

*Nadanian Attack of the

Queen's Pawn Opening The Queen's Pawn Game is any chess opening starting with the move: : b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4, 1. d4 It is the second-most popular opening move after 1.e4 (King's Pawn Game). Terminology The term "Queen's Pawn Game" is usually used to des ...

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 h6 3.c4 g5 – named after Ashot Nadanian * Nadanian Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Na4 – named after Ashot Nadanian * Najdorf Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 – named after

Miguel Najdorf Miguel Najdorf ( ; born Mojsze Mendel Najdorf; 15 April 1910 – 4 July 1997) was a Polish-Argentine chess grandmaster. Originally from Poland, he was in Argentina when World War II began in 1939, and he stayed and settled there. He was a leadin ...

* Napoleon Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3 – named after

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

*Neumann Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nc6 – named after Gustav Neumann * Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 – named after

Aron Nimzowitsch Aron Nimzowitsch (; , ''Aron Isayevich Nimtsovich''; 7 November 1886 – 16 March 1935) was a Latvian-born Danish chess player and writer. In the late 1920s, Nimzowitsch was one of the best chess players in the world. He was the foremost f ...

* Nimzowitsch Defence – 1.e4 Nc6 – named after

*Nimzowitsch Variation of the Sicilian Defense – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 – named after

*Noteboom Variation of the Semi-Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 – named after Daniël Noteboom

O

* O'Kelly Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 – named after Albéric O'Kelly de Galway *Opočenský Opening (i.e.

Trompowsky Attack The Trompowsky Attack is a chess opening that begins with the moves: : 1. d4 Nf6 : 2. Bg5 White prepares to exchange the bishop for Black's knight, inflicting doubled pawns upon Black in the process. This is not a lethal threat; Black can ...

) – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 – named after Karel Opočenský *Opočenský Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd2 – named after Karel Opočenský *Opočenský Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 – named after Karel Opočenský * Owen's Defense – 1.e4 b6 – named after John Owen

P

*Panov Attack of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 – named after Vasily Panov * Parham Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 – named after Bernard Parham *Paulsen Attack of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nc4 – named after Louis Paulsen *Perenyi Attack of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 e5 8.Nf5 g6 9.g5 – named after Bela Perenyi *Petrosian Variation of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 – named after Tigran Petrosian *Petrosian Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 – named after Tigran Petrosian * Petrov Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 – named after Alexander Petrov * Philidor Countergambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 – named after François-André Danican Philidor * Philidor Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 – named after François-André Danican Philidor * Philidor Variation of the

Bishop's Opening The Bishop's Opening is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. e4 e5 :2. Bc4 White attacks Black's f7-square and prevents Black from advancing the d-pawn to d5. By ignoring the beginner's maxim "develop knights before bishops", White ...

– 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3 – named after François-André Danican Philidor *

Pirc Defence The Pirc Defence ( ) is a chess opening characterised by the response of Black to 1.e4 with 1...d6 and 2...Nf6, followed by ...g6 and ...Bg7, while allowing White to establish a with pawns on d4 and e4. It is named after the Slovenian grandmaste ...

– 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 – named after Vasja Pirc *Polerio Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Be7 – named after

Giulio Cesare Polerio Giulio Cesare Polerio (c. 1555, – c. 1610; reconstruction of places and dates by Adriano Chicco) was an Italian chess theoretician and player. Name affixes used for him are ''l'Apruzzese'', Giu io Cesare ''da Lanciano'' (Salvio/Walker), and ...

*Pollock's Defense to the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Na5 – named after William Pollock *Polugaevsky Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5 – named after Lev Polugaevsky *

Ponziani Opening The Ponziani Opening is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4, e4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5, e5 :2. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3, Nf3 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc ...

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 – named after

Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani (9 November 1719 – 15 July 1796) was an Italian law professor, priest, chess player, chess problem, composer and Chess theory, theoretician. He is best known today for his chess writing. Life Ponziani was born in Mode ...

*Popov Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a5 – named after Bulgarian correspondence player Georgi Alexandrov Popov *Prie Attack of the

– 1.d4 d5 2.a3 – named after Éric Prié *Puc Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c6 – named after Stojan Puc

Q

*Quinteros Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Qc7 – named after Miguel Quinteros

R

*Ragozin Defence of the

– 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 – named after Viacheslav Ragozin * Réti Opening – 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 – named after Richard Réti * Rice Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.0-0 – named after Isaac Rice *Richter–Rauzer Attack in the Sicilian Defense – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 – named after Kurt Richter and Vsevolod Rauzer *

Richter–Veresov Attack The Richter–Veresov Attack (or Veresov Opening) is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. Nc3 Nf6 :3. Bg5 It is also often reached by transposition, for example 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 (the most common move order), 1.d ...

– 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 – named after Kurt Richter and Gavriil Veresov *Riumin Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 named after Nikolai Riumin * Robatsch Defence – 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 – named after Karl Robatsch *Rossolimo Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 – named after Nicolas Rossolimo * Rousseau Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d3 – named after Eugène Rousseau *Rubinstein Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe4 Ng4 4.Bf4 – named after

Akiba Rubinstein Akiba Kiwelowicz Rubinstein (1 December 1880 – 14 March 1961) was a Polish chess player. He is considered to have been one of the greatest players never to have become World Chess Champion. Rubinstein was granted the title International Grandma ...

*Rubinstein Variation of the Four Knights Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 – named after

*Rubinstein Variation of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 – named after

*Rubinstein Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 – named after

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 – named after

Ruy López de Segura Rodrigo "Ruy" López de Segura ( – c. 1580) was a Spanish chess player, author, and Catholic priest The priesthood is the office of the ministers of religion, who have been commissioned ("ordained") with the holy orders of the Catho ...

S

*Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 – named after Friedrich Sämisch *Sämisch Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 – named after Friedrich Sämisch *Santasiere's Folly – 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b4 – named after Anthony Santasiere *Schallopp Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 – named after Emil Schallopp *Schlechter Gambit of the

– 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 Nc6 – named after

Carl Schlechter Carl Schlechter (2 March 1874 – 27 December 1918) was a leading Austro-Hungarian chess master and theoretician at the turn of the 20th century. He is best known for drawing a controversial World Chess Championship match with Emanuel Lasker. Ea ...

*Schlechter–Rubinstein System of the Tarrasch Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 – named after

and

*Schlechter Variation of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 – named after

*Schlechter Variation of the Grunfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 c6 – named after

*Schlechter Variation of the Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6 – named after

* Schliemann–Jaenisch Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 – named after Carl Jaenisch and * Semi-Tarrasch Defense of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 – named after

Siegbert Tarrasch Siegbert Tarrasch (; 5 March 1862 – 17 February 1934) was a German chess player, considered to have been among the strongest players and most influential theoreticians of the late 19th and early 20th century. Life Tarrasch was born in Bresla ...

*Shabalov–Shirov Gambit of the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 – named after Alexander Shabalov and Alexei Shirov *Short Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence Advance – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.c3 e6 5.Be2 – named after

Nigel Short Nigel David Short (born 1 June 1965) is an English Grandmaster (chess), chess grandmaster, columnist, coach and commentator who has been the FIDE Director for Chess Development since September 2022. Short earned the title of grandmaster at the ...

Smith–Morra Gambit In chess, the Smith–Morra Gambit (or simply Morra Gambit) is an Chess opening, opening gambit against the Sicilian Defence distinguished by the moves: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4, e4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5, c5 :2. b:Chess Open ...

of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 – named after Texas master Ken Smith and Morra *Smyslov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Bg4 – named after Vasily Smyslov *Smyslov Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 h6 – named after Vasily Smyslov *Snyder Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.b3 – named after Robert Snyder * Sokolsky Opening – 1.b4 – named after Alexey Sokolsky *Soldatenkov Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.fxe5 – named after Vasily Soldatenkov *Soltis Variation of the Yugoslav Attack – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.h4 h5 – named after Andrew Soltis *Soultanbeieff Variation of Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 Victor Soultanbeieff *Sozin–Fischer Attack of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Bb3 0-0 9.0-0 – named after Veniamin Sozin and

*Spielmann Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3 – named after Rudolph Spielmann *Stamma Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.h4 – named after Philipp Stamma * Staunton Gambit of the

– 1.d4 f5 2.e4 – named after

Howard Staunton Howard Staunton (April 1810 – 22 June 1874) was an English chess master who is generally regarded as the world's strongest player from 1843 to 1851, largely as a result of his 1843 victory over Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-A ...

*Steinitz Attack of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.e5 – named after

Wilhelm Steinitz William Steinitz (born Wilhelm Steinitz; May 14, 1836 – August 12, 1900) was a Bohemian-Austrian, and later American, chess player. From 1886 to 1894, he was the first World Chess Champion. He was also a highly influential writer and c ...

*Steinitz Defense of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 – named after

*Steinitz Gambit of the Vienna Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 – named after

*Steinitz Variation of the Petrov Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 – named after

*Steinitz Variation of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 5.Nc3 – named after

*Steinitz Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.g3 – named after

*Sveshnikov Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 – named after Evgeny Sveshnikov *Szén Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 – named after József Szén

T

*Taimanov Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 – named after Mark Taimanov *Tal Gambit of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 Nf6 – named after

Mikhail Tal Mikhail Tal (9 November 1936 – 28 June 1992) was a Soviet and Latvian chess player and the eighth World Chess Champion. He is considered a creative genius and is widely regarded as Comparison of top chess players throughout history, one ...

*Tal Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 bf5 4.h4 – named after

* Tarrasch Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 – named after

*Tarrasch Variation of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 – named after

*Tennison Gambit – 1.Nf3 d5 2.e4 – named after Otto Tennison *

Torre Attack The Torre Attack is a chess opening characterized by the moves: :1. d4 Nf6 :2. Nf3 e6 :3. Bg5 ('' ECO'' code A46) or the Tartakower Variation in the Queen's Pawn Game (''ECO'' code D03): :2... d5 :3. Bg5 or the Torre Attack in the East ...

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 – named after Carlos Torre *Traxler Variation of the Two Knights Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 – named after Karel Traxler *

– 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 – named after Octavio Trompowsky

U

* Ufimtsev Defence – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 – named after Anatoly Ufimtsev * Uhlmann–Szabo System * Urusov Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 – named after the Russian Prince Sergey Urusov

V

* Van 't Kruijs Opening – 1.e3 – named after Maarten van 't Kruijs *Velimirovic Attack of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 – named after

Dragoljub Velimirović Dragoljub Velimirović (Serbian Cyrillic: Драгољуб Велимировић; 12 May 1942 – 22 May 2014) was a Serbian (formerly Yugoslav) chess grandmaster, born in Valjevo. Biography Velimirović was introduced to chess at the age of s ...

*Villemson Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.d4 – named after Martin Villemson *Vinogradov Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qe7 – named after Paul Vinogradov *Vitolins Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bb5+ – named after Alvis Vītoliņš

W

* Wade Defence – 1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4 – named after Robert Wade *Wagner Gambit of the Swiss Gambit – 1.f4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g4 – named after Alexander Wagner * Ware Defense – 1.e4 a5 – named after Preston Ware * Ware Opening – 1.a4 – named after Preston Ware *Winawer Variation of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 – named after Simon Winawer *Wolf Gambit of the

– 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.Nge2 *Worrall Attack of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2 – named after Thomas Herbert Worrall

Z

*Zaitsev Gambit of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 – named after Alexander Zaitsev *Zaitsev Variation of the

– 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 – named after Igor Zaitsev *Zilbermints Gambit of the Englund Gambit – 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nge7 – named after Lev Zilbermints * Zukertort Opening – 1.Nf3 – Named after Johannes Zukertort *Zvjaginsev Variation of the

– 1.e4 c5 2.Na3 – named after Vadim Zvjaginsev

References

External links

Bill Wall's list of chess openingsChess Archaeology''Unorthodox Chess Openings''
by Eric Schiller {{DEFAULTSORT:Chess Openings Named After People

Chess openings The opening is the initial stage of a chess game. It usually consists of established theory. The other phases are the middlegame and the endgame. Many opening sequences, known as ''openings'', have standard names such as " Sicilian Defense". ' ...

+List of chess openings named after people Openings named after people

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See also

References

External links