Learn Every Chess Opening

M Chess.com Coach

Start

Do you want to learn how to play every mainstream chess opening?

Now featuring a new lesson on the Evans Gambit!

Learn the main lines and key ideas in fifty different openings!

Watch an introductory video, explaining the goals for each side in every mainstream opening.
Check out the individual courses in each opening for extra tactics practice and model games!

Learn The Alekhine's Defense

Learn the main lines and key ideas in the Alekhine's Defense for both Black and White.

33 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Benko Gambit

Learn the key ideas for both sides in the sharp Benko Gambit.

29 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Benoni Defense

Learn the key plans and tactical ideas for both sides in the Benoni Defense.

24 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Bogo Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ leads to the strategically rich Bogo Indian Defense. Learn the key ideas and tactics for both sides.

24 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Budapest Defense

Learn the key ideas for both sides in the Budapest Defense.

22 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Caro-Kann Defense

Learn the main lines and key ideas for both sides in the Caro-Kann Defense.

30 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Catalan

Learn the main lines and key ideas in the Catalan.

21 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Center Game And Danish Gambit

Learn the key ideas and main lines of the Center Game and Danish Gambit.

18 min

10 Challenges

Learn the Closed Sicilian

Watch a video to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the Closed Sicilian, a slow-building opening, with many tactical opportunities hiding under the surface.

19 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Dutch Defense

Learn the main lines and key ideas in the Dutch Defense.

24 min

10 Challenges

Learn The English Opening

Learn the key ideas and main lines in the English Opening.

35 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Evans Gambit

Learn the key strategic ideas and tactics for both sides in the Evans Gambit.

30 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Flank Openings

Learn the main variations and key ideas in a variety of unusual openings.

13 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Four Knights Game

Learn the key ideas and main lines for both sides in the Four Knights Game.

17 min

10 Challenges

Learn The French Tarrasch And Advance Variations

Learn the main lines and ideas in the French Tarrasch and Advance variations.

26 min

10 Challenges

Learn The French Defense With 3.Nc3

Learn the main lines of the French Defense for White and Black.

22 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Grunfeld Defense

Learn the key ideas for both sides in the dynamic Grunfeld Defense.

23 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Indian Defenses And The Black Knights' Tango

Learn the ideas behind the Indian Defenses and take and find out how to play both sides of the Black Knights' Tango.

20 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Italian Game

The Italian Game has been a popular opening for centuries and it's still played at the highest level today. Learn the key ideas to play the Italian with either side.

30 min

10 Challenges

Learn The King's Gambit

Learn the key variations, plans, and tactics for both sides in the King's Gambit.

27 min

10 Challenges

Learn The King's Indian Attack And The Reti Opening

Learn the main lines and key ideas for both sides in the King's Indian Attack and the Reti Opening.

34 min

10 Challenges

Learn the King's Indian Defense

Learn the essentials of the King's Indian Defense with an educational video on move order, pawn structures, and key themes to know.

19 min

10 Challenges

Learn The London And Colle Systems

Learn the key ideas for both sides in the popular London System, and the solid Colle System.

30 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Nimzo Indian Defense

Learn the key ideas for both sides in the strategically rich, Nimzo Indian Defense.

20 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Old Indian Defense

Learn the main lines and key ideas for both sides in the Old Indian Defense.

21 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Petroff Defense

The Petroff Defense is one of the most solid defenses against 1.e4. Learn the key ideas for both sides.

34 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Pirc Defense And The Modern Defense

Learn the main lines, tactics, and strategies in the Pirc and Modern Defenses.

36 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Queen's Gambit Accepted

Learn the key ideas and tactics for both sides in the Queen's Gambit Accepted, including the variations after 3.e3, 3.e4 and 3.Nf3.

19 min

10 Challenges

Learn the Queen's Gambit Declined

Learn the ideas behind the solid Queen's Gambit declined for both White and Black.

24 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Queen's Gambit Bf4 Variation

Learn the key ideas and tactics in the Bf4 variation of the Queen's Gambit. This video examines Black's responses based on 6...Nd7, 6...c5, and 6...b6.

19 min

10 Challenges

Learn the Queen's Gambit Cambridge Springs and Orthodox Defense

Learn the key ideas for both sides in the tactical Cambridge Springs Defense and the solid Orthodox Defense. These openings have been played by World Champions for more than a century!

23 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation

Learn the key ideas for both sides in the popular Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit. This video also covers the active, but risky Tarrasch Defense and the solid Semi-Tarrasch Defense.

28 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Queen's Indian Defense

Learn the key ideas you'll need to play either side of the Queen's Indian Defense.

17 min

10 Challenges

Learn the Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense

The Berlin Defense is one of the most popular and solid defenses against 1.e4. Learn the key ideas for both White and Black in this key opening.

19 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Ruy Lopez Closed Variation

The Closed Ruy Lopez is one of the most popular openings throughout the history of chess. This lesson focuses specifically on the Chigorin and Breyer variations.

22 min

10 Challenges

Learn the Ruy Lopez Marshall Attack

Learn the key ideas and structures that you need to play effectively with either White or Black in the Marshall Attack.

19 min

10 Challenges

Learn the Ruy Lopez Tricky Systems

Learn the key ideas in three tricky Ruy Lopez variations. This video covers the Schlieman Variation, the Exchange Variation, and the Open Variation. Each line is important, but you can play it well if you know the basics.

19 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Scandinavian Defense

Learn the main lines and key ideas for both sides in the Scandinavian Defense.

24 min

10 Challenges

Learn The Scotch Game

If White wants to imbalance the game after 1.e4 e5, the Scotch Game is an excellent idea. White takes over the center, but Black can often gain a lead in development. Learn the key ideas for both sides.

22 min

10 Challenges

Learn the Semi-Slav Defense

Learn the essentials of the Semi-Slav Defense, including pawn structures, tactics and key themes to know.

14 min

10 Challenges

Learn the Sicilian Alapin Variation

The Open Variation of the Sicilian Defense offers Black significant counterplay. Sometimes White prefers to avoid this with the move 2.c3. This variation allows White an opportunity to control the center with the advance d2-d4, but also gives Black chances to take advantage of White's failure to develop on move two.

17 min

10 Challenges