Top 10 Chess Openings
intermediate
The most common question I get is:
"What are the best chess openings to learn?"
So here’s a list of my top 10 recommendations — based on strength, popularity, and how well they teach opening principles.
10. Slav Defense
9. London System
8. Caro-Kann Defense
7. Fried Liver Attack
6. French Defense
5. Ruy Lopez
4. Nimzo-Indian Defense
3. King's Gambit
2. Sicilian Defense
1. Queen's Gambit
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– 110+ chess openings explained
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10 Ways to Improve Your Chess10 Ways to Improve Your ChessChessNetwork
beginner
TheChessWebsite - Queen's Gambit DeclinedTheChessWebsite - Queen's Gambit Declinedthechesswebsiteintermediate
London System against 1...d5London System against 1...d5Stjepan Tomic (Hanging Pawns)intermediate
The French Defense | Tarrasch Variation | Closed Variation | Chess Openings | IM Andrey OstrovskiyThe French Defense | Tarrasch Variation | Closed Variation | Chess Openings | IM Andrey OstrovskiyChessfactorintermediate
Lasker Defense in the Queen’s Gambit DeclinedLasker Defense in the Queen’s Gambit DeclinedStjepan Tomic (Hanging Pawns)intermediate
Caro-Kann Defense | The Breyer Variation | IM Alex AstanehCaro-Kann Defense | The Breyer Variation | IM Alex AstanehChessfactorbeginner
Petrov Defense Nimzowitsch Attack (Nc3)Petrov Defense Nimzowitsch Attack (Nc3)Stjepan Tomic (Hanging Pawns)intermediate
Kalashnikov Variation | Sicilian Defense TheoryKalashnikov Variation | Sicilian Defense TheoryStjepan Tomic (Hanging Pawns)intermediate
"The Killer Sicilian" by Tony Rotella"The Killer Sicilian" by Tony RotellaIM John Bartholomewadvanced