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What are the Best Chess Opening Moves? – The Definitive Guide
Posted In
CategoryGeneral Chess Articles
Posted On
PublishedNovember 1, 2017
What are the Best Chess Opening Moves?
The four best chess opening moves for White are 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4 and 1.Nf3
The best chess openings after 1.e4 are the Ruy Lopez, the Italian, the Sicilian Defense, the French Defense, and the Caro Kann.
The best chess openings after 1.d4 are the Queen’s Gambit, the King’s Indian Defense, the Slav Defense, the Grunfeld Defense, and the Nimzo Indian Defense.
The move 1.c4 leads to the English Opening – one of the best chess openings for White.
The move 1.Nf3 leads to the Reti Openings – a strong chess opening for White.
Examining the starting position of the game of chess, White has twenty legal chess moves at his disposal. Obviously, moves like 1.e4 or 1.d4 are far more popular than moves like 1.a3 or 1.g4.
If you’re a complete beginner who is new to how chess pieces move, it might be difficult to understand why we regard certain chess opening moves as sound, whilst others seem to be quite poor.
Many amateurs memorize the first few most popular opening moves in chess, but they don’t know why these moves are frequently played. It’s important to understand that whenever a player makes a move, they are gaining or losing control over certain critical areas of the board.
In order to figure out the best chess opening moves, we put the cart before the horse. First of all, we will take a close look at some bad and dubious opening moves and try to understand the different downsides of these moves. After that, we can analyze better approaches to start the game.
In the following article, we investigate the moves from White’s perspective. The article discusses three categories of chess moves, starting with White’s weird first moves and building up to rare or semi-mainstream options. The aim of this article is to help you learn theoretical sound chess opening chess moves. Of course, if you are completely new to chess, you should first check out our guide on how to set up the chessboard.
Bad Chess Opening Moves
One of the worst first moves for White to play is 1.g4. With this move, White does not fight for the center – an important concept in chess – and gives Black a clear target to attack. If Black responds to 1.g4 with 1…d5! he occupies the center and directly attacks White’s loose pawn on g4 with his bishop on c8.
If White, for example, defends his pawn with a move like 2.f3, this can lead to a quick mate. The move 2…e6 looks harmless but threatens a deadly checkmate on h4 with the queen.
White can defend by playing 3.h4, but with 3…Bd6 Black renews the threat of mating White on the e1-h4 diagonal. The move 4.Rh3 (defending against …Bg3++) results in a beautiful mate in two. Black can sacrifice his queen with …Qxh4 and after White takes the queen with 5.Rxh4 (there is no alternative), Black ends the game with 5…Bg3++.
Admittedly, this example might be a rare occurrence in practice, but it illustrates that Black can take advantage of these bad opening moves by playing the most simple of moves in response.
Another bad chess opening move is 1.f3 as it irrevocably weakens white’s king position without doing anything useful.
Moreover, bad moves include 1.Na3 and 1.Nh3. These chess moves ignore two basic rules at the same time – not only that “a knight on the rim is dim” but also they force White to move the same piece a second time in the opening, losing valuable tempo, after Black plays 1…e5 or 1…d5 threatening to double White’s pawns by capturing the knight with his bishop.
Also, check out: The Grandmaster’s Opening Laboratory 2
Dubious Chess Opening Moves
1.h4, for example, is a dubious move. The move is not as bad as 1.g4, but it does nothing to assist in gaining control over the important central squares. Furthermore, castling kingside is less attractive after the move h4 as the kingside is already weakened. Thus, the move is rarely seen among serious chess players.
Obviously, White can’t fight for an advantage with this move, but it shouldn’t be too bad as it doesn’t create any weaknesses.
Chess moves such as 1.e3, 1.d3 or 1.c3 are playable and do not weaken White’s position, but there is no particular point to play them except for avoiding theory and your opponent’s preparation. Due to the fact, however, that we’re looking at all the moves from a beginner’s perspective, we don’t need to fear preparation at an amateur level at all.
Thus, such chess moves waste time, get in the way of developing all of your pieces into useful squares and they don’t fight for control over the center.
1.g3, for instance, is not a bad move at all and it can transpose to other openings such as the English. The main drawback of this move, however, is that it enables Black to occupy the center with any moves they wish to play.
In essence, it is recommendable for any beginner to avoid the mentioned weird chess opening moves right from the beginning of their training because they can lead to quick losses and disadvantageous positions from the very start of the game.
Strong Chess Opening Moves
As we’ve seen, if White does not occupy the center with their pawns, Black has the opportunity to do it! Therefore, it is recommended that White plays active, space-gaining chess moves right from the start.
White can begin by moving the Queen’s pawn to “d4” which leads to openings such as the Queen’s Gambit, King’s Indian Defense, Nimzo-Indian, Bogo-Indian, Queen’s Indian Defense, and Dutch Defense. The move 1.d4 contains numerous strengths.
It not only contributes to the control of the center immediately but also it frees two pieces on the back rank with just one move.
1.e4 is the most common opening move in chess. One of the key ideas of this move is to control the center quickly with the pawn which is placed in the center by the first move, also liberating White’s light-squared bishop as well as the White Queen. White can follow up by playing Nf3 and moving his bishop to the dangerous c4 square. From there, it eyes Black’s potentially weak pawn on f7. By bringing the bishop into play, White prepares to castle in the next move.
Finally, it has to be mentioned that 1.c4 (English Opening) and 1.Nf3 (Reti Opening) are also strong chess opening moves which lead to solid and sound chess openings for White.
Following these ideas, White achieves 3 main goals of any opening: control of the center, develop pieces rapidly, and prepares for castling the king into safety.
Conclusion
The explained fundamental concepts are here to help any beginner improve their chess game and start their games with an appropriate chess opening. If you keep these strategies in the forefront of your mind and refresh and deepen your knowledge from time to time, nothing will stand in your way of advancing at chess.
Don’t forget the basics of chess openings: fight for the centre right from the beginning as White (if you don’t, the best you can get out of your opening is an equal position), don’t give up your first mover advantage – (play actively), 1.e4 or 1.d4 are good chess opening moves!
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Also, Check out:
Chess Pieces Set Up: The Definitive Guide for Chess Beginners
Chess Strategy Tips for Beginners – The Definitive Guide [Video]
How to Set Up a Chess Board: Full Guide Step-by-Step
Best Chess Openings for Beginners: The Definitive Guide [Video]
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43 comments on “What are the Best Chess Opening Moves? – The Definitive Guide”
Charles says:
July 4, 2018 at 9:09 pm
I am a pro chess player. thx for the tips.
Reply
Matthew Sulistyo says:
September 12, 2018 at 2:18 am
yeah bra im pro as well
Reply
Henrik says:
January 8, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Yes me too. very pro
Reply
Ahmet says:
June 23, 2019 at 5:53 pm
i think i am the proest.
Reply
bob says:
July 12, 2019 at 3:39 am
I am the mostest of all proers
Jeff says:
October 8, 2019 at 5:25 am
People generally consider me the protagonist of every good story
Joel Trinidad says:
February 7, 2019 at 2:25 am
I want learn more i want some magic tricks and attack
Reply
FILIPINO AKO says:
February 24, 2019 at 2:53 am
It’s not magic it’s called physics and learning.
Reply
Benedict Nino A. Crio says:
May 14, 2019 at 7:07 am
hi filipino ako me to
Reply
Benedict Nino A. Crio says:
May 14, 2019 at 7:04 am
if you want learn more you study hard in chess and magic is cheating and magic is bad.
🙂
Reply
dorothy says:
February 26, 2019 at 1:36 pm
you have not met me yet
Reply
Thabang ernest says:
September 5, 2018 at 12:32 pm
I tried your tips on how to start chess openings and to learn about many chess openings but yet the computer still beat me with those openings, I don’t know what to do,please help.
Reply
Michael Grady says:
June 6, 2019 at 11:01 pm
The problem is you need to annotate the games and learn from how the computer is beating you and see what you can do to counteract the computer’s moves. Once I was asked to play on a computer to evaluate it. I beat it on easy, medium and hard within a thirty minute span. I told him to take it back and get his money back 😜😝🤣!!!
Reply
nope says:
November 8, 2018 at 12:06 pm
another pro 😀
Reply
Prof. E. Ssional says:
November 23, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Can confirm, I am pro too.
Reply
White Knight says:
January 5, 2019 at 11:38 pm
As a real chess pro it gives me pleasure to see so many pros learning chess basics.
Reply
tony says:
March 19, 2019 at 9:42 pm
nice one
Reply
Logical says:
January 30, 2019 at 10:21 am
good info
Reply
Killer Queen says:
January 31, 2019 at 4:18 pm
It’s about more than just openings though
Reply
Amol Jadhav says:
February 5, 2019 at 7:51 am
I going to be pro soon
Reply
ThePro-iestPro says:
February 11, 2019 at 12:55 pm
As a current pro, I concur.
Reply
lordkezban says:
February 13, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Pro openings, in my countless days of chess as a pro, i have never seen one opening such as these.
Reply
J says:
February 15, 2019 at 5:36 pm
really???????
Reply
Koray says:
March 4, 2019 at 10:08 am
I’m the only beginner here.
Reply
Rommel says:
March 14, 2019 at 8:55 pm
I don’t even want to begin. At 59.5 years, maybe I am too old to play serious chess games. I just want to know a meaningful and delightful computer game. Humans deride me each time I lose.
Reply
Carl Liming says:
March 23, 2019 at 8:17 am
You know computer chess moves are made by humans right?
Reply
Top pro of the chess says:
July 9, 2019 at 10:22 am
Hello fellow pros, nice to see we sre keeping up with the basics.
Reply
Alan says:
July 28, 2019 at 12:03 am
Hi Rimmel I’ve been playing this one for a couple months. It’s quite a challenge for me at “Candidate Master” so I still have a couple of levels to go. Maybe you’ll like it too.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jetstartgames.chess
Reply
rommel says:
March 14, 2019 at 8:57 pm
And lose I always do.
Reply
Benedict Nino A. Crio says:
May 14, 2019 at 7:13 am
dont be sad that a part of chess player me to always same times 0 in game and 3 in round 7 sad but lets study hard to master.
Reply
Jack Bloem says:
March 10, 2019 at 5:54 pm
I was a pro once like many of you. Sadly for me, I woke up.
Reply
Brianlu3642 says:
March 13, 2019 at 11:17 pm
Me too. 🙁
Reply
Brianlu3642 says:
March 13, 2019 at 11:16 pm
How long did you guy play chess for?
Reply
Benedict Nino A. Crio says:
May 14, 2019 at 6:26 am
yes
Reply
Benedict Nino A. Crio says:
May 14, 2019 at 6:34 am
3 years because im a student
Reply
Benedict Nino A. Crio says:
May 14, 2019 at 6:48 am
you know what is the key to be master or improve solving chess,playing chess online,watching videos of chess and reading chess books.
Reply
Benedict Nino A. Crio says:
May 14, 2019 at 6:56 am
that help you man and woman?
Reply
Tafadzwa says:
May 27, 2019 at 4:30 pm
its actually helpful.
Reply
Benedict Nino A. Crio says:
September 28, 2019 at 7:10 am
thanks
Reply
Tammy E sassoon says:
July 1, 2019 at 2:55 am
no their not
Reply
ANSHID ANU says:
August 7, 2019 at 2:49 pm
I AM mr.PRO
Reply
Dissanayake Nisitha Jayaneeth says:
August 13, 2019 at 3:41 pm
I am trying to practice some good openings for the chess open tournament in SriLanka. I hope these would work.I am trying so hard to open rating.
Reply
Benko gambit says:
October 10, 2019 at 11:19 pm
Am I an d4, e4 pro now? I feel like I must be
Reply
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