Chess Openings Lab
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Every chess opening, played out move by move.

Pick an opening and watch the main line on the board, then read what each side is trying to do, see the traps that catch club players, and drill the moves until they stick.

Openings for White Openings for Black Traps

954 openings and variations · lines checked move by move · engine lines from Stockfish 17.1

The openings people look up most

Sicilian DefenseFighting 1.e4 reply that creates an unbalanced positionCaro-Kann DefenseSolid reply to 1.e4 that keeps the c8 bishop freeFrench DefenseSolid 1.e4 reply built on ...e6 and ...d5Italian GameTraditional 1.e4 e5 opening aiming the bishop at f7Ruy LopezDeep 1.e4 e5 opening that hits the c6 knightQueen's Gambit DeclinedSturdy 2...e6 defense that holds the d5 pawn firmlyLondon SystemSolid Bf4 system for White with a fixed, repeatable setupKing's Indian DefenseHypermodern reply to 1.d4 that lets White build a big centerScandinavian DefenseDirect 1.e4 reply that challenges the center at onceEnglish OpeningFlank opening 1.c4 that fights for d5 from the sideVienna GameFlexible 2.Nc3 that keeps the f4 push in reserveKing's GambitRomantic 2.f4 pawn sacrifice for open lines and attack

All 68 opening families and 886 variations

How each page works

Every opening page starts with the moves on a board you can play, step and flip. Under it you get the ideas for White and Black, the plans and pawn structure the opening leads to, what Stockfish 17.1 plays next, how the line scores for players at your level, and the traps on both sides.

Then you drill it: the board asks you for your side's moves and only accepts the book move. Lines you add to your repertoire come back for review in the trainer on a spaced schedule, so you remember them in a game.

Traps worth knowing

All 23 traps