Active opening repertoire
You get thorough opening knowledge with white and black from this course.
Choose it as your first opening repertoire or for playing online games.

Change lesson language
Lesson | Status | Progress/Score |
---|

World champions have played Ng5 against the Two Knights Defense. Why don't you try it, too?
2. Two knights defense 1 - counterplay with Ng5

Sacrifice your knight on f7-, and your opponent will be "dead as a piece of liver", as the Italian idiom says.
3. Two knights defense 2 - Fried liver attack (Nxf7)

Your opponent can try to trick you with b5-. However, if you know the remedy, you will have the upper hand.
4. Two knights defense 3 - Ulvestad variation (b5)

Another rare but tricky line. Do not worry, you will get the recipe in this lesson.
5. Two knights defense 4 - Fritz variation (Nd4)

A very sharp counterattack with Black. We show you the best moves.
6. Two knights defense 5 - Traxler gambit (Bc5)

The Evans Gambit is an active line of the Giuoco Piano. You will surely enjoy it.
7. Evans gambit - Ba5 main line

You can learn from this lesson how to handle the critical position after move seven.
8. Evans gambit - variations on the move 7

The unexpected Qb3 move from Tartakower leads to a very sharp position in the Evans gambit.
9. Evans gambit - Tartakower attack (Qb3)

Morphy, the famous tactician, also played the Evans Gambit. Let's follow in the master's footsteps.
10. Evans gambit - Morphy vs. McDonnell defense

Prepare for the Petroff defense with an asymmetrical variation.
11. Petroff defense - Steinitz variation (d4)

Your opponent can try to surprise you with rare openings after 1.e4 e5, 2. Nf3. If they had known your preparation…
12. Philidor defense and rare e4 e5, Nf3 lines

We can avoid the main lines with active play in the Alekhine defense, too.
13. Alekhine defense - Saemisch attack (Nc3)

Bias the positional players to an unknown tactical territory. They will feel uncomfortable, I'm sure.
14. Caro-Kann defense - Fantasy variation (f3)

French players like to play a closed position. We do not give them this pleasure.
15. French defense - Exchange variation with c4

You have to be well prepared to win against the seemingly innocent Scandinavian.
16. Scandinavian defense 1

The Scandinavian defense has so many variations that one lesson was not enough to cover them.
17. Scandinavian defense 2

We teach you a time-proven setup against the Pirc and Modern defenses.
18. Pirc and Modern defenses - 150 attack

Nobody likes to play against the mighty Sicilian because Black usually enforces his/her will. But not in the Morra gambit.
19. Sicilian defense - Morra gambit accepted 1

Black has to defend heavily after accepting the gambit pawn.
20. Sicilian defense - Morra gambit accepted 2

What if Black is cautious and does not accept the gambit pawn?
21. Sicilian defense - Morra gambit declined 1

There are many ways to decline the Morra gambit. You have to be prepared for all of them.
22. Sicilian defense - Morra gambit declined 2

The Petroff is your main weapon against 1.e4. It looks drawish, but there are quite many sharp lines in it.
23. Petroff defense - main line

A surprising retreat and an incorrect sacrifice. You have no problems if you are well prepared.
24. Petroff defense - Nimzowitsch & Cochrane

Accept the gambit and concentrate on piece play rather than keeping the extra pawn.
26. King's gambit - Abbazia defense

You also have to be prepared against the rare second moves after 1. e4 e5.
28. Bishop's opening, Center game, Goring gambit

Hinder White's development by playing unusual moves on the queenside.
31. Queen's gambit accepted 3 (3.Nc3)

It is not difficult to equalize the position against these rare lines.
32. Queen's gambit accepted 4 (Qa4+ & g3)

Transform the English opening to Tarrasch, and your opponent can forget his/her preparation.
35. Tarrasch defense against the English opening

Don't be confused by the rare flank opening. Check your plan against 1.b3 and 1.b4.
36. Flank opening (1.b3 or b4)
Select a Lesson