Лучшие шахматные дебюты для начинающих

The best chess openings for beginners are ones built on clear ideas rather than long memorised lines. Three that work well: the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4), the London System (1.d4 and an early Bf4), and the Queen's Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4). As Black, answer 1.e4 with 1...e5 and 1.d4 with 1...d5. Learn why each move is played, then test them against the computer in our free chess game.

1. Know the three ideas every opening serves

Every good opening does the same three jobs in the first ten or so moves:

• Control the centre (e4, d4, e5, d5) with pawns and pieces.
• Develop knights and bishops off the back row, ideally each once.
• Castle to get the king safe and connect the rooks.

If you remember those, you can find decent moves even when your opponent leaves the book on move three. The openings below are simply tidy ways to do all three. For the broader habits behind them, read chess tips for beginners.

2. Italian Game (for White, after 1.e4)

Moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4

The idea: the knight attacks Black's e5 pawn, and the bishop aims at f7, the weakest square near Black's king (only the king defends it). White is ready to castle on move four.

Typical plan: play c3 and d3 (or d4 later), castle kingside, bring the other knight via d2, and slowly build in the centre. It's one of the oldest openings in chess and still played at every level.

Watch out for: if Black plays 3...Nf6, the move 4.Ng5 attacks f7 again and leads to sharp play. As a beginner, the quieter 4.d3 is fine and keeps things simple.

3. London System (for White, after 1.d4)

Moves (roughly in this order): 1.d4, 2.Bf4, then e3, Nf3, c3, Bd3, Nbd2, and castle.

The idea: you set up the same pawn and piece structure almost whatever Black does. The dark-squared bishop comes out to f4 before you play e3, so it isn't shut in behind your own pawns.

Why beginners like it: very little to memorise, a solid position, and a clear plan. The downside is that it can feel slow; you'll need to find active ideas in the middlegame.

Watch out for: an early ...c5 and ...Qb6 by Black, attacking b2. Know in advance how you'll protect that pawn (for example with Qb3 or Qc1).

4. Queen's Gambit (for White, after 1.d4 d5)

Moves: 1.d4 d5 2.c4

The idea: White offers the c-pawn to pull Black's d5 pawn away from the centre. It's not a real sacrifice: if Black takes with 2...dxc4, White can usually win the pawn back with e3 and Bxc4, while taking more of the centre.

Common replies: 2...e6 (Queen's Gambit Declined) keeps a strong pawn on d5. 2...c6 (the Slav) does the same while keeping the light-squared bishop free.

Why it's worth learning: it teaches pawn breaks and central tension, ideas you'll use in every game.

5. As Black: answer 1.e4 with 1...e5

Mirroring White's centre pawn is the simplest start. Develop with ...Nc6 and ...Nf6 (or ...Bc5), and castle. Against the Italian you'll be playing the same kind of position from the other side, so studying one teaches you both.

6. As Black: answer 1.d4 with 1...d5

Again, claim the centre directly. If White plays the Queen's Gambit, 2...e6 is a solid, respected choice. If White plays the London, develop with ...Nf6, ...e6, ...c5 and ...Nc6 and play for the centre.

7. Avoid these beginner traps

• Bringing the queen out early (for example 2.Qh5). It can win quick games against beginners, but sound defence makes the queen run around while you fall behind in development.
• Moving the same piece twice without a reason.
• Pushing edge pawns (a- and h-pawns) in the first few moves.
• Not castling. A king left in the centre is the most common reason beginners lose in under 20 moves. See how to castle in chess if the rules aren't clear yet.
• Grabbing pawns at the cost of development. One pawn rarely matters as much as three pieces in play.

Also learn to spot the four-move "Scholar's Mate" (queen and bishop attacking f7). It's covered in checkmate patterns.

8. Practise one opening at a time

1. Pick one White opening and one reply for Black.
2. Open the free chess game and play ten games with each against Easy, then Medium.
3. Watch the move list beside the board (below it on a phone). After each game, check the first eight moves: did you control the centre, develop, and castle?
4. Use Undo to try a different move when you get into trouble early.

When you can play your opening without thinking, the computer's Hard level (which thinks for up to two seconds a move) will test whether you really understand the ideas.

9. Don't memorise 20 moves deep

Opening books go very deep, but at beginner level your opponent will leave the main line within a few moves. Understanding why 3.Bc4 aims at f7 is worth far more than knowing move 14 of a variation. Spend most of your study time on tactics and endgames; openings only get you to a playable middlegame.

Try an opening now

Open the free chess game, choose White, and play the Italian Game against Easy. There's no sign-up, and you can play as many games as you like.