Openings 101: How to Learn Chess Openings

1. Understanding over memorisation

Yes, it sounds like a cliché, but there is a reason coaches keep saying it. Most of us cannot memorise every move and variation we might encounter. Understanding why pieces belong on certain squares makes the moves easier to remember.

In the Sicilian Defence, for example, ...d5 is a common goal, though there are positions where it is not appropriate. Learn the idea and the circumstances that make it work. You can then focus your memorisation on the important details and exceptions.

This does not mean ignoring opening moves altogether. It means keeping the logic in mind while you study. You may forget a move; an idea you genuinely understand is much easier to return to.

2. Find annotated games in your variation

As both a coach and a player, I have used ChessPublishing to study games annotated by grandmasters. But you do not need a subscription to start learning from well-explained games.

A search for something as simple as 'Caro-Kann annotated games' can give you material to work with. ChessGames, Lichess studies and videos with commentary are all useful places to look. There is no shortage of material to study.

Go through the games, examine the strategies and ask why the players chose particular moves. Learn from their losses as well as their wins. The point is to understand what happens in the positions you are trying to play, not just to collect more variations.

3. An opening gone wrong is not always fatal

Unless you have made a serious blunder, a poor opening move is not the end of the game. If you reach an uncomfortable position, stay calm and think about what you can do to improve it.

The opening lays the groundwork for the middlegame. For club players and beginners in particular, there is usually plenty of chess left to play. Do not let disappointment about your preparation distract you from the position in front of you.

4. Follow general principles when you are out of book

We all forget our lines. Even grandmasters do. That is not an excuse to put your pieces on random squares and immediately go all in.

Return to the basics: develop naturally and look after your king. Castling will not be the best move in every position, but if you are unsure what to do, considering normal development and king safety is a much better starting point than improvising without a plan.

5. Study the specialists in your opening

Some players spend a substantial part of their career playing the same opening. Their games can be particularly useful if you are learning that opening yourself.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave's Najdorf games are an example. Go through them and try to understand the general ideas and plans he uses. You will not understand everything immediately, and that is fine. There will still be lessons you can take into your own games.

6. Do not dismiss a main-line opening as bad

I have seen plenty of online comments dismissing openings such as the French Defence or the Caro-Kann. I disagree. An opening that does not suit one player may be a very good fit for another.

Unless an opening has a concrete problem, do not write it off just because someone dislikes it. Familiarity with its structures and typical positions matters, especially at lower levels. You want to understand the positions you reach, rather than constantly change openings in response to someone else's opinion.

7. Expect some losses

Imagine trying a new opening and winning every game from the start. It would be nice, but it is not a realistic expectation.

When you lose, review the game and find out what went wrong. Give yourself time to become familiar with the opening. If you are still repeatedly struggling after 30 or 40 games, it may be time to reassess your approach or your opening choice.

Should I choose a main line or a sideline?

Some players enjoy using several side variations, keeping opponents guessing and making preparation more difficult. Others prefer to study one main variation deeply and know it inside out. Both approaches have their merits.

Personally, I leaned towards the first approach. Early in my chess development, I was often advised to stick to main lines such as the Najdorf. Exploring a variety of sidelines suited me better. Until I reached a rating of 2200, I enjoyed experimenting with openings such as the Benko and the Grand Prix.

I began studying main lines more deeply as I approached my International Master norms. At that level, opponents were better at exploiting deviations from the strongest lines. My own experience is why I do not believe in a single opening path for everyone. Find the approach that works for you as you develop.

Look for explanations, not just moves

I particularly appreciate Eric Rosen's London System videos for their explanations. It is not just about the moves he shows, but the ideas behind them.

That is what I would look for in a beginner-friendly opening book or video: an explanation of the positions, rather than a sequence you are expected to memorise without understanding. Then try applying those ideas in your own games.