This will be done to some extent through experience, but relying on healthy, analytical thinking is always best. Most openings have a name, for example ‘Spanish Game’, ‘Sicilian Defence’ etc. One needs to know which moves characterize each opening in order to classify a game. Similar openings usually lead to positions with similar features. Furthermore, every opening has many possible variations, many of which do also have a name. A major classification depends on the first move. Accordingly, an opening may be Open, Semi-Open or Closed. An opening is Open if WHITE starts with 1.e4 and BLACK replies 1.e5. It is Semi-Open if WHITE starts with 1.e4 but BLACK does not reply 1.e5 and it is Closed if WHITE does not play 1.e4.

Below are some of the most common Open openings :

Spanish Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) : WHITE threatens the black pawn at e5 with 2.Nf3 and BLACK supports it with 2.Nc6. Now WHITE plays 3.Bb5 threatening the pawn again, since he may first capture on c6, then on e5.

Italian game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) : WHITE prepares to castle whilst maximizing his pieces’ mobility. The move 3.Bc4 controls the d5 square and thus inhibits the freeing move d7-d5. It also keeps an eye on f7, a slightly weak square in the opening and one immediately relevant to the Black King’s safety.

Scotch game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4) : WHITE plans to quickly open the lines for his pieces. The usual answer is 3.exd4 and now WHITE may either take his pawn back with 4.Nxd4 or play 4.c3, a variation known as the ‘Scotch Gambit’.

Four Knights Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6) : This opening is more stable for WHITE, but also not too demanding, since 3.Nc3 poses no immediate threats.

Phillidor’s Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6) : This opening leads to closed positions, but tactics are still on.

Russian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6) : An interesting opening that is not used very much nowadays.

Bishop’s Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4) : This very old opening is seldom used nowadays.

King’s Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4) : WHITE opts to capture the f-pawn later (after 2.exf4); BLACK will have to settle for some defence if he wants to keep the material advantage.

Below are some of the most common Semi-Open openings :

French Defence (1.e4 e6) : BLACK is preparing to play the freeing move d7-d5.

 Caro-Cann Defence (1.e4 c6) : BLACK is preparing to play d7-d5 here too; a major difference to the French Defence is that the Bc8 will develop more easily, since the e-pawn does not restrict him.

Scandinavian Game (1.e4 d5) : BLACK tries to have active play and opens the position himself.

Alechkin’s Defence (1.e4 Nf6) : BLACK does not care about moving the same piece again, in case WHITE plays 2.e5. If WHITE advances his central pawns, BLACK will undermine his centre with side-thrusts (d7-d6, c7-c5 etc).

Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5) : This opening is the most widely used. It offers fair possibilities for both and usually leads to wild tactics. Below are some of the most common Closed Openings :

Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4) : If BLACK captures on c4, WHITE will manage to capture on c4 later.

English Game (1.c4 e5) : Usually leads to closed positions.

King’s Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d6) : An opening rich in tactics and strategy; it has earned much popularity and is used at top-class games.

Dutch Defence (1.d4 f5) : This opening leads to closed strategic positions. 18.Slav Defence (1.c4 c6) : This opening leads to symmetrical, drawish positions, with strategic considerations playing the most important role. It is best for a player to get busy with only a handful of openings and improve his knowledge and experience on them. Every opening has a key idea, which, once perceived, will be easier to implement on the board.

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But how should one count variations? Here comes an example : Suppose WHITE starts the game with 1.e4. If now BLACK replies 1.d5, WHITE can capture the pawn at d5 with 2.exd5. This is a variation, involving the move sequence 1.e4 d5 2.exd5. WHITE seems to have gained some material, but BLACK is able to capture back at d5 by 2.Qxd5, restoring the material balance. This again is a variation (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5). A variation may have any number of moves.

When analyzing a position the player needs to calculate many possible variations. In the previous example, BLACK might not capture immediately at d5, but instead play 2.Nf6, threatening the pawn with the knight too, whilst developing. He does so in order to capture later. If now WHITE plays 3.Nc3 to protect the pawn, BLACK may still equalize the material after 3.Nxd5, ready to meet 4.Nxd5 with 4.Qxd5. But what happens if WHITE supports his pawn with 3.c4 instead of 3.Nc3? Now BLACK can not capture the d5-pawn for WHITE will capture the knight and eventually WHITE will have captured a knight and a pawn (worth 3+1=4), while BLACK only two pawns (worth 1+1=2). This material difference is enough to state that BLACK will lose the game, no matter how well he will play from here on, provided that WHITE will not blunder anything either.

A combination is a variation that gains something. The combination is only valid if it wins regardless of the opponent’s reply. This means that, after the first move of the combination, all the variations that may arise depending on the opponent’s move, will lead to an advantage. Note that when counting variations and combinations the player should account for the best opponent’s reply, not only some of them that favor him.

The following example demonstrates a very short game :

1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Nc6
3.Qf3 d6
4.Qf7#

The symbol # denotes ‘checkmate’. There was no combination here; instead BLACK blundered checkmate. Had he seen WHITE’s threat on f7, he could have comfortably defended against it, say by 3.Nf6. Indeed, WHITE’s move 3.Qf3 was not good (early Queen move); it was just a trivial trap. Had BLACK played correctly, he would have been better off a few moves later.

In the next example there is actually a combination :

Phillidor’s Defence

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 d6
3.Bc4 Bg4
4.Nc3 h6?
5.Nxe5! Bxd1??
6.Bxf7+ Ke7
7.Nd5#

(A question mark after a move denotes a serious mistake, while a double question mark denotes a blunder. The exclamation mark denotes a very good move and the cross symbol denotes a check). The move 4.h6? is a mistake, for it permits WHITE to apply the winning c ombination which starts with 5.Nxe5!. Now WHITE threatens to mate by 6.Bxf7+ and 7.Nd5 and at the same time he threatens the Bishop on g4. BLACK could have defended now with 5.Be6, covering both threats and escaping the worse. But 5.Bxd1?? is a blunder that allows WHITE to mate.

In the next example BLACK misses an important move of WHITE’s :

Russian Game

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nf6
3.Nxe5 Nxe4?

The Openings Theory suggests 3.d6 first. One can see why this symmetric move is not good by following the game:

4.Qe2 Nf6??

This move gives WHITE the opportunity for a so-called ‘revealed check’ :

5.Nc6+

Now BLACK is in check and his queen is also threatened by the white knight at c6. He will have to lose the queen and eventually the game. He could have done better had he tried 4.Qe7, for if now WHITE captures the Ne4 with 5.Qxe4, BLACK can respond 5.d6 and he will capture back. After 6.d4 dxe5 7.Qxe5 WHITE has an advantage due to the extra pawn.

Accuracy in counting the variations is what makes a chess player a brilliant tactician. It is not always easy to count all the variations; besides there are so many possibilities. However, only a handful of moves are actually of importance in most positions; the rest can be ruled. Experience helps players quickly select candidate moves. Playing against computers (yet not ever getting disappointed) is highly recommended in order to improve one’s tactics capabilities.

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