Chess Opening Statistics These statistics show the percentages of games won by white and black and the amount of games drawn from over 2 million matches for 60 of the most common Chess openings and 230 further variations of those openings. This page should give you a good idea of what openings and variations are the most successful for white and black. There is also a written summary below the table that summarises all the best and worst variations for the openings in the table. As well as that there are lists of the top 10 best and worst openings for white and black and the most and least drawn openings. White Black Draw Opening/Variation Win Win Moves % % % Alekhine Defense
38
32
30
1. e4 Nf6
- Four Pawns Attack
36
40
24
2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4
- Modern Variation
42
26
32
2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3
Anderssen's Opening
30
43
27
1. a3
- 1...d5 Variation
27
44
29
1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation
34
42
24
1...e5
- 1...g6 Variation
23
55
22
1...g6
Anti-Veresov Opening
36
36
28
1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5
Benko Gambit
40
32
28
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
- Accepted
40
32
28
4. cxb5
- Fully Accepted
39
29
32
4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6
- 7. e4 Variation
42
36
22
4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4
- Main Line
39
26
35
4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 g6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 O-O 11. Nf3
- Fianchetto Variation
42
35
23
4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g3
- Nescafe Frappe Attack
36
45
19
4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3
Benko Opening
38
27
35
1. g3
- 1...d5 Variation
35
29
36
1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation
37
31
32
1...e5
- Lasker Simul Special
66
11
23
1...h5
Benoni Defense
41
31
28
1. d4 c5
- Full Benoni
41
29
30
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4
- Modern Variation
46
30
24
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6
Bird's Opening
34
41
25
1. f4
- Dutch Variation
34
40
26
1...d5
- From Gambit
41
40
19
1...e5 2. fxe5 d6
- 1...f5 Variation
39
30
31
1...f5
Bishop's Opening
41
29
30
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4
- Berlin Defense
40
28
32
2...Nf6
- 3...d3 Variation
40
26
34
2...Nf6 3. d3
- 3...Nc3 Variation
38
32
30
2...Nf6 3. Nc3
- Classical Variation
47
30
23
2...Bc5
Blackmar Diemer Gambit
49
35
16
1. d4 d5 2. e4
- Caro-Kann
37
28
35
2...c6
- Nimzowitsch Defense Center Variation
43
35
22
2...d5
- Accepted
50
35
15
2...dxe4
- French Defense
40
30
30
2...e6
Blackmar Diemer Gambit (Delayed)
45
39
16
1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4
- Caro-Kann Traditional Variation
36
28
36
3...c6
- Accepted
50
35
15
3...dxe4
- Accepted 4. f3 Variation
52
34
14
3...dxe4 4...f3
- French Defense Main Line
39
28
33
3...e6
- Hubsch Variation
42
40
18
3...Nxe4
Bogo-Indian Defense
36
22
42
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+
Budapest Gambit
46
27
27
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5
- Fajarowicz Variation
50
26
24
3. dxe5 Ne4
- Rubenstein Variation
50
17
33
3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4
- Alekhine Variation
41
37
22
3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4
- Adler Variation
42
30
28
3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3
Caro-Kann
38
28
34
1. e4 c6
- Advance Variation
41
30
29
2. d4 d5 3. e5
- Panov-Botvinnik Attack
36
29
35
2. d4 d5 3. exd5
- Traditional Variation
36
28
36
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
- Capablanca Variation
34
26
40
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 cxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5
Centre Counter Game
42
29
29
1. e4 d5
- 2...Nf6 Variation
42
30
28
2. exd5 Nf6
- 2...Qxd5 Variation
42
28
30
2. exd5 Qxd5
- 3...Qa5 Variation
42
28
30
2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5
- 3...Qd8 Variation
42
26
32
2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8
Centre Game
44
34
22
1. e4 e5 2. d4
- Accepted
42
35
23
2...exd4
- Danish Gambit
44
36
20
2...exd4 3. c3
- Danish Gambit Fully Accepted
46
35
19
2...exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2
- 3. Qxd4 Variation
42
36
22
2...exd4 3. Qxd4
Colle System
35
34
31
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3
- 3...Bf5 Variation
30
36
34
3...Bf5
- 3...c5 Variation
29
39
32
3...c5
- Zukertort Variation
43
28
29
3...e6 4. Bd3 c5
Dunst Opening
36
36
28
1. Nc3
- 1...d5 Variation
34
38
28
1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation
48
24
28
1...e5
- 1...Nf6 Variation
48
27
25
1...Nf6
Dutch Defense
42
28
30
1. d4 f5
English Opening
38
28
34
1. c4
- Symmetrical
37
31
32
1...c5
- Reti's Opening
37
24
39
1...c6
- Reversed Sicilian
37
25
38
1...e5
Four Knight's Defense
34
27
39
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6
French Defense
40
30
30
1. e4 e6
- St George's Variation
50
32
18
2. d4 a6
- Winawer Variation
42
29
29
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4
- Advance Variation
38
35
27
2. d4 d5 3. e5
- Exchange Variation
25
32
43
2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5
- Main Line
39
28
33
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6
- MacCutcheon Variation
39
30
31
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4
- Main Line 4. e5
40
29
31
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5
- Tarrasch Variation
40
25
35
2. d4 d5 3. Nd2
Giuoco Piano
40
32
28
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
- Main Line
39
32
29
3...Bc5
- Evans Gambit
39
38
23
3...Bc5 4. b4
- Main Line
41
29
30
3...Bc5 4. c3
- Main Line 5. d3 Variation
38
26
36
3...Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3
- Main Line 5. d4 Variation
40
33
27
3...Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4
- Moller Attack
31
43
26
3...Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5
- Giuoco Pianissimo
35
34
31
3...Bc5 4. d3
- 4. Nc3 Variation
36
35
29
3...Bc5 4. Nc3
- 4. O-O Variation
38
34
28
3...Bc5 4. O-O
- Hungarian Defense
45
26
29
3...Be7
- Blackburne Gambit
53
35
12
3...Nd4
- Two Knight's Defense
39
34
27
3...Nf6
- Max Lange Attack
39
33
28
3...Nf6 4. d4
Grob Opening
36
46
18
1. g4
- 1...d5 Variation
35
48
17
1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation
34
49
17
1...e5
Grunfeld Defense
37
26
37
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
- Classical System
36
24
40
4. Bf4
- Exchange Variation
38
25
37
4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4
- Russian System
41
24
35
4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3
Gunderam Defense
50
25
25
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qe7
Horwitz Defense
39
27
34
1. d4 e6
King's Gambit
43
37
20
1. e4 e5 2. f4
- Falkbeer Counter Gambit
41
36
23
2...d5
- Declined
66
21
13
2...d6
- Accepted
42
37
21
2...exf4
- Cunningham Defense
42
37
21
2...exf4 3. Nf3 Be7
- Abbazia Defense
37
33
30
2...exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Nf6
- Allgaier Gambit
50
37
13
2...exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5
King's Pawn Opening
38
31
31
1. e4
- 1...e5
42
30
28
1...e5
- King's Knight Opening
41
29
30
1...e5 2. Nf3
- Queen's Knight Opening
41
29
30
1...e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
King's Indian
42
28
30
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6
- Averbakh Variation
45
25
30
5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5
- Classical Variation
41
26
33
5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5
- Samisch Variation
42
30
28
5. f3
- Four Pawns Attack
43
30
27
5. f4
Larsen's Defense
37
33
30
1. b3
- Classical Variation
34
34
32
1...d5
- Modern Variation
38
33
29
1...e5
- Indian Variation
36
30
34
1...Nf6
Latvian Gambit
50
33
17
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5
- Accepted
51
31
18
3. exf5
- 3. Nxe5 Variation
56
31
13
3. Nxe5
Mieses Opening
39
37
24
1. d3
1...d5 Variation
39
36
25
1...d5
1...e5 Variation
40
43
17
1...e5
Modern Defense
39
31
30
1. d4 g6
- 2. c4 Variation
40
30
30
2. c4
- Robatsch Defense
39
32
29
2. e4
Nimzo Indian
33
30
37
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
- Samisch Variation
31
45
24
4. a3
- Leningrad Variation
34
39
27
4. Bg5
- Main Line
33
30
37
4. e3
- Queenside Fianchetto
34
32
34
4. e3 b6
- Main Line 4...c5
36
28
36
4. e3 c5
- Main Line 5. Bd3
36
28
36
4. e3 c5 5. Bd3
- Rubenstein's Variation
38
24
38
4. e3 c5 5. Ne2
- Taimanov System
41
28
31
4. e3 Nc6
- 4. f3 Variation
38
30
32
4. f3
- Kasparov's Variation
32
27
41
4. g3
- 4. Nf3 Variation
33
28
39
4. Nf3
- Spielmann's Variation
39
28
33
4. Qb3
- Classical Variation
33
26
41
4. Qc2
Nimzowitsch Defense
41
34
25
1. e4 Nc6
- Centre Variation
41
37
22
2. d4
- 2...d5 Variation
43
35
22
2. d4 d5
- 2...d6 Variation
41
41
18
2. d4 d6
- 2...e5 Variation
39
38
23
2. d4 e5
- Declined
42
31
27
2. Nf3
- 2...d5 Variation
48
27
25
2. Nf3 d5
- 2...d6 Variation
43
31
26
2. Nf3 d6
Petroff's Defense
39
22
39
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
- Steinitz Variation
43
21
36
3. d4
- Paulsen Variation
37
19
44
3. Nxe5 d6
- Classical Attack
39
20
41
3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5
- Damiano Variation
50
28
22
3. Nxe5 Nxe4
- 3...Qe7 Variation
52
23
25
3. Nxe5 Qe7
Philidor's Defense
46
27
27
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
Pirc Defense
41
30
29
1. e4 d6
- 4. f3 Variation
42
35
23
2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f3
- Austrian Attack
44
28
28
2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4
- Classical Variation
37
29
34
2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3
Polish Defense
38
39
23
1. b4
- 1...d5
37
38
25
1...d5
- 1...e5
38
40
22
1...e5
- 1...Nf6
36
40
24
1...Nf6
Polish Opening
49
28
23
1. d4 b5
Ponziani's Opening
38
34
28
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3
- 3...d5 Variation
32
42
26
3...d5
- Jaenisch Counterattack
38
32
30
3...Nf6
Pseudo King's Indian
38
29
33
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6
Queen's Gambit
40
24
36
1. d4 d5 2. c4
- Slav Defense
39
23
38
2...c6
- Slav Defense 4...Bf5 Variation
57
21
22
2...c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bf5
- Slav Defense Main Line
38
25
37
2...c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4
- Accepted
37
24
39
2...dxc4
- Albin CounterGambit
48
30
22
2...e5
- Declined
41
23
36
2...e6
- Tarrasch Variation
39
26
35
2...e6 3. Nc3 c5
- Declined Main Line
44
22
34
2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6
- Declined Classical Variation
31
12
57
2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5
- Cambridge Springs Defense
43
26
31
2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7
- Semi Slav
38
25
37
2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6
- Semi Slav 5. Bg5 Variation
40
27
33
2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5
- Semi Slav 5. e3 Variation
38
23
39
2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3
- Meran Variation
33
27
40
2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 b5
- Old Line
37
28
35
2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5
- Chigorin Variation
46
29
25
2...Nc6
Queenside Fianchetto
46
29
25
1. e4 b6
- 2. d4 Variation
47
28
25
2. d4
- 2. Nc3 Variation
28
48
24
2. Nc3
- 2. Nf3 Variation
37
37
26
2. Nf3
Queen's Indian Defense
33
25
42
1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6
- Petrosian System
35
25
40
4. a3
- 4. e3 Variation
34
25
41
4. e3
- 4. g3 Variation
31
23
46
4. g3
- 4. Nc3 Variation
36
26
38
4. Nc3
Queen's Pawn Opening
38
28
34
1. d4
- 1...d5
40
25
35
1...d5
- 1...d5 2. c4
40
24
36
1...d5 2. c4
- 1...d5 2. e4
49
35
16
1...d5 2. e4
- 1...d5 2. Nf3
37
27
36
1...d5 2. Nf3
- 1...Nf6
38
29
33
1...Nf6
- 1...Nf6 2. c4
39
28
33
1...Nf6 2. c4
- 1...Nf6 2. Nf3
36
29
35
1...Nf6 2. Nf3
Rat
37
30
33
1. d4 d6
Reti Opening
37
26
37
1. Nf3
- 1...d5 Variation
36
26
38
1...d5
- 1...g6 Variation
36
29
35
1...g6
- 1...Nc6 Variation
46
27
27
1...Nc6
- 1...Nf6 Variation
38
24
38
1...Nf6
Robatsch Defense
38
33
29
1. e4 g6
2. d4 Variation
39
32
29
2. d4
2. Nf3 Variation
37
32
31
2. Nf3
Ruy Lopez
40
27
33
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
- Morphy Defense
37
25
38
3...a6
- 4. Ba4 Variation
40
27
33
3...a6 4. Ba4
- Arkhangelsk Variation
40
26
34
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5
- Closed Defense
36
23
41
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7
- Centre Attack
41
28
31
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4
- Worrall Attack
41
26
33
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2
- Smyslov's Variation
39
25
36
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 h6
- Chigorin Variation
38
22
40
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5
- Breyer Variation
33
24
43
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8
- Avoiding the Marshall CounterGambit
42
23
35
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
- Marshall CounterGambit
33
34
33
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5
- Marshall CounterGambit Main Line
34
34
32
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3
- Open Defense
38
25
37
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4
- Kere's Attack
37
23
40
3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2
- Exchange Variation
33
28
39
3...a6 4. Bxc6
- Classical Defense
46
26
28
3...Bc5
- Steinitz Defense
59
23
18
3...d6
- Schliemann Gambit
41
30
29
3...f5
- Bird's Defense
51
25
24
3...Nd4
- Berlin Defense
36
25
39
3...Nf6
- Rio de Janiero Variation
30
26
44
3...Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4
Saragossa Opening
34
43
23
1. c3
1...d5 Variation
33
45
22
1...d5
1...e5 Variation
40
45
15
1...e5
Sarratt Attack
37
30
33
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4
Scotch Game
40
30
30
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
- Goring Gambit
45
30
25
3...exd4 4. c3
- Goring Gambit Declined
32
34
34
3...exd4 4. c3 d5
- Goring Gambit Accepted
55
30
15
3...exd4 4. c3 dxc3
- Goring Gambit Fully Accepted
60
33
7
3...exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2
- 4. Main Line
39
28
33
3...exd4 4. Nxd4
- 4...Bc5 Variation
37
29
34
3...exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5
- Schmidt Variation
36
29
35
3...exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
Sicilian Defense
37
34
29
1. e4 c5
- Wing Gambit
29
49
22
2. b4 cxb4 3. a3
- Alapin Variation
35
32
33
2. c3
- Grand Prix Attack
33
42
25
2. f4
- Closed Sicilian
35
37
28
2. Nc3
- 2. Nf3 Variation
37
33
30
2. Nf3
- 2...d6 Variation
37
32
31
2. Nf3 d6
- Najdorf Variation
37
33
30
2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
- Schveningen Variation
40
31
29
2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6
- Dragon Variation
42
31
27
2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6
- 2...e6 Variation
35
33
32
2. Nf3 e6
- Kan Variation
35
35
30
2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6
- 2...Nc6 Variation
38
33
29
2. Nf3 Nc6
- Lowenthal Hunting Variation
37
34
29
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
- Maroczy Bind
38
21
41
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4
- Pelikan Variation
36
32
32
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5
- Nimzowitsch Variation
40
29
31
2. Nf3 Nf6
St George's Defense
50
30
20
1. e4 a6
Three Knight's Defense
37
28
35
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3
Torre Attack
37
32
31
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5
- 3...Ne4 Variation
28
39
33
3...Ne4
Trompowsky Attack
38
31
31
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5
- 2...d5 Variation
36
29
35
2...d5
- 2...Ne4 Variation
38
32
30
2...Ne4
Van't Kruijs Attack
28
47
25
1. e3
- 1...d5 Variation
23
54
23
1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation
37
43
20
1...e5
Vienna Game
41
30
29
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3
- 2...Bc5 Variation
44
28
28
2...Bc5
- 2...Nc6 Variation
41
32
27
2...Nc6
- Falkbeer Variation
38
31
31
2...Nf6
- Vienna Gambit
41
31
28
2...Nf6 3. f4
- Modern Variation
36
35
29
2...Nf6 3. f4 d5
If there are statistics for other openings or variations that I have missed that you are interested in then position searches can be done at www.chesslab.com/PositionSearch.html. To do the search, set the position up on the board and click on the 'Position Stats' button. White's 1st Move The best first moves for white are 1. c4, 1. d4, 1. g3 and 1. Nf3. They all have very similar success rates for white. 1. e4 is not quite so successful because of the popularity of black's equally most successful opening, the Sicilian Defense. Replies to White's 1st Move Against 1. a3 (Anderssen's Opening), play 1...g6, don't play 1...e5. Against 1. b3 (Larsen's Defense), play 1...d5 (Classical Variation). Against 1. b4 (Polish Defense), 1...Nf6 is slightly more successful than 1...d5 and 1...e5. Against 1. c3 (Saragossa Opening), play 1...d5. Against 1. c4 (English Opening), play 1...c5 (Symmetrical Variation). Against 1. d3 (Mieses Opening), play 1...e5. Against 1. d4 (Queen's Pawn Opening), 1...Nf6 is black's best reply. 1...g6 and 1...d6 are also quite good for black. 1...d5 is a very common reply but not as successful for black. 1...f5 (Dutch Defense) and 1...b5 (Polish Opening) are both bad for black. Against 1. e3 (Van't Kruijs Attack), play 1...d5, don't play 1...e5. Against 1. e4 (King's Pawn Opening), 1...c5 (Sicilian Defense) is black's best reply. Although not too commonly played, 1...g6 (Robatsch Defense), 1...Nf6 (Alekhine's Defense) and 1...Nc6 (Nimzowitsch Defense) are also quite good for black while other replies like 1...c6 (Caro-Kann), 1...d6 (Pirc Defense) and1...e6 (French Defense) are also a little bit more successful than the more common 1...e5.
Against 1. f4 (Bird's Opening), play 1...d5 (Dutch Variation). Against 1. g3 (Benko Opening), play either 1...d5 or 1...e5, don't play 1...h5 (Lasker Simul Special). Against 1. g4 (Grob Opening), play 1...e5. Against 1. Nc3 (Dunst Opening), play 1...d5, don't play 1...e5 or 1...Nf6. Against 1. Nf3 (Reti Opening), play 1...g6, don't play 1...Nc6. Against any other first move, play either 1...d5 or 1...e5. Queen's Pawn Openings After 1. d4 d5 If black replies to 1. d4 with 1...d5 then white's most successful openings are 2. c4 (Queen's Gambit) and 2. e4 (Blackmar Diemer Gambit). Other fairly common continuations like 2. Nf3 are not as successful. Against 2. c4 (Queen's Gambit), the best continuations for black are the Queen's Gambit Accepted and theSemi Slav. If black plays the Semi Slav then its better for white to play 5. Bg5 rather than 5. e3 because that can easily lead into the Meran Variation which is black's most successful continuation from the Queen's Gambit. After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 is more successful than 2. Nf3 for white but black can try for the Nimzo Indian after 2. c4 and that is black's equally most successful opening overall, however white can avoid that by playing a different third move. Another alternative that occasionally gets played is 2. Bg5 (Trompowsky Attack), black's most successful reply to that is 2...d5. After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 There are two common continuations for black in this position which are 2...e6 (normally leading to a Nimzo Indian or Queen's Indian) or 2...g6 (normally leading to a King's Indian or Grunfeld Defense). Out of those two continuations 2...e6 is more successful for black.
Benko Gambit - White should fully accept the gambit and try to keep to the main line. Playing the Nescafe Frappe Attack instead of fully accepting the gambit is bad for white. Benoni Defense - White should play the Modern Variation against this opening. Grunfeld Defense - All of the main lines are good for white but the Russian System is a little bit more successful. King's Indian - This is an extremely popular opening for black but its nowhere near as successful for black as the Nimzo Indian. White's most successful continuation is the Averbakh Variation, also note that if black makes the mistake in that variation of playing 6...e5 then 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nd5 is very good for white. Nimzo Indian - This is black's equally most successful opening along with the Sicilian Defense. The best continuations for white are 4. Qb3 (Spielmann's Variation), 4. e3 (Main Line) and the 4. f3 variation. If the 4.e3 c5 Main Line is played, white should play 5. Ne2 (Rubenstein's Variation) as this is white's most successful reply overall to the Nimzo Indian. White should avoid playing 4. a3 (Samisch Variation) and 4. Bg5 (Leningrad Variation). Queen's Indian - This is less successful than the Nimzo Indian but more successful than the King's Indian. All the main variations have very similar success rates for white but the 4. a3 (Petrosian System) and 4. Nf3 Variation are slightly better. The Queen's Indian can be reached if white plays 3. Nf3 to avoid the Nimzo Indian. Also note that 3...Bb4+ would lead to a Bogo-Indian Defense which is bad for black as white can play4. Nbd2 to avoid the risk of getting doubled pawns on the c-file and an isolated pawn on the a-file. King's Pawn Openings After 1. e4 e5 Against 2. d4 (Centre Game), play 2...exd4. After that, the Danish Gambit is a bit more successful for white. In that continuation, black shouldn't fully accept the gambit by taking the pawn on b2. Against 2. f4 (King's Gambit), play either 2...d5 (Falkbeer Counter Gambit) or 2...exf4 (Accepted), definitely don't play 2...d6 (Declined). Black's best continuation is the Abbazia Defense, closely followed by the Cunningham Defense. The Allgaier Gambit isn't so good for black.
Against 2. Bc4 (Bishop's Opening), 2...Nf6 (Berlin Defense) is a bit more successful than 2...Nc6 (Classical Variation). After 2...Nf6 is played, 3. d3 is better for white than 3. Nc3. Against 2. Nc3 (Vienna Game), black's most successful reply is 2...Nf6 (Falkbeer Variation). If white plays 3. f4 (Vienna Gambit) after that then 3...d5 (Modern Variation) is good for black. Black shouldn't play 3...exf4to accept the gambit as that has a very low success rate for black. Against 2. Nf3 f5 (Latvian Gambit), play 3. Nxe5. Against 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 (Ponziani's Opening), 3...d5 is better than 3...Nf6 for black. Against 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 (Scotch Game), black should play 3...exd4. Overall the best continuation for white is4. c3 (Goring Gambit) but that is risky because the 4...d5 (Declined) reply is good for black. If black accepts the Goring Gambit then they shouldn't fully accept it by taking the pawn on b2 as well as this is very good for white. The main line of 4. Nxd4 is nearly as successful for white overall and doesn't have the problem of one of the main replies being more successful for black. Black's two main continuations after 4. Nxd4 are 4...Bc5 and4...Nf6 (Schmidt Variation) and they both have similar success rates for black. Against 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (Ruy Lopez), the best replies are 3...a6 (Morphy Defense), 3...f5 (Schliemann Gambit) and 3...Nf6 (Berlin Gambit). The least successful replies are 3...d6 (Steinitz Defense), 3...Nd4 (Bird's Defense) and 3...Bc5 (Classical Defense). If black plays 3...a6 (Morphy Defense), 4. Ba5 is better than 4. Bxc6 (Exchange Variation). If a closed variation is played, the Centre Attack and Worrall Attack are almost as good as the main line. If the main line of a Closed Variation is played up until black's 9th move then black's most successful continuation at that point is 9...Nb8 (Breyer's Variation). Overall, black's best variation is the Marshall Counter-Gambit however trying to play for that is a bit risky as 8. a4 is very successful for white. Also good for black is the Rio de Janiero Variation. Against 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 (Giuoco Piano), 3...Nf6 (Two Knight's Defense) is slightly more successful than3...Bc5 (Main Line). In the 3...Bc5 Main Line, white should play 4. c3 to prepare d4 but if black plays4...Nf6 then 5. d3 is a more successful continuation for white than 5. d4. In the main line, white should avoid playing the Moller Attack as that is good for black. The Evans Gambit,Giuoco Pianissimo and 3...Bc5 4. Nc3 line are not too good for white either.
Against 2. Nf3 Nf6 (Petroff's Defense), 3. d4 (Steinitz Variation) is white's best reply. If white plays 3. Nxe5, then black should play 3...d6 (Paulsen Variation). The 3. Nxe5 Qe7 Variation and 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 (Damiano Variation) are bad for black. Other 1. e4 Replies Against 1...b6 (Queenside Fianchetto), play 2. d4. Against 1...c5 (Sicilian Defense), the two most successful replies are 2. Nf3 and then 2. c3 (Alapin Variation). Other continuations like 2. Nc3 (Closed Variation), 2. f4 (Grand Prix Attack) and 2. b4 (Wing Gambit)aren't so good. After 2. Nf3 is played, the most successful reply to that is 2...e6. The other common replies of2...d6 and 2...Nc6 aren't quite so successful but still good. 2...Nf6 (Nimzowitsch Variation) isn't so good. In the main line of the 2...d6 Variation, 5...a6 (Najdorf Variation) is much more successful for black than 5...e6 (Schveningen Variation) and 5...g6 (Dragon Variation). In the 2...e6 Variation, black should try for the Kan Variation as that has black's best success rate out of all the most common 2. Nf3 lines. In the 2...Nc6 Variation, white should try for the Maroczy Bind as that has white's best success rate out of all the most common 2. Nf3 lines. Against 1...c6 (Caro-Kann), all the most common variations give a similar success rate for white but theAdvance Variation is slightly more successful. Against 1...d5 (Center-Counter), 2...Nf6 is slightly better than 2. Qxd8 if white takes the pawn on move two. In the 2...Qxd5 3. Nc3 Variation, 3...Qa5 is a little better than 3...Qd8. Against 1...d6 (Pirc Defense), if you are white then play the Austrian Attack if black carries on with a normal continuation like 2...Nf6 and 3...g6. That variation is easily white's most successful. Against 1...e6 (French Defense), carry on as normal with 2. d4 d5, then for white the Tarrasch Variation is the most successful followed by the Main Line. White should avoid the Exchange Variation and the Advance Variation as they are statistically the worst of the main variations for white. In the main line of 3. Nc3, the reply3...Nf6 is slightly more successful than 3...Bb4 (Winawer Variation) for black. Against 1...g6 (Robatsch Defense), 2. Nf3 is a little bit more successful for white than 2. d4. Against 1...Nc6 (Nimzowitsch Defense), 2. Nf3 is more successful than 2. d4.
Against 1...Nf6 (Alekhine Defense), play the Modern Variation, don't play the Four Pawns Attack.
Top 10s A win counts as one point and a draw counts as half a point in the following tables. The openings here are all fairly common so these tables don't include openings that never get played in higher level Chess because the win percentages won't be very accurate. White's Best 10 Openings (Based on White Win % + (Draw % x 0.5)) Rank Opening
White Win %
Draw %
Black Win %
Points per 100 games
1
Queen's Gambit
40
36
24
58
2
Blackmar Diemer Gambit
49
16
35
57
3
Ruy Lopez
40
33
27
56.5
4
Bishop's Opening
41
30
29
56
5
Benko Opening
38
35
27
55.5
=5
Reti Opening
37
37
26
55.5
=5
Vienna Game
41
29
30
55.5
8
Centre Game
44
22
34
55
=8
English Opening
38
34
28
55
=8
Scotch Game
40
30
30
55
White's Worst 10 Openings (Based on White Win % + (Draw % x 0.5)) Rank Opening 1
Van't Kruijs
White Win %
Draw %
Black Win %
Points per 100 games
28
25
47
40.5
Attack 2
Anderssen's Opening
30
27
43
43.5
3
Grob Opening
36
18
46
45
4
Saragossa Opening
34
23
43
45.5
5
Bird's Opening
34
25
41
46.5
6
Polish Defense
38
23
39
49.5
7
Dunst Opening
36
28
36
50
=7
Anti-Veresov Opening
36
28
36
50
9
Colle System
35
31
34
50.5
10
Mieses Opening
39
24
37
51
Black's Best 10 Openings (Based on Black Win % + (Draw % x 0.5)) Rank Opening
White Win %
Draw %
Black Win %
Points per 100 games
1
Sicilian Defense
37
29
34
48.5
=1
Nimzo Indian
33
37
30
48.5
3
Robatsch Defense
38
29
33
47.5
4
Alekhine Defense
38
30
32
47
5
Nimzowitsch Defense
41
25
34
46.5
=5
Rat
37
33
30
46.5
7
Benko Gambit
40
28
32
46
=7
Modern
39
30
31
46
Defense =7
Queen's Indian Defense
33
42
25
46
10
Pseudo King's Indian
38
33
29
45.5
Black's Worst 10 Openings (Based on Black Win % + (Draw % x 0.5)) Rank Opening
White Win %
Draw %
Black Win %
Points per 100 games
1
Gunderam Defense
50
25
25
37.5
2
Polish Opening
49
23
28
39.5
3
St George's Defense
50
20
30
40
4
Budapest Gambit
46
27
27
40.5
=4
Philidor's Defense
46
27
27
40.5
6
Latvian Gambit
50
17
33
41.5
=6
Petroff's Defense
39
39
22
41.5
=6
Queenside Fianchetto
46
25
29
41.5
9
Bogo-Indian Defense
36
42
22
43
=9
Dutch Defense
42
30
28
43
=9
King's Indian
42
30
28
43
10 Most Drawn Openings Rank Opening
Draw (%)
1
Bogo-Indian Defense
42
=1
Queen's Indian Defense
42
3
Petroff's Defense
39
=3
Four Knight's Defense
39
5
Grunfeld Defense
37
=5
Nimzo Indian
37
=5
Reti Opening
37
8
Queen's Gambit
36
9
Benko Opening
35
=9
Three Knight's Defense
35
10 Least Drawn Openings Draw (%)
Rank Opening 1
Blackmar Diemer Gambit
16
=1
Blackmar Diemer Gambit (Delayed)
16
3
Latvian Gambit
17
4
Grob Opening
18
5
King's Gambit
20
=5
St George's Defense
20
7
Center Game
22
8
Polish Defense
23
=8
Polish Opening
23
=8
Saragossa Opening
23
Links to my other pages
Chess Puzzles This is a collection of checkmate puzzles. There are sets of 12 puzzles for beginners, intermediate and advanced players. Chess Openings From this page you will find links to my various openings pages. There are pages about the Blackburne Gambit,Budapest Gambit, Hippopotamus Defense, Ruy Lopez, Slav Defense and St George's Defense and a collection of Unusual Openings. In total there are over 700 example games involving these openings. Chess Play Chess online against a computer opponent. How to Beat Chess Computers This page gives tips and advice on how to beat Chess Computers. It gives advice on what to do and what not to do against Chess Computers and includes example games that demonstrate a few key points.
