5 Best Chess Openings for Beginners (and the Ideas Behind Them)
· 9 min read
The opening is where most beginner games are lost. Not because players don't know theory, but because they ignore a few simple principles. This guide gives you those principles, then five openings that are easy to learn, sound at every level, and lead to positions you can actually play.
Opening principles first
Before any specific opening, these rules will win you more games than memorising moves:
- Control the centre with pawns (e4, d4, e5, d5) and pieces.
- Develop your knights and bishops quickly, usually knights before bishops.
- Castle early to get your king safe and connect your rooks.
- Don't move the same piece twice in the opening without a good reason.
- Don't bring your queen out too early. It gets chased around while your opponent develops.
- Don't grab pawns if it costs you development.
Follow these and you'll reach a playable middlegame almost every game.
1. The Italian Game (for White)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
The Italian is one of the oldest openings and still a favourite at the top. White develops quickly, aims the bishop at Black's weak f7 square and prepares to castle.
Plans for White: play c3 and d4 to build a big centre, or keep it slow with d3, castle, and manoeuvre the knight via d2–f1–g3.
Watch out for: the "Fried Liver" trap with an early Ng5. It works against careless defenders, but with good defence Black is fine, so don't rely on traps.
2. The Queen's Gambit (for White)
1.d4 d5 2.c4
White offers a pawn to pull Black's d-pawn away from the centre. It isn't a real gambit, because White can usually win the pawn back.
If Black accepts (2...dxc4): play e3 or e4 and Bxc4, getting a strong centre. If Black declines (2...e6): develop with Nc3, Bg5 and e3, and play against Black's slightly passive position.
The Queen's Gambit teaches you about pawn structures and long-term plans, which is great for improving.
3. The London System (for White)
1.d4, 2.Bf4, then e3, Nf3, c3, Bd3, Nbd2
The London is popular because you can play the same setup against almost anything. White builds a solid pyramid of pawns, develops naturally and castles.
Plan: a kingside attack with Ne5 and sometimes g4–g5, or a slow squeeze in the centre. Why beginners love it: less theory to learn and very hard to get blown off the board.
4. The Caro-Kann Defence (for Black against 1.e4)
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
A rock-solid answer to 1.e4. Black challenges the centre immediately and gets a healthy pawn structure. In the main line, Black often develops the light-squared bishop to f5 or g4 before playing e6, so it doesn't get locked in.
Why it's good: few early tactical tricks, sound structure, and good endgames.
5. The Scandinavian Defence (for Black against 1.e4)
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 (or 3...Qd6)
Black hits the centre on move one. The queen does come out early, which breaks a principle, but it's a well-tested exception: the queen retreats to a safe square and Black develops comfortably.
Why it's good: you decide the type of game from move one, and White can't steer you into their preparation as easily.
Against 1.d4 as Black
Keep it simple: 1.d4 d5 and develop naturally with Nf6, e6, Be7 and castling (the Queen's Gambit Declined setup). It's solid, classical and teaches excellent habits.
Three common opening mistakes
- Moving pawns in front of your castled king. Each one is a weakness.
- Ignoring your opponent's threats. Before every move, ask "what does my opponent want?"
- Copying moves you don't understand. If you don't know why a move is played, you won't know what to do when your opponent deviates.
Put it into practice
Pick one opening for White and one defence against 1.e4 and 1.d4, and play them in every game for a few weeks. You'll learn the typical middlegame plans much faster than switching openings every day.
Play free games on Arena254 to practise, then take on real opponents at your level. Read how to play chess online for money in Kenya and how chess ratings work next.