Openings with e4 and ...e5

The family of openings that begins when White plays 1.e4 and Black answers 1...e5.

An opening beginning 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5, where White indirectly pressures Black's e5-pawn.

A fundamental reply that attacks White’s bishop and makes it choose between capturing the knight and retreating.

A Ruy Lopez line where White trades the light-squared bishop for the c6-knight and changes Black's pawn structure.

A Ruy Lopez variation defined by 5...Nxe4, where Black takes the central pawn and accepts active play in a more open position.

A Ruy Lopez family defined by 5...Be7, where Black maintains the center and prepares to castle instead of taking e4.

A Closed Ruy Lopez gambit where Black plays ...d5 and offers a pawn to gain the initiative against White's king.

A Closed Ruy Lopez defense in which Black plays ...Na5 to displace White's bishop and prepare ...c5.

A Closed Ruy Lopez system where Black retreats the c6-knight to b8 so it can reorganize through d7.

A dynamic Closed Ruy Lopez system in which Black develops the bishop to b7 to increase pressure on e4.

A Closed Ruy Lopez system where White plays 6.Qe2 to support e4 and keep the rook available for d1.

An active Ruy Lopez defense where Black plays ...b5 and ...Bb7 to pressure the center from a long diagonal.

An active system in which Black gains space on the side where the queens begin and activates the bishop against the center and king.

A system in which Black first challenges White’s bishop and then supports the center, gaining solidity but less space.

A Ruy Lopez defense with 3...Nf6 that develops a knight, attacks e4, and can lead to queenless strategic play.

A Ruy Lopez variation in which Black plays 3...d6 to support the e5-pawn immediately.

An active defense in which Black aims the bishop at a pawn near White’s king before moving the king knight.

An aggressive reply in which Black advances a pawn beside the king to attack White’s center and create immediate threats.

A Ruy Lopez defense in which Black moves the same knight twice, centralizes it, and attacks White’s bishop.

A flexible defense in which one black knight supports the other and prepares to reorganize later.

The opening defined by 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, with White's bishop aiming at f7.

The Italian Game branch defined by 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5.

A quiet Italian Game system in which White plays d3 and delays opening the center.

An aggressive Giuoco Piano branch in which White plays 4.b4 and offers a pawn to gain activity and open the center.

An Italian Game variation where Black develops the second knight to f6 and attacks White's e4-pawn.

A Two Knights Defense line where White sacrifices a knight on f7 to expose Black's king and start an attack.

An attack defined by 6.d4, opening lines and strengthening White’s pressure instead of sacrificing immediately on f7.

The defense 5...Na5, attacking the c4-bishop and avoiding the central recapture that permits the Lolli and Fried Liver attacks.

The tactical reply 4...Bc5, ignoring White’s pressure on f7 and creating immediate threats against f2 and the white king.

The reply 5...b5, immediately attacking the c4-bishop and gaining time before resolving White’s pawn on d5.

A solid Italian Game defense in which Black plays 3...Be7 and avoids an immediate confrontation.

An opening beginning 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4, where White immediately challenges Black's central e5-pawn.

A Scotch Game branch where Black develops with 4...Bc5 and immediately puts pressure on White's central knight on d4.

A Scotch line where 4...Nf6 attacks e4 and White answers with Nxc6 and e5 to gain space.

A Scotch Game variation where White plays 4.Bc4, delays recapturing the pawn, and seeks rapid development.

An attacking system in which White secures the king and chases a black knight with a central pawn advance.

A Scotch Game gambit where White plays 4.c3, offering a pawn for rapid development and open lines.

An opening where both players develop both knights toward the center within the first three moves.

A Four Knights branch in which White plays 4.d4 to challenge Black’s e5-pawn immediately.

A Scotch Four Knights gambit in which White plays 5.Nd5 instead of immediately recovering the pawn.

A Four Knights branch in which 4.Bb5 pressures the knight that helps support Black’s e5-pawn.

The active reply 4...Nd4 to the Spanish Four Knights, breaking symmetry and creating several simultaneous attacks.

An aggressive gambit in which White sacrifices a knight on e5 to advance the central pawns with tempo.

A defense beginning 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6, where Black counterattacks e4 instead of directly protecting e5.

A main Petrov line in which the e-pawns are exchanged and White occupies the center with d4 to challenge the knight on e4.

A system in which White challenges the center with a pawn before capturing Black’s advanced central pawn.

A knight sacrifice that exposes the black king and seeks immediate activity in the center.

A gambit in which Black offers a pawn to bring the pieces out quickly and create threats against the white king.

A defense beginning with e4, e5, Nf3, and ...d6, supporting the e5-pawn with a compact structure.

A compact system in which Black supports an advanced central pawn and places a knight behind it.

A Philidor system in which Black places both knights around two central pawns that support each other.

An aggressive reply to e4 and Nf3 in which Black plays ...f5 and offers pawns to attack the center.

A countergambit in which Black answers e4 and Nf3 with ...d5, offering a pawn to open the center and gain time.

The reply 2...f6 to 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, intended to support e5 but weakening the king and allowing a strong tactic.

An opening in which White plays c3 on move three to prepare a broad center with d4.

An active Ponziani reply in which Black brings out a knight and immediately attacks White’s central pawn.

An opening in which White offers the f2-pawn to divert Black's e5-pawn and gain activity.

The King's Gambit continuation in which Black takes the offered pawn with ...exf4.

A King’s Gambit Accepted line in which White develops 3.Bc4, attacks f7, and delays the g1-knight.

The defense 3...Be7, developing the bishop and preparing ...Bh4+ against the white king in some lines.

The defense 3...d6, controlling e5, restricting White’s knight, and preparing to support the extra pawn with ...g5.

An attacking King’s Gambit branch in which White centralizes a knight and pressures the advanced pawns near Black’s king.

An extreme sacrifice in which White secures the king and may give up a knight to attack quickly.

A family of replies in which Black does not take the pawn on f4 and chooses development or central counterplay instead.

A central reply to the King’s Gambit in which Black declines the offered pawn and counterattacks immediately.

An opening beginning 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3, developing the b1-knight first while preserving several attacking and positional options.

A Vienna Game system where White plays an early f4 to challenge e5 and gain activity, even if the pawn is offered.

A Vienna Game line with early forcing threats and captures, beginning with Black's risky 3...Nxe4.

An opening beginning with e4, e5, and Bc4, developing the bishop toward f7 before moving the king's knight.

A Bishop's Opening gambit in which White offers a pawn for rapid development and central pressure.

An opening in which White immediately challenges Black's e5-pawn with d4 and usually recaptures on d4 with the queen.

A gambit beginning with e4, e5, d4, and c3, offering pawns to develop both bishops very quickly.