This is a list of chess openings, organised by the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) code classification system. The chess openings are categorised into five broad areas ("A" through "E"), with each of those broken up into one hundred subcategories ("00" through "99"). The openings were published in five volumes of ECO, with volumes labeled "A" through "E".
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2013) |
White first moves other than 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4:
1.c4: English Opening
1.d4 without 1...d5, 1...Nf6 or 1...f5: Atypical replies to 1.d4
1.d4 Nf6 without 2.c4: Atypical replies to 1...Nf6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 without 2...e6 or 2...g6: Atypical Indian systems
1.d4 f5: Dutch Defence
1.e4 without 1...c5, 1...e6 or 1...e5
1.e4 c5: Sicilian Defence
1.e4 e6: French Defence
1.e4 e5: Open Game
1.d4 d5: Closed Game
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 with 3...d5: Grünfeld Defence
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6: Indian systems with ...e6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 without 3...d5: Indian systems with ...g6 (except Grünfeld)
Moves | 1800–1900 | 1901–1935 | 1935–1998 |
---|---|---|---|
1. e4 e5 | 63% | 31% | 15% |
1. e4 other | 23% | 20% | 35% |
1. d4 d5 | 10% | 28% | 15% |
1. d4 other | 3% | 16% | 23% |
1. other | 5% | 12% |
These statistics show a movement away from symmetrical defences to asymmetrical defences. In particular, in reply to 1.e4, the Sicilian and French defences, and to 1.d4 the Indian defences. Also, particularly amongst strong players, an increased use of the English Opening for White.[2]