3 BEST BEGINNER-INTERMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR WHITE AND BLACK

Opening is definitely a crucial phase in the game, as it determines how your middlegame and endgame will go. Having a repertoire is very important in chess but at the same time, you need to explore through different openings to find the apt one which you would like to play!

What's a repertoire?

A repertoire in chess means a collection of openings that you play often. When you begin making your repertoire, don't stick to just one line and variation in an opening. Study all possible lines and try to grab the "main motive" of every move played. Once you do that, you'll be able to identify a move in the opening even if you don't remember it.

These are 3 openings that I would recommend for people with a rating ranging from 800-2000- (there are no gambits included because I would recommend no gambits until you reach 1000, and play very theoretically which will help you later on)

1. London System (as white)

London System starts with the move d4 and is a very safe opening. This is one of my favorite openings due to the constant success in a) achieving the position of the opening and b) opponent blundering a checkmate or hanging a piece. In the opening position where both knights are active, both bishops are aiming along diagonals, and pawns are perfectly placed, your opponent would try to find moves but with every move, he would make his position even more compact and congested. There is great flexibility for you to determine the way in which you want to take the game forward and people might often miss your ideas.

2. Caro-Kann Defense (as black)

Caro-Kann is definitely one of the most renowned openings of all time! It is a very solid opening against the king's pawn opening and is classified as a "Semi-Open Game". Unlike the London System, in this opening, often your opponent can decide whether he wants to move in the exchange variation or advanced variation, although black will have multiple ways of dominating the game where your opponent might not be aware of some lines and variations. This opening is played at various levels including the grandmaster level too.

3. Ponziani Opening (as white)

Ponziani Opening is an open-game and one of the oldest openings, named after Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani. There are multiple lines and variations and white can exploit the position even with the slightest of mistake black makes. In the Ponziani, it's best to build up more pressure on black, rather than to exchange everything. The most common variations are a) The Main-Line and b) Jaenisch Counter-Attack and the stats are very favorable towards white.

These are 3 openings that I would recommend playing, although you might find some unsuitable for you and it's completely fine if you want to continue playing what you already play or want to learn some other one. After all, it's your moves and incentive that matter!

Thank you so much for reading!
Written by Petra/.