Free Chess Tutorials
Free Chess Tutorials
All 500 ECO codes, organized into five categories from flank systems to Indian defences.
Theory The English Opening begins 1.c4, reaching for the centre from the side rather than occupying it outright with a pawn on move one. It’s a flank opening, grouped in ECO’s A00–A99 range alongside the Réti and the Bird’s Opening, and it shares their central idea: develop flexibly, watch what Black commits to, and strike
Theory 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 — that quiet-looking a6 is the whole idea of the Najdorf. It rules out Nb5 and Bb5+ ideas before Black commits the rest of the position, keeping options open for e5, e6, or a kingside fianchetto depending on how White sets up. What makes
Theory 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 pins nothing yet, but it sets up a persistent question: how does Black solve the pressure this bishop puts on the knight defending e5? The main line, 3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, is the Morphy Defence, and it’s been the top-level battleground for over a century. The Ruy Lopez sits in
Theory 2…e6 is Black’s most solid reply to the Queen’s Gambit: it supports d5 without weakening the position the way accepting the pawn (dxc4) or the Slav’s c6 can. The trade-off is the light-squared bishop, temporarily boxed in behind the e6 pawn. The Queen’s Gambit Declined sits in ECO’s D30–D69 range and produces some of
Queen’s Gambit Declined Read More »
Theory 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 lets White occupy the centre with pawns on c4/d4/e4 while Black fianchettoes and prepares a direct assault — usually e5 or c5 followed by a kingside pawn storm with f5. It’s a fight of contrasting plans rather than a battle for the same squares, which is what makes it so
King’s Indian Defence Read More »