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Introduction 

Choosing a suitable chess opening during a chess game is essential because the right chess opening can increase your chances of winning significantly. As a chess player it’s crucial to develop a repertoire of chess openings so that you can choose specific chess openings that will be the most effective during chess games depending on your opponent’s playing style. There are many types of chess openings however most chess openings fall into two main categories which are classical chess openings and hypermodern chess openings. There are dozens of chess openings that fall into each category and chess openings typically have dozens of variations that each have their own unique strategic advantages and disadvantages. In this article i will cover how many openings there are in chess, how chess opening theory has evolved throughout the years as well as some tips on how to develop a good opening repertoire to increase your success rate in chess.  

The Different Types Of Chess Openings 

There are thousands of openings in chess that each have variations and sub variations and there are undoubtedly much more chess openings that have not yet been discovered which makes it difficult to determine exactly just how many chess openings there are. According to The Oxford Companion To Chess there are 1372 named chess openings and variants and there are many others with varying degrees of common usage. The two main types of chess openings are classical chess openings and hypermodern chess openings and within these two types of chess openings there are also further distinctions that separate each opening in chess such as open game chess openings, closed game chess openings, semi open game chess openings and semi closed game chess openings. Classical chess openings aim to control the centre of the chess board directly with central pawns whereas hypermodern chess openings aim to control the centre of the chess board from the flanks which typically involves fianchettoing the bishops. Some of the popular classical chess openings include the Ruy Lopez/Spanish opening, the Italian opening, the Scotch opening, the Queen’s gambit, the Vienna gambit, the French defence, the King’s gambit, and the London opening. Some of the popular hypermodern chess openings include the Reti opening, the modern defence, the Nimzo Indian defence, the Queen’s Indian defence, the King’s Indian defence, the Pirc defence, the Catalan opening, and the English opening. These are some of the main chess openings that are used at all levels in chess as they are also some of the most effective chess openings.  

The Main Recognised Chess Openings And Their Categories 

There are dozens of chess openings that each have their own unique features which allows them to be categorised as either an open game chess opening, closed game chess opening, semi-open game chess opening, or a closed game chess opening depending on the structures that form on the chess board once the openings have been initiated during a chess game. There are both advantages and disadvantages to using the chess openings within each of the categories that chess players should be aware of. Open game chess openings usually lead to chess games that are much more direct which is best suited for chess players with an aggressive playing style whereas closed game chess openings tend to lead to chess games that are much more indirect which is best suited for chess players that prefer to take a tactical and patient approach and initiate attacks during middle and endgames. Semi open and semi closed game chess openings are hybrids of open game and closed game chess openings that have many of the benefits of their respective counterparts but without some of the negatives however there are still both advantages and disadvantages to initiating them during chess games. In addition to the types of structures that form on the chess board and the category that each chess opening falls under because of this, chess openings also fall under two broader categories which are classical openings and hypermodern chess openings.  

What Are Chess Opening Variations? 

Chess opening variations are sequences of moves within a chess opening that fall outside of the main lines of a particular chess opening. Some examples of chess opening variations are the Grand Prix attack, the Najdorf, the Dragon and the accelerated Dragon which are all variations and sub variations of the Sicilian defence.  

Chess opening variations are sequences of moves within a particular chess opening that aim to accomplish a specific goal which could be creating a certain type of pawn structure, attacking a weak spot in an opponent’s position or implementing a particular tactic. An example of a chess opening variation is the Grand Prix attack which is a variation of the Sicilian defence. Most chess opening variations also have sub variations which are sequences of moves within a variation of a chess opening that arise when one or both chess players initiate moves that fall outside of the mainlines of a variation of a chess opening. Chess opening variations and sub variations are similar to standard chess openings in that there are both advantages and disadvantages to using them during chess games. One of the main advantages of opening chess games with a variation or a sub variation of a chess opening is that they can be challenging for unprepared opponents to play against however one of the main disadvantages of using a variation or a sub variation of a chess opening is that they can be difficult to master as there is usually much less analytical evidence of their effectiveness in chess games and require much more practice and analysis to understand their strengths and weaknesses.  

Chess opening variations and sub variations are important in chess because it expands chess opening theory and allows more data to be collected about the effectiveness of opening variations and the best ways to implement them in chess games. Chess players that are familiar with chess opening variations and sub variations have a significantly higher chance of winning more chess games than opponent’s who are less familiar with chess opening variations and sub variations as they are much better able to recognise patterns that arise on the chess board and as a result they will be better able to launch attacks and defend against tactics used by their opponents. Each opening in chess typically has numerous variations and even more sub variations which makes understanding any chess opening and its variations difficult, but it can also create opportunities for chess players that are able to learn the lines within an opening variation. Due to the large number of opening variations and sub variations in chess, chess players have the option to implement tactics and strategies within a chess opening variation that they are most comfortable with, and which best suits their playing style. As a chess player having an extensive and diverse repertoire of chess openings will deepen your understanding of chess and make you a better chess player.  

Unorthodox And Experimental Chess Openings 

Unorthodox and experimental chess openings can be described as any chess opening that has principles that strays from the principles that are common in the traditional chess openings. Utilising unorthodox chess openings typically involves forming unusual pawn structures, sacrificing chess pieces early in the game to achieve unique positions on the chess board and placing chess pieces in uncommon positions on the chess board. Unorthodox and experimental chess openings can be useful in chess because they can offer chess players an element of surprise during their chess games and because they are used less frequently compared to other popular chess openings. Unorthodox and experimental chess openings are not the most effective openings in chess, and they tend to be used more frequently in beginner level chess games and occasionally in higher level casual chess games as they usually lead to positions that can be challenging for chess players of all levels to play in. Some examples of unorthodox chess openings include the Bird’s opening, the Grob opening, the Borg defence, the Hippopotamus defence, the Nimzowitsch defence and the Ware opening. Experimenting with unorthodox chess openings can make chess games much more exciting as they are known for their unpredictability, and they can also provide an avenue for chess players to expand and further develop chess opening theory.  

Chess is very much still a game that has barely been exhausted due to the enormous number of ways a chess game can unfold even though it has been one of the most popular board games in the world for centuries. There is still a lot of room for experimentation in chess and there is undoubtedly an unfathomable number of developments to chess opening theory that have not yet taken place. The sheer number of chess openings that have already been created as well as the variations and sub variations within the most popular chess openings highlights the potential for more variations and sub variations to emerge out of some of the unorthodox chess openings. Some popular variations of the unorthodox chess openings include the From’s defence, the Dutch defence and the Bird’s defence which are variations of the Bird’s opening and Grob’s defence, which is a variation of the Grob opening. There are much more variations and sub variations of popular chess openings such as the Sicilian defence and the Ruy Lopez than there are of unorthodox chess openings such as the Grob opening and the Bird’s opening because unorthodox chess openings have been studied and analysed less than their mainstream counterparts and therefore there is much more to discover experimenting with unorthodox chess openings.  

How To Determine Which Opening To Use In A Chess Game 

Not all chess openings are equal and choosing the right chess opening in a chess game can be the difference between winning or losing the game especially when playing against skilled opponents. There are a few factors that should be considered when deciding which chess opening will bring the best results during a chess game which includes your playing style and aptitude for risk, your opponent’s playing style and aptitude for risk, your understanding of the chess opening you are intending to use, the chess openings within your opening repertoire and the seriousness of the chess game. Two of the fundamental principles of good chess that distinguishes a good chess opening from a less effective chess opening is the ability for a chess opening to control the centre of the chess board and enable as many chess pieces as possible to be developed as fast as possible. The majority of the classical chess openings and the hypermodern chess openings embody these principles as they enable chess players to control the centre of the chess board either directly or indirectly in the case of hypermodern chess openings as well as enabling chess players to develop the majority of their chess pieces early in the game which makes classical chess openings such as the Ruy Lopez, the Italian and the Scotch opening and hypermodern chess openings such as the Reti opening and the modern defence some of the best chess openings to use for chess players of all levels.  

At the beginner and intermediate level in chess using any of the classical or hypermodern chess openings will be sufficient and will enable chess players to start the game strong and secure winning positions on the chess board however as your experience level in chess increases and you are exposed to chess players with greater levels of experience the effectiveness of any particular classical or hypermodern chess opening will decrease. At the higher levels of chess most chess players are extremely familiar with the nuances of most of the popular chess openings and can anticipate the moves their opponents are likely to make which removes most of the advantages of using even the most effective chess openings. Most experienced chess players rely mostly on their ability to utilise creative strategies and tactics in their chess games whilst aiming to re-introduce unpredictability in their chess games by using chess opening variations and sub variations that their opponents are less likely to be familiar with. Unorthodox chess openings such as the Bird’s opening, the Ware opening and the Borg defence can be great alternatives to some of the more popular chess openings due to the fact that they are used less frequently in chess games and can as a result surprise opponents that are unfamiliar with how to play against them however, they usually lack many of the principles of good chess which can also make them challenging to play with even for the most experienced chess players. Unorthodox chess openings are rarely used in professional chess because of this however when used in casual chess they can lead to exciting chess games.  

How Technology has Impacted Chess Opening Theory 

Technology has played an instrumental role in the development and the refinement of chess opening theory due to the advent of chess engines and chess databases. Chess players that utilise technology such as chess engines and chess databases can study the most effective chess openings that have been used in prominent chess games by some of the greatest chess players and analyse mainlines, variations and sub variations of popular chess openings used by prominent chess players in their chess games to improve their skills in chess. Chess engines are also able to determine the best moves within specific positions on the chess board which can help chess players navigate challenging positions in preparation for upcoming chess games. Technology has also played a key role in aiding in the discovery of innovative ideas in a variety of chess openings which has helped chess players to deepen their understanding of chess and identify the best strategies and tactics to use in a variety of chess openings. Chess opening theory is continually evolving and in addition to the discovery of new lines within the known chess openings and chess opening variations, entirely new chess openings are constantly being discovered further adding to the extensive list of the chess openings that have already been discovered.  

Another example of how technology has impacted chess opening theory is through the creation of chess games such as Advanced chess which is a form of chess where chess players utilise chess computer programs to investigate the possible results of an opponent’s moves. Advanced chess has greatly influenced the development of chess opening theory because it has allowed chess players to analyse in real time how the use of specific chess openings can influence a chess game and gain unique perspectives on how to navigate in complex positions from the viewpoint of powerful chess engines. Technology has made chess opening theory much more accessible for chess players of all levels and it has also enabled lower rated chess players to gain access to the same tools and resources that higher level chess players use to study and analyse chess games which will drastically increase their ability to improve their chess skills. Most online chess gaming sites have live streaming capabilities which enables chess players to watch chess games in real time and learn cutting edge chess opening theory and the latest trends in chess from the top chess players in the industry. Using technology such as online chess gaming sites and chess engines such as Stockfish and Komodo will enable chess players of all levels to stay up to date on the latest developments in chess opening theory and continuously improve their game which was much harder to do before the introduction of technology into chess.  

How The Landscape Of Chess Opening Theory Is Changing 

The landscape of chess opening theory is evolving at an incredibly fast pace with the emergence of new chess openings, new and innovative approaches to utilising already existing chess openings, the incorporation of technology into chess and the change of playing styles among the top chess players in the industry. Chess is becoming much more accessible through technology such as online chess gaming sites and easier to study through technology such as chess engines and chess databases and because of this, new and creative ideas are making their way into chess which will change the way chess is played at all levels. Powerful chess engines and chess databases are enabling chess players to study chess openings in depth and uncover lines that were once hidden beneath the surface before the introduction of chess engines such as Stockfish, Komodo and AlphaZero. Chess players can interact with one another online on chess forums, social media platforms and on online chess gaming sites to share information about the latest trends in chess opening theory, discuss the most effective ways to navigate various positions and gain new perspectives from a large pool of chess players of varying levels of experience. Chess opening theory has been evolving since the very beginning of chess and almost every chess player throughout history has made some level of contribution to the game whether big or small.  

Chess openings such as the Cow opening that was created by Anna Cramling, the Plow opening that was created by Magnus Carlsen and the Vampire gambit that was introduced by Gotham Chess are just a few examples of new chess openings that have made their way into chess and it’s likely that there are many more new chess openings that will soon become mainstream chess openings in the near future. The introduction of brand-new chess openings is changing the landscape of chess opening theory as these new chess openings have yet to be studied and analysed to the same extent as the pre-existing openings in chess which will undoubtedly lead to the creation of new variations, sub variations, strategies, and tactics. Finding and introducing new and innovative approaches to opening chess games are essential for the growth of chess opening theory and for the development of chess players skills especially at the highest levels in chess as creativity and improvisation are some of the key elements of unpredictability which will enable chess players to surprise opponent’s and stay a few moves ahead in chess games. One of the major influences of the changing landscape of chess opening theory is the size, age, and diversity of high level chess players and their chess games which are where many of the new and innovative ideas in chess are coming from.  

Conclusion 

There are thousands of openings in chess and new chess openings are constantly being introduced, studied, and analysed which is changing the way chess is played at all levels. Not all chess openings are made equal, and some chess openings are objectively better than others especially those that embody the principles of good chess. Chess openings are categorised by their style and the positions on the chess board that arise when they are used. Classical chess openings aim to control the centre of the chess board directly with central pawns whereas hypermodern chess openings aim to attack the centre of the chess board using flank pawns. In addition to classical and hypermodern chess openings, chess openings can also be categorised as open game chess openings, closed game chess opening, semi open game chess openings or semi closed game chess openings which reflect the positions on the chess board that arise from their use. Chess players can improve their skills in chess significantly and increase their success rate in chess by understanding their playing style and the playing style of their opponents and by using chess openings that suit their playing style, embody the principles of good chess and that also enables them to remain unpredictable in chess games.