List of chess openings


This is a list of chess openings, organized by the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings code. In 1966, Chess Informant categorized the chess openings into five broad areas, with each of those broken down into one hundred subcategories. The openings were published in five volumes of ECO, with volumes labeled "A" through "E". This is a list of chess openings by the ECO classification.

A – Flank openings

White first moves other than 1.e4, 1.d4:
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
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.