Chess Openings

This page features recommended chess openings from Charles Thayer (MrThayer on ChessWorld.net). Charles is a USCF (United States Chess Federation) Master Level player (Rating over 2000) and chess teacher.

These openings provide a sound repetoire for beginner to intermediate level players playing from either side of the board. Playing these openings will keep players out of many sharp tactical lines that can pose difficulity even for strong players.

When you play these openings and remember the rules you'll find you gain a solid advantage in the early part of the game leading to exploitable weaknessess in the opponents position.

The openings are; the Caro Kann (vs 1.e2e4), the Slav (vs 1.d2d4), and the
London System or the Colle System (as White)

Each of these openings is shown below.

I) Caro Kann (Black vs 1.e2-e4)

1.e2-e4 c7-c6
2.d2-d4 d7-d5

White has several 3rd moves:

(A) 3.Nb1-c3 dxe4

Now Black will have 3 lines after 4.Nxe4. Recommend is A1.

A1) 4.Nxe4 Nbd7 5.Bf1-c4 Ngf6

A2) 4..... Bf5 5.Ne4-g3 Bg6

A3) 4. .... Ngf6 5. Ne4xf6 e7xf6

The only early 'trap' in this line is:
3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nbd7 5.Qe2 Ngf6?? (5. ... Ndf6 is better here) 6.Nd6 (Mate)

B) 3.e4xd5 c6xd5
4.c2-c4 e7-e6 (This is like a Queens Gambit/Slav)
5.Nb1-c3 Ng-f6

C) 3.e4-e5 Bc8-f5
White has several 4th moves. 4.Nb1-c3 or 4.Bf1-d3 are usual.
(This is almost the London System in reverse.) Black has to
watch that his Bishop does not get trapped when White plays
h2-h4. Black will develop e7-e6; Bf8-e7; 0-0; c6-c5.

II) Slav Defense (Black vs 1.d2-d4)

1.d2-d4 d7-d5
2.c2-c4 c7-c6
3.Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6
4.**** e7-e6

III) London System
(Blacks moves are NOT shown because unless he
threatens something, White will play the moves
below. After Whites 4th move, he can play the
given moves in any order!!)

1.d2-d4 ....
2.Ng1-f3 ....
3.Bc1-f4 ....
4.e2-e3 ....
5.Bf1-e2 ....
6.0-0 ....
7.c2-c3 ... (This move is very safe. Black will have a tough time.)
8.Nb1-d2 ....
9.h2-h3 ... (This can be played earlier so that White can play
the Bishop back to h2-square if it gets attacked
and White won't get doubled pawns.)

IV) Colle System
White only has to "answer the threat" on Blacks moves.
The only threats to London or Colle is when Black plays
a pawn to c5 or e5.

1.d2-d4 ....
2.Ng1-f3 ....
3.e2-e3 ....
4.Bf1-d3 ....
5.c2-c3 ....
6.0-0 ....
7.Nbd2 ....
8.Rf1-e1 ....
9.e3-e4

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