Best Openings for Black
Explore 274 named opening lines for Black across 72 opening families. Find the right defence against 1.e4, 1.d4, and sidelines.
Featured Guides
In-depth opening guides with move trees, plans, and common traps.
A51-A52
Budapest Gambit
Black offers a gambit on move two to upset White's d4 plans — a sharp, unexpected weapon that leads to active piece play and tactical complications White rarely expects.
A60-A79
Benoni Defense
Black accepts a structural disadvantage in the center to gain active piece play and kingside attacking chances — the sharpest and most uncompromising answer to 1.d4.
A80-A99
Dutch Defense
The Dutch claims kingside space immediately and gives Black an unbalanced, attacking answer to 1.d4.
B07-B09
Pirc Defense
The Pirc lets White take space first so Black can counterattack from a flexible setup built around the kingside fianchetto.
B01
Scandinavian Defense
The Scandinavian challenges e4 immediately and steers the game toward practical, easy-to-understand structures.
B02-B05
Alekhine's Defense
Black invites the e-pawn to advance and then picks apart the over-extended center — a provocative hypermodern strategy named after former World Champion Alexander Alekhine.
B10-B19
Caro-Kann Defense
The Caro-Kann aims for a healthy pawn structure, clear development, and practical resilience against 1.e4.
B20-B99
Sicilian Defense
The Sicilian is Black's most combative answer to 1.e4, trading symmetry for counterplay and long-term imbalance.
C00-C19
French Defense
The French concedes space early to attack White's center later, leading to locked structures and well-defined plans.
C41
Philidor Defense
The Philidor is a solid, compact defense where Black supports the e5 pawn with d6 rather than developing the Nc6, choosing solidity over activity.
C42-C43
Petrov Defense
The Petrov is a resilient e4 defense that aims for early equality through symmetry, accurate development, and tactical reliability.
D10-D19
Slav Defense
The Slav is a sound d4 defense built on reliable piece development, durable structure, and practical counterplay without early overextension.
D20-D29
Queen's Gambit Accepted
Black accepts the Queen's Gambit pawn and plans to return it under favorable conditions — a principled response that leads to active piece play rather than a static pawn structure.
D70-D99
Grunfeld Defense
The Grunfeld invites White to build a center so Black can attack it with dynamic piece pressure and long-range counterplay.
E12-E19
Queen's Indian Defense
The Queen's Indian is a restrained, strategic defense where Black uses flexible development and dark-square control to challenge White's center.
E20-E59
Nimzo-Indian Defense
The Nimzo-Indian is a flexible, high-class defense that fights for the center with piece pressure, structure choices, and strategic imbalance.
E60-E99
King's Indian Defense
The King's Indian gives White space and then challenges it with a kingside attack, dynamic breaks, and heavy piece play.
All Black Openings
Browse by opening family — 274 named lines.
Sicilian Defense 36
B20Sicilian Defense: Amazon AttackAmazon AttackB20Sicilian Defense: Bowdler AttackBowdler AttackB20Sicilian Defense: Brick VariationBrick VariationB20Sicilian Defense: Grob VariationGrob VariationB20Sicilian Defense: Keres VariationKeres VariationB20Sicilian Defense: King David's OpeningKing David's OpeningB20Sicilian Defense: Kronberger VariationKronberger VariationB20Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Dunne AttackLasker-Dunne AttackB20Sicilian Defense: Mengarini VariationMengarini VariationB20Sicilian Defense: Myers Attack, with a4Myers Attack, with a4B20Sicilian Defense: Myers Attack, with h4Myers Attack, with h4B20Sicilian Defense: Snyder VariationSnyder VariationB20Sicilian Defense: Snyder Variation, Queen Fianchetto VariationSnyder Variation, Queen Fianchetto VariationB20Sicilian Defense: Staunton-Cochrane VariationStaunton-Cochrane VariationB20Sicilian Defense: Wing GambitWing GambitB21Sicilian Defense: McDonnell AttackMcDonnell AttackB21Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra GambitSmith-Morra GambitB23Sicilian Defense: ClosedClosedB23Sicilian Defense: ClosedClosedB23Sicilian Defense: Closed, TraditionalClosed, TraditionalB27Sicilian DefenseB27Sicilian Defense: Brussels GambitBrussels GambitB27Sicilian Defense: Bücker VariationBücker VariationB27Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated DragonHyperaccelerated DragonB27Sicilian Defense: Jalalabad VariationJalalabad VariationB27Sicilian Defense: Katalimov VariationKatalimov VariationB27Sicilian Defense: Mongoose VariationMongoose VariationB27Sicilian Defense: Polish GambitPolish GambitB27Sicilian Defense: Quinteros VariationQuinteros VariationB28Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly VariationO'Kelly VariationB29Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch VariationNimzowitsch VariationB30Sicilian Defense: Old SicilianOld SicilianB32Sicilian Defense: OpenOpenB40Sicilian Defense: French VariationFrench VariationB50Sicilian DefenseB50Sicilian Defense: Modern VariationsModern Variations
Indian Defense 22
A45Indian DefenseA45Indian Defense: Accelerated London SystemAccelerated London SystemA45Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen GambitGibbins-Weidenhagen GambitA45Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit AcceptedGibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit AcceptedA45Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Oshima DefenseGibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Oshima DefenseA45Indian Defense: Lazard GambitLazard GambitA45Indian Defense: Maddigan GambitMaddigan GambitA45Indian Defense: Omega GambitOmega GambitA45Indian Defense: Pawn Push VariationPawn Push VariationA45Indian Defense: Reversed Chigorin DefenseReversed Chigorin DefenseA45Indian Defense: Tartakower AttackTartakower AttackA46Indian Defense: Czech-IndianCzech-IndianA46Indian Defense: Knights VariationKnights VariationA46Indian Defense: Knights Variation, Alburt-Miles VariationKnights Variation, Alburt-Miles VariationA46Indian Defense: Polish VariationPolish VariationA46Indian Defense: Spielmann-IndianSpielmann-IndianA46Indian Defense: Wade-Tartakower DefenseWade-Tartakower DefenseA50Indian Defense: Medusa GambitMedusa GambitA50Indian Defense: Normal VariationNormal VariationA50Indian Defense: Pyrenees GambitPyrenees GambitE00Indian DefenseE60Indian Defense: West Indian DefenseWest Indian Defense
French Defense 20
C00French DefenseC00French Defense: Baeuerle GambitBaeuerle GambitC00French Defense: Banzai-Leong GambitBanzai-Leong GambitC00French Defense: Bird InvitationBird InvitationC00French Defense: Chigorin VariationChigorin VariationC00French Defense: Franco-Hiva GambitFranco-Hiva GambitC00French Defense: Franco-Sicilian DefenseFranco-Sicilian DefenseC00French Defense: Horwitz AttackHorwitz AttackC00French Defense: King's Indian AttackKing's Indian AttackC00French Defense: King's Indian Attack, Franco-Hiva GambitKing's Indian Attack, Franco-Hiva GambitC00French Defense: Knight VariationKnight VariationC00French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva GambitKnight Variation, Franco-Hiva GambitC00French Defense: La Bourdonnais VariationLa Bourdonnais VariationC00French Defense: Mediterranean DefenseMediterranean DefenseC00French Defense: Normal VariationNormal VariationC00French Defense: Queen's KnightQueen's KnightC00French Defense: Réti-Spielmann AttackRéti-Spielmann AttackC00French Defense: St. George DefenseSt. George DefenseC00French Defense: Steiner VariationSteiner VariationC00French Defense: Steinitz AttackSteinitz Attack
English Opening 19
A10English Opening: Adorjan DefenseAdorjan DefenseA10English Opening: Anglo-Dutch DefenseAnglo-Dutch DefenseA10English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense, Hickmann GambitAnglo-Dutch Defense, Hickmann GambitA10English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian DefenseAnglo-Scandinavian DefenseA10English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Löhn GambitAnglo-Scandinavian Defense, Löhn GambitA10English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz GambitAnglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz GambitA10English Opening: Myers DefenseMyers DefenseA13English Opening: Agincourt DefenseAgincourt DefenseA13English Opening: Agincourt DefenseAgincourt DefenseA13English Opening: Agincourt DefenseAgincourt DefenseA15English Opening: Anglo-Indian DefenseAnglo-Indian DefenseA15English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian FormationAnglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian FormationA15English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight VariationAnglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight VariationA15English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Old Indian FormationAnglo-Indian Defense, Old Indian FormationA15English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian FormationAnglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian FormationA15English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian DefenseAnglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian DefenseA16English Opening: Anglo-Grünfeld DefenseAnglo-Grünfeld DefenseA16English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight VariationAnglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight VariationA17English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog SystemAnglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System
Caro-Kann Defense 16
B10Caro-Kann DefenseB10Caro-Kann DefenseB10Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov AttackAccelerated Panov AttackB10Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov AttackAccelerated Panov AttackB10Caro-Kann Defense: Accelerated Panov Attack, Open VariationAccelerated Panov Attack, Open VariationB10Caro-Kann Defense: Breyer VariationBreyer VariationB10Caro-Kann Defense: Euwe AttackEuwe AttackB10Caro-Kann Defense: Hillbilly AttackHillbilly AttackB10Caro-Kann Defense: Labahn AttackLabahn AttackB10Caro-Kann Defense: Spike VariationSpike VariationB12Caro-Kann DefenseB12Caro-Kann DefenseB12Caro-Kann Defense: De Bruycker DefenseDe Bruycker DefenseB12Caro-Kann Defense: Masi VariationMasi VariationB12Caro-Kann Defense: Massachusetts DefenseMassachusetts DefenseB15Caro-Kann Defense
Nimzowitsch Defense 15
B00Nimzowitsch DefenseB00Nimzowitsch DefenseB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Colorado CountergambitColorado CountergambitB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined VariationDeclined VariationB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch VariationFranco-Nimzowitsch VariationB00Nimzowitsch Defense: French ConnectionFrench ConnectionB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy VariationKennedy VariationB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Mikenas VariationMikenas VariationB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Neo-Mongoloid DefenseNeo-Mongoloid DefenseB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Pirc ConnectionPirc ConnectionB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Pseudo-Spanish VariationPseudo-Spanish VariationB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian VariationScandinavian VariationB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Wheeler GambitWheeler GambitB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Williams VariationWilliams VariationB00Nimzowitsch Defense: Woodchuck VariationWoodchuck Variation
Dutch Defense 13
A80Dutch Defense: Alapin VariationAlapin VariationA80Dutch Defense: Hevendehl GambitHevendehl GambitA80Dutch Defense: Hopton AttackHopton AttackA80Dutch Defense: Korchnoi AttackKorchnoi AttackA80Dutch Defense: Krejcik GambitKrejcik GambitA80Dutch Defense: Omega-Isis GambitOmega-Isis GambitA80Dutch Defense: Raphael VariationRaphael VariationA81Dutch Defense: Fianchetto AttackFianchetto AttackA82Dutch Defense: Staunton GambitStaunton GambitA82Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit AcceptedStaunton Gambit AcceptedA84Dutch DefenseA84Dutch Defense: Classical VariationClassical VariationA84Dutch Defense: Normal VariationNormal Variation
Benoni Defense 11
A43Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit AcceptedBenoni Gambit AcceptedA43Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker DefenseBenoni Gambit, Schlenker DefenseA43Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian DefenseBenoni-Indian DefenseA43Benoni Defense: Cormorant GambitCormorant GambitA43Benoni Defense: Old BenoniOld BenoniA43Benoni Defense: Old BenoniOld BenoniA43Benoni Defense: Old BenoniOld BenoniA43Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Mujannah FormationOld Benoni, Mujannah FormationA43Benoni Defense: Snail VariationSnail VariationA43Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni GambitZilbermints-Benoni GambitA44Benoni Defense: Old BenoniOld Benoni
Zukertort Opening 8
A04Zukertort Opening: Arctic DefenseArctic DefenseA04Zukertort Opening: Basman DefenseBasman DefenseA04Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang DefenseBlack Mustang DefenseA04Zukertort Opening: Polish DefensePolish DefenseA04Zukertort Opening: St. George DefenseSt. George DefenseA04Zukertort Opening: Wade DefenseWade DefenseA04Zukertort Opening: Ware DefenseWare DefenseA06Zukertort Opening: Reversed Mexican DefenseReversed Mexican Defense
Rat Defense 7
A41Rat Defense: English RatEnglish RatA82Rat Defense: Balogh DefenseBalogh DefenseB00Rat Defense: Antal DefenseAntal DefenseB00Rat Defense: HarmonistHarmonistB00Rat Defense: Petruccioli AttackPetruccioli AttackB00Rat Defense: Spike AttackSpike AttackC00Rat Defense: Small Center DefenseSmall Center Defense
Alekhine Defense 7
B02Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn VariationBrooklyn VariationB02Alekhine Defense: Krejcik VariationKrejcik VariationB02Alekhine Defense: Maróczy VariationMaróczy VariationB02Alekhine Defense: Mokele MbembeMokele MbembeB02Alekhine Defense: Normal VariationNormal VariationB02Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian VariationScandinavian VariationB03Alekhine Defense