♘ A chapter of the Academy

Openings

Develop with a reason. Understand the centre, king safety, and the plans behind familiar openings.

9 original lessons · Free to read

Openings01

Control useful central squares, develop your pieces, and protect your king without treating principles as inflexible laws.

4 min read · one exercise

Openings02

Build a small repertoire around development and recurring plans, then add moves only when your games give you a reason.

4 min read · one exercise

Openings03

Learn why Black plays ...c6 before ...d5 and how the pawn structure shapes the bishops and central breaks.

4 min read · one exercise

Openings04

Understand 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 through piece activity, central breaks, and the timing of d4.

4 min read · one exercise

Openings05

Learn what d4, Bf4, and e3 are trying to achieve, and how to respond when Black challenges the centre.

4 min read · one exercise

Openings06

Understand 1. d4 d5 2. c4 as a fight over central space, development, and the timing of a pawn recovery.

4 min read · one exercise

Openings07

Understand 1...c5 as a challenge to d4, then connect the open files and central pawns to the middlegame.

4 min read · one exercise

Openings08

Evaluate a pawn offer by development, open lines, and king safety, then test whether the compensation lasts.

4 min read · one exercise

Openings09

A queen attack is useful only if it survives the opponent's developing moves. Count what each chase accomplishes.

3 min read · one exercise