Black Opening Repertoire
12 defenses against 1.e4 and 1.d4: Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann, Petrov, Scandinavian against 1.e4; King's Indian, Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Gambit Declined against 1.d4. Each opening is drillable with spaced repetition.
Want a ranked shortlist by rating? Read our guide to the best chess openings for black.
French Defense
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5
A solid, strategic answer to 1.e4 with a clear game plan.
Sicilian Defense
1.e4 c5
The fighting answer to 1.e4 that gives Black real winning chances from move one.
Caro-Kann Defense
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
Solid, resilient, and a Karpov classic still played at the top by Firouzja and Ding Liren. The structure-first answer to 1.e4.
Scandinavian Defense
1.e4 d5
The fastest way to challenge e4. Direct, tactical, and easy to learn.
Petrov Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
The 'symmetric' defense. Rock-solid and endorsed at the World Championship level.
Wayward Queen Attack
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5
White's queen comes out on move two. Defend e5 and f7, then develop with tempo on the queen and take over the game.
Traxler Counter Attack
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5
Black's sharpest reply to 4.Ng5: let White take on f7 and hit back at f2. Forcing, risky, and only good if you know the lines.
Queen's Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4
Accept the gambit pawn and get an open, playable middlegame. A reliable Black defense.
Queen's Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
The bulletproof answer to 1.d4. Rock-solid structure and World Championship pedigree.
King's Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
The ultimate fighting defense. Give White the center, then storm the kingside.
Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
Aron Nimzowitsch's hypermodern masterpiece. Control the center with pieces, not pawns.
Englund Gambit
1.d4 e5
An unusual surprise gambit against 1.d4. Pure tactics and zero theory.