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How to use the repertoire guide
Identify your colour
Start with the White or Black repertoire; do not try to consult the whole guide during a game.
Match the first move
Use the variation that matches the opponent’s reply and apply its idea rather than searching for an exact diagram.
Check the trap warnings
If the position matches a warning, answer the threat first and return to normal development.
When outside preparation
When the game leaves the prepared line, develop a piece, contest the centre, secure the king and reassess.
Playing White
Your first six opening priorities
Visual chess lesson
Italian Game: developed and castled
Which opening goals have both sides already achieved?
Reveal the explanation
Both sides have developed pieces towards the centre and castled. White’s bishop on c4 points at f7; the next task is to complete development and prepare the central break.
r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2PP1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 2 7 ↗Play 1.e4
Occupy the centre and open lines for the queen and king’s bishop.
Develop Nf3
Attack the e5 square and move a minor piece towards the centre.
Place the bishop actively
Use Bc4 against open games or another purposeful square if the structure demands it.
Castle kingside
Secure the king before undertaking an attack or repeated queen move.
Support the centre
Use d3 or the appropriate central break according to Black’s setup.
Complete development
Develop the remaining pieces, connect the rooks and place a rook behind the intended central pawn break.
White’s common replies
Adapt the repertoire line, keep the purpose
Classical line
Visual chess lesson
Italian Game: developed and castled
Which opening goals have both sides already achieved?
Reveal the explanation
Both sides have developed pieces towards the centre and castled. White’s bishop on c4 points at f7; the next task is to complete development and prepare the central break.
r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2PP1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 2 7 ↗Use Nf3 and Bc4, castle and challenge the centre. If Black copies passively, take more space; if Black attacks, finish development first.
Simple Anti-Sicilian setup
Visual chess lesson
Open Sicilian structure
What has changed in the centre after White's d-pawn and Black's c-pawn are exchanged?
Reveal the explanation
White has a central e4-pawn and an active knight on d4. Black has exchanged the c-pawn for White's d-pawn and will normally develop while challenging the centre. The resulting imbalance is a defining feature of many Open Sicilian positions.
rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/3p4/8/3NP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 0 4 ↗Develop Nf3, Bc4 and d3 when appropriate, castle early and aim for a familiar middlegame.
Standard development
Visual chess lesson
Candidate moves
White to move. Identify several plausible developing candidates before calculating one.
Reveal the explanation
Castling, Be3 and c3 are all plausible candidates in this Italian Game position. The exercise is to form a short list before committing calculation time to the first move noticed.
r1bqk2r/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 2 6 ↗Use sound development, central control and king safety. An unusual first move is not, by itself, a threat.
Playing Black
Two stable structures
Challenge the centre
Visual chess lesson
French Defence centre
Which pawn chain is Black preparing to challenge, and where is the immediate central tension?
Reveal the explanation
White's pawns on d4 and e4 claim space. Black's d5-pawn directly challenges e4, while ...c5 is the usual second attack on White's centre. White must decide whether to advance, exchange or defend the tension.
rnbqkb1r/ppp2ppp/4pn2/3p4/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 2 4 ↗Use a sound central reply, develop the king’s knight, bring the other minor pieces out and castle before beginning queenside play.
Establish the pawn structure
Visual chess lesson
King’s Indian setup
Identify Black’s completed setup before choosing the central pawn break.
Reveal the explanation
Black has developed the king’s knight, fianchettoed the bishop and castled. The next decision is whether to challenge White’s centre with ...e5 or ...c5.
rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/3p1np1/8/2PPP3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQ - 2 6 ↗Establish the central pawn structure, develop naturally and decide whether to challenge with ...c5 or ...e5 after White reveals the setup.
Do not drift
Visual chess lesson
London System setup
Which white pieces and pawns form the recognisable London structure?
Reveal the explanation
White has pawns on d4, e3 and c3, the bishop developed outside the pawn chain on f4, and knights on f3 and d2. The setup supplies a dependable structure, but White must still respond to Black's ...c5 pressure rather than play it mechanically.
r1bqk2r/pp3ppp/2nbpn2/2pp4/3P1B2/2P1PN2/PP1N1PPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 2 7 ↗Develop with purpose, contest the centre and question the comfortable formation before it becomes automatic.
Four trap warnings
Stop the trap, then resume the plan
Scholar’s Mate
Visual chess lesson
Scholar’s Mate defence
Black to move. What are White’s queen and bishop threatening?
Reveal the explanation
White threatens Qxf7#. Black must defend f7 while developing. The continuation 3...g6 4.Qf3 Nf6 meets the immediate threat and develops a defender.
Verified line: g6 Qf3 Nf6
r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p2Q/2B1P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNB1K1NR b KQkq - 3 3 ↗Defend f7 or f2 and attack the early queen with a developing move. Never weaken the king further just to chase.
Fried Liver Attack
Visual chess lesson
Fried Liver Attack
After the inaccurate 5...Nxd5?, White can exploit the exposed king. Find the forcing move.
Reveal the explanation
6.Nxf7 forks the queen on d8 and rook on h8. After 6...Kxf7, 7.Qf3+ continues the forcing attack against Black's exposed king.
Verified line: Nxf7 Kxf7 Qf3+
r1bqkb1r/ppp2ppp/2n5/3np1N1/2B5/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 6 ↗Meet the attack on f7 with the correct central break and avoid the inaccurate ...Nxd5 recapture that exposes the king.
Premature queen development
Visual chess lesson
Visualise the candidate move
Before playing Qh5, place the queen there mentally and find Black's reply.
Reveal the explanation
After 1.Qh5, Black has 1...Nf6, developing with an attack on the queen. Visualising the candidate move reveals the opponent's forcing reply before White commits.
Verified line: Qh5 Nf6
4k1n1/5p2/8/8/8/8/8/3QK3 w - - 0 1 ↗Cover the genuine target, then gain tempi by developing pieces against the queen.
Wayward Queen Attack (Parham Attack)
Visual chess lesson
Gaining tempi against an early queen
Black to move. Which developing move attacks the early queen?
Reveal the explanation
1...Nf6 develops the knight and attacks the queen on h5. The move gains a tempo because it improves Black's position while forcing the queen to move again.
Verified line: Nf6
3qk1n1/5pp1/8/7Q/8/8/8/6K1 b - - 0 1 ↗Develop calmly, castle and gain tempi against the queen only when the attacking move also improves a piece.
Outside preparation: develop, contest the centre, secure the king and identify what changed. The position—not the page—has the final word.