Chess Opening Statistics

These statistics show the percentages of games won by white and black and the amount of games drawn from over 2 million matches for 60 of the most common Chess openings and 230 further variations of those openings. This page should give you a good idea of what openings and variations are the most successful for white and black. There is also a written summary below the table that summarises all the best and worst variations for the openings in the table. As well as that there are lists of the top 10 best and worst openings for white and black and the most and least drawn openings.

Opening/Variation	White Win %	Black Win %	Draw %	Moves
Alekhine Defense	38	32	30	1. e4 Nf6
- Four Pawns Attack	36	40	24	2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4
- Modern Variation	42	26	32	2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3
Anderssen's Opening	30	43	27	1. a3
- 1...d5 Variation	27	44	29	1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation	34	42	24	1...e5
- 1...g6 Variation	23	55	22	1...g6
Anti-Veresov Opening	36	36	28	1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5
Benko Gambit	40	32	28	1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
- Accepted	40	32	28	4. cxb5
- Fully Accepted	39	29	32	4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6
- 7. e4 Variation	42	36	22	4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4
- Main Line	39	26	35	4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 g6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 O-O 11. Nf3
- Fianchetto Variation	42	35	23	4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g3
- Nescafe Frappe Attack	36	45	19	4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3
Benko Opening	38	27	35	1. g3
- 1...d5 Variation	35	29	36	1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation	37	31	32	1...e5
- Lasker Simul Special	66	11	23	1...h5
Benoni Defense	41	31	28	1. d4 c5
- Full Benoni	41	29	30	1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4
- Modern Variation	46	30	24	1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6
Bird's Opening	34	41	25	1. f4
- Dutch Variation	34	40	26	1...d5
- From Gambit	41	40	19	1...e5 2. fxe5 d6
- 1...f5 Variation	39	30	31	1...f5
Bishop's Opening	41	29	30	1. e4 e5 2. Bc4
- Berlin Defense	40	28	32	2...Nf6
- 3...d3 Variation	40	26	34	2...Nf6 3. d3
- 3...Nc3 Variation	38	32	30	2...Nf6 3. Nc3
- Classical Variation	47	30	23	2...Bc5
Blackmar Diemer Gambit	49	35	16	1. d4 d5 2. e4
- Caro-Kann	37	28	35	2...c6
- Nimzowitsch Defense Center Variation	43	35	22	2...d5
- Accepted	50	35	15	2...dxe4
- French Defense	40	30	30	2...e6
Blackmar Diemer Gambit (Delayed)	45	39	16	1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4
- Caro-Kann Traditional Variation	36	28	36	3...c6
- Accepted	50	35	15	3...dxe4
- Accepted 4. f3 Variation	52	34	14	3...dxe4 4...f3
- French Defense Main Line	39	28	33	3...e6
- Hubsch Variation	42	40	18	3...Nxe4
Bogo-Indian Defense	36	22	42	1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+
Budapest Gambit	46	27	27	1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5
- Fajarowicz Variation	50	26	24	3. dxe5 Ne4
- Rubenstein Variation	50	17	33	3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4
- Alekhine Variation	41	37	22	3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4
- Adler Variation	42	30	28	3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3
Caro-Kann	38	28	34	1. e4 c6
- Advance Variation	41	30	29	2. d4 d5 3. e5
- Panov-Botvinnik Attack	36	29	35	2. d4 d5 3. exd5
- Traditional Variation	36	28	36	2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
- Capablanca Variation	34	26	40	2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 cxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5
Centre Counter Game	42	29	29	1. e4 d5
- 2...Nf6 Variation	42	30	28	2. exd5 Nf6
- 2...Qxd5 Variation	42	28	30	2. exd5 Qxd5
- 3...Qa5 Variation	42	28	30	2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5
- 3...Qd8 Variation	42	26	32	2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8
Centre Game	44	34	22	1. e4 e5 2. d4
- Accepted	42	35	23	2...exd4
- Danish Gambit	44	36	20	2...exd4 3. c3
- Danish Gambit Fully Accepted	46	35	19	2...exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2
- 3. Qxd4 Variation	42	36	22	2...exd4 3. Qxd4
Colle System	35	34	31	1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3
- 3...Bf5 Variation	30	36	34	3...Bf5
- 3...c5 Variation	29	39	32	3...c5
- Zukertort Variation	43	28	29	3...e6 4. Bd3 c5
Dunst Opening	36	36	28	1. Nc3
- 1...d5 Variation	34	38	28	1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation	48	24	28	1...e5
- 1...Nf6 Variation	48	27	25	1...Nf6
Dutch Defense	42	28	30	1. d4 f5
English Opening	38	28	34	1. c4
- Symmetrical	37	31	32	1...c5
- Reti's Opening	37	24	39	1...c6
- Reversed Sicilian	37	25	38	1...e5
Four Knight's Defense	34	27	39	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6
French Defense	40	30	30	1. e4 e6
- St George's Variation	50	32	18	2. d4 a6
- Winawer Variation	42	29	29	2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4
- Advance Variation	38	35	27	2. d4 d5 3. e5
- Exchange Variation	25	32	43	2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5
- Main Line	39	28	33	2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6
- MacCutcheon Variation	39	30	31	2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4
- Main Line 4. e5	40	29	31	2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5
- Tarrasch Variation	40	25	35	2. d4 d5 3. Nd2
Giuoco Piano	40	32	28	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
- Main Line	39	32	29	3...Bc5
- Evans Gambit	39	38	23	3...Bc5 4. b4
- Main Line	41	29	30	3...Bc5 4. c3
- Main Line 5. d3 Variation	38	26	36	3...Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3
- Main Line 5. d4 Variation	40	33	27	3...Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4
- Moller Attack	31	43	26	3...Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5
- Giuoco Pianissimo	35	34	31	3...Bc5 4. d3
- 4. Nc3 Variation	36	35	29	3...Bc5 4. Nc3
- 4. O-O Variation	38	34	28	3...Bc5 4. O-O
- Hungarian Defense	45	26	29	3...Be7
- Blackburne Gambit	53	35	12	3...Nd4
- Two Knight's Defense	39	34	27	3...Nf6
- Max Lange Attack	39	33	28	3...Nf6 4. d4
Grob Opening	36	46	18	1. g4
- 1...d5 Variation	35	48	17	1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation	34	49	17	1...e5
Grunfeld Defense	37	26	37	1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
- Classical System	36	24	40	4. Bf4
- Exchange Variation	38	25	37	4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4
- Russian System	41	24	35	4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3
Gunderam Defense	50	25	25	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qe7
Horwitz Defense	39	27	34	1. d4 e6
King's Gambit	43	37	20	1. e4 e5 2. f4
- Falkbeer Counter Gambit	41	36	23	2...d5
- Declined	66	21	13	2...d6
- Accepted	42	37	21	2...exf4
- Cunningham Defense	42	37	21	2...exf4 3. Nf3 Be7
- Abbazia Defense	37	33	30	2...exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Nf6
- Allgaier Gambit	50	37	13	2...exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5
King's Pawn Opening	38	31	31	1. e4
- 1...e5	42	30	28	1...e5
- King's Knight Opening	41	29	30	1...e5 2. Nf3
- Queen's Knight Opening	41	29	30	1...e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
King's Indian	42	28	30	1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6
- Averbakh Variation	45	25	30	5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5
- Classical Variation	41	26	33	5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5
- Samisch Variation	42	30	28	5. f3
- Four Pawns Attack	43	30	27	5. f4
Larsen's Defense	37	33	30	1. b3
- Classical Variation	34	34	32	1...d5
- Modern Variation	38	33	29	1...e5
- Indian Variation	36	30	34	1...Nf6
Latvian Gambit	50	33	17	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5
- Accepted	51	31	18	3. exf5
- 3. Nxe5 Variation	56	31	13	3. Nxe5
Mieses Opening	39	37	24	1. d3
1...d5 Variation	39	36	25	1...d5
1...e5 Variation	40	43	17	1...e5
Modern Defense	39	31	30	1. d4 g6
- 2. c4 Variation	40	30	30	2. c4
- Robatsch Defense	39	32	29	2. e4
Nimzo Indian	33	30	37	1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
- Samisch Variation	31	45	24	4. a3
- Leningrad Variation	34	39	27	4. Bg5
- Main Line	33	30	37	4. e3
- Queenside Fianchetto	34	32	34	4. e3 b6
- Main Line 4...c5	36	28	36	4. e3 c5
- Main Line 5. Bd3	36	28	36	4. e3 c5 5. Bd3
- Rubenstein's Variation	38	24	38	4. e3 c5 5. Ne2
- Taimanov System	41	28	31	4. e3 Nc6
- 4. f3 Variation	38	30	32	4. f3
- Kasparov's Variation	32	27	41	4. g3
- 4. Nf3 Variation	33	28	39	4. Nf3
- Spielmann's Variation	39	28	33	4. Qb3
- Classical Variation	33	26	41	4. Qc2
Nimzowitsch Defense	41	34	25	1. e4 Nc6
- Centre Variation	41	37	22	2. d4
- 2...d5 Variation	43	35	22	2. d4 d5
- 2...d6 Variation	41	41	18	2. d4 d6
- 2...e5 Variation	39	38	23	2. d4 e5
- Declined	42	31	27	2. Nf3
- 2...d5 Variation	48	27	25	2. Nf3 d5
- 2...d6 Variation	43	31	26	2. Nf3 d6
Petroff's Defense	39	22	39	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
- Steinitz Variation	43	21	36	3. d4
- Paulsen Variation	37	19	44	3. Nxe5 d6
- Classical Attack	39	20	41	3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5
- Damiano Variation	50	28	22	3. Nxe5 Nxe4
- 3...Qe7 Variation	52	23	25	3. Nxe5 Qe7
Philidor's Defense	46	27	27	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
Pirc Defense	41	30	29	1. e4 d6
- 4. f3 Variation	42	35	23	2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f3
- Austrian Attack	44	28	28	2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4
- Classical Variation	37	29	34	2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3
Polish Defense	38	39	23	1. b4
- 1...d5	37	38	25	1...d5
- 1...e5	38	40	22	1...e5
- 1...Nf6	36	40	24	1...Nf6
Polish Opening	49	28	23	1. d4 b5
Ponziani's Opening	38	34	28	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3
- 3...d5 Variation	32	42	26	3...d5
- Jaenisch Counterattack	38	32	30	3...Nf6
Pseudo King's Indian	38	29	33	1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6
Queen's Gambit	40	24	36	1. d4 d5 2. c4
- Slav Defense	39	23	38	2...c6
- Slav Defense 4...Bf5 Variation	57	21	22	2...c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bf5
- Slav Defense Main Line	38	25	37	2...c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4
- Accepted	37	24	39	2...dxc4
- Albin Counter-Gambit	48	30	22	2...e5
- Declined	41	23	36	2...e6
- Tarrasch Variation	39	26	35	2...e6 3. Nc3 c5
- Declined Main Line	44	22	34	2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6
- Declined Classical Variation	31	12	57	2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5
- Cambridge Springs Defense	43	26	31	2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7
- Semi Slav	38	25	37	2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6
- Semi Slav 5. Bg5 Variation	40	27	33	2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5
- Semi Slav 5. e3 Variation	38	23	39	2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3
- Meran Variation	33	27	40	2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 b5
- Old Line	37	28	35	2...e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5
- Chigorin Variation	46	29	25	2...Nc6
Queenside Fianchetto	46	29	25	1. e4 b6
- 2. d4 Variation	47	28	25	2. d4
- 2. Nc3 Variation	28	48	24	2. Nc3
- 2. Nf3 Variation	37	37	26	2. Nf3
Queen's Indian Defense	33	25	42	1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6
- Petrosian System	35	25	40	4. a3
- 4. e3 Variation	34	25	41	4. e3
- 4. g3 Variation	31	23	46	4. g3
- 4. Nc3 Variation	36	26	38	4. Nc3
Queen's Pawn Opening	38	28	34	1. d4
- 1...d5	40	25	35	1...d5
- 1...d5 2. c4	40	24	36	1...d5 2. c4
- 1...d5 2. e4	49	35	16	1...d5 2. e4
- 1...d5 2. Nf3	37	27	36	1...d5 2. Nf3
- 1...Nf6	38	29	33	1...Nf6
- 1...Nf6 2. c4	39	28	33	1...Nf6 2. c4
- 1...Nf6 2. Nf3	36	29	35	1...Nf6 2. Nf3
Rat	37	30	33	1. d4 d6
Reti Opening	37	26	37	1. Nf3
- 1...d5 Variation	36	26	38	1...d5
- 1...g6 Variation	36	29	35	1...g6
- 1...Nc6 Variation	46	27	27	1...Nc6
- 1...Nf6 Variation	38	24	38	1...Nf6
Robatsch Defense	38	33	29	1. e4 g6
2. d4 Variation	39	32	29	2. d4
2. Nf3 Variation	37	32	31	2. Nf3
Ruy Lopez	40	27	33	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
- Morphy Defense	37	25	38	3...a6
- 4. Ba4 Variation	40	27	33	3...a6 4. Ba4
- Arkhangelsk Variation	40	26	34	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5
- Closed Defense	36	23	41	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7
- Centre Attack	41	28	31	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4
- Worrall Attack	41	26	33	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2
- Smyslov's Variation	39	25	36	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 h6
- Chigorin Variation	38	22	40	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5
- Breyer Variation	33	24	43	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8
- Avoiding the Marshall Counter-Gambit	42	23	35	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
- Marshall Counter-Gambit	33	34	33	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5
- Marshall Counter-Gambit Main Line	34	34	32	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3
- Open Defense	38	25	37	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4
- Kere's Attack	37	23	40	3...a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2
- Exchange Variation	33	28	39	3...a6 4. Bxc6
- Classical Defense	46	26	28	3...Bc5
- Steinitz Defense	59	23	18	3...d6
- Schliemann Gambit	41	30	29	3...f5
- Bird's Defense	51	25	24	3...Nd4
- Berlin Defense	36	25	39	3...Nf6
- Rio de Janiero Variation	30	26	44	3...Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4
Saragossa Opening	34	43	23	1. c3
1...d5 Variation	33	45	22	1...d5
1...e5 Variation	40	45	15	1...e5
Sarratt Attack	37	30	33	1. d4 d5 2. Bf4
Scotch Game	40	30	30	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
- Goring Gambit	45	30	25	3...exd4 4. c3
- Goring Gambit Declined	32	34	34	3...exd4 4. c3 d5
- Goring Gambit Accepted	55	30	15	3...exd4 4. c3 dxc3
- Goring Gambit Fully Accepted	60	33	7	3...exd4 4. c3 dxc3 5. Bc4 cxb2
- 4. Main Line	39	28	33	3...exd4 4. Nxd4
- 4...Bc5 Variation	37	29	34	3...exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5
- Schmidt Variation	36	29	35	3...exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
Sicilian Defense	37	34	29	1. e4 c5
- Wing Gambit	29	49	22	2. b4 cxb4 3. a3
- Alapin Variation	35	32	33	2. c3
- Grand Prix Attack	33	42	25	2. f4
- Closed Sicilian	35	37	28	2. Nc3
- 2. Nf3 Variation	37	33	30	2. Nf3
- 2...d6 Variation	37	32	31	2. Nf3 d6
- Najdorf Variation	37	33	30	2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
- Schveningen Variation	40	31	29	2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6
- Dragon Variation	42	31	27	2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6
- 2...e6 Variation	35	33	32	2. Nf3 e6
- Kan Variation	35	35	30	2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6
- 2...Nc6 Variation	38	33	29	2. Nf3 Nc6
- Lowenthal Hunting Variation	37	34	29	2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
- Maroczy Bind	38	21	41	2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4
- Pelikan Variation	36	32	32	2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5
- Nimzowitsch Variation	40	29	31	2. Nf3 Nf6
St George's Defense	50	30	20	1. e4 a6
Three Knight's Defense	37	28	35	1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3
Torre Attack	37	32	31	1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5
- 3...Ne4 Variation	28	39	33	3...Ne4
Trompowsky Attack	38	31	31	1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5
- 2...d5 Variation	36	29	35	2...d5
- 2...Ne4 Variation	38	32	30	2...Ne4
Van't Kruijs Attack	28	47	25	1. e3
- 1...d5 Variation	23	54	23	1...d5
- 1...e5 Variation	37	43	20	1...e5
Vienna Game	41	30	29	1. e4 e5 2. Nc3
- 2...Bc5 Variation	44	28	28	2...Bc5
- 2...Nc6 Variation	41	32	27	2...Nc6
- Falkbeer Variation	38	31	31	2...Nf6
- Vienna Gambit	41	31	28	2...Nf6 3. f4
- Modern Variation	36	35	29	2...Nf6 3. f4 d5

If there are statistics for other openings or variations that I have missed that you are interested in then position searches can be done at www.chesslab.com/PositionSearch.html. To do the search, set the position up on the board and click on the 'Position Stats' button.

Summary

This is a summary of what the best and worst variations and moves to play are from the table above. These were worked out by counting a win as one point and a draw as half a point like you'd get in most tournaments or league matches. See the table above for the moves played in the opening/variation mentioned.

White's 1st Move

The best first moves for white are 1. c4, 1. d4, 1. g3 and 1. Nf3. They all have very similar success rates for white. 1. e4 is not quite so successful because of the popularity of black's equally most successful opening, the Sicilian Defense.

Replies to White's 1st Move

Against 1. a3 (Anderssen's Opening), play 1...g6, don't play 1...e5.

Against 1. b3 (Larsen's Defense), play 1...d5 (Classical Variation).

Against 1. b4 (Polish Defense), 1...Nf6 is slightly more successful than 1...d5 and 1...e5.

Against 1. c3 (Saragossa Opening), play 1...d5.

Against 1. c4 (English Opening), play 1...c5 (Symmetrical Variation).

Against 1. d3 (Mieses Opening), play 1...e5.

Against 1. d4 (Queen's Pawn Opening), 1...Nf6 is black's best reply. 1...g6 and 1...d6 are also quite good for black. 1...d5 is a very common reply but not as successful for black. 1...f5 (Dutch Defense) and 1...b5 (Polish Opening) are both bad for black.

Against 1. e3 (Van't Kruijs Attack), play 1...d5, don't play 1...e5.

Against 1. e4 (King's Pawn Opening), 1...c5 (Sicilian Defense) is black's best reply. Although not too commonly played, 1...g6 (Robatsch Defense), 1...Nf6 (Alekhine's Defense) and 1...Nc6 (Nimzowitsch Defense) are also quite good for black while other replies like 1...c6 (Caro-Kann), 1...d6 (Pirc Defense) and 1...e6 (French Defense) are also a little bit more successful than the more common 1...e5.

Against 1. f4 (Bird's Opening), play 1...d5 (Dutch Variation).

Against 1. g3 (Benko Opening), play either 1...d5 or 1...e5, don't play 1...h5 (Lasker Simul Special).

Against 1. g4 (Grob Opening), play 1...e5.

Against 1. Nc3 (Dunst Opening), play 1...d5, don't play 1...e5 or 1...Nf6.

Against 1. Nf3 (Reti Opening), play 1...g6, don't play 1...Nc6.

Against any other first move, play either 1...d5 or 1...e5.

Queen's Pawn Openings

After 1. d4 d5

If black replies to 1. d4 with 1...d5 then white's most successful openings are 2. c4 (Queen's Gambit) and 2. e4 (Blackmar Diemer Gambit). Other fairly common continuations like 2. Nf3 are not as successful.

Against 2. c4 (Queen's Gambit), the best continuations for black are the Queen's Gambit Accepted and the Semi Slav. If black plays the Semi Slav then its better for white to play 5. Bg5 rather than 5. e3 because that can easily lead into the Meran Variation which is black's most successful continuation from the Queen's Gambit.

After 1. d4 Nf6

2. c4 is more successful than 2. Nf3 for white but black can try for the Nimzo Indian after 2. c4 and that is black's equally most successful opening overall, however white can avoid that by playing a different third move. Another alternative that occasionally gets played is 2. Bg5 (Trompowsky Attack), black's most successful reply to that is 2...d5.

After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4

There are two common continuations for black in this position which are 2...e6 (normally leading to a Nimzo Indian or Queen's Indian) or 2...g6 (normally leading to a King's Indian or Grunfeld Defense). Out of those two continuations 2...e6 is more successful for black.

Benko Gambit - White should fully accept the gambit and try to keep to the main line. Playing the Nescafe Frappe Attack instead of fully accepting the gambit is bad for white.

Benoni Defense - White should play the Modern Variation against this opening.

Grunfeld Defense - All of the main lines are good for white but the Russian System is a little bit more successful.

King's Indian - This is an extremely popular opening for black but its nowhere near as successful for black as the Nimzo Indian. White's most successful continuation is the Averbakh Variation, also note that if black makes the mistake in that variation of playing 6...e5 then 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nd5 is very good for white.

Nimzo Indian - This is black's equally most successful opening along with the Sicilian Defense. The best continuations for white are 4. Qb3 (Spielmann's Variation), 4. e3 (Main Line) and the 4. f3 variation. If the 4.e3 c5 Main Line is played, white should play 5. Ne2 (Rubenstein's Variation) as this is white's most successful reply overall to the Nimzo Indian. White should avoid playing 4. a3 (Samisch Variation) and 4. Bg5 (Leningrad Variation).

Queen's Indian - This is less successful than the Nimzo Indian but more successful than the King's Indian. All the main variations have very similar success rates for white but the 4. a3 (Petrosian System) and 4. Nf3 Variation are slightly better. The Queen's Indian can be reached if white plays 3. Nf3 to avoid the Nimzo Indian. Also note that 3...Bb4+ would lead to a Bogo-Indian Defense which is bad for black as white can play 4. Nbd2 to avoid the risk of getting doubled pawns on the c-file and an isolated pawn on the a-file.

King's Pawn Openings

After 1. e4 e5

Against 2. d4 (Centre Game), play 2...exd4. After that, the Danish Gambit is a bit more successful for white. In that continuation, black shouldn't fully accept the gambit by taking the pawn on b2.

Against 2. f4 (King's Gambit), play either 2...d5 (Falkbeer Counter Gambit) or 2...exf4 (Accepted), definitely don't play 2...d6 (Declined). Black's best continuation is the Abbazia Defense, closely followed by the Cunningham Defense. The Allgaier Gambit isn't so good for black.

Against 2. Bc4 (Bishop's Opening), 2...Nf6 (Berlin Defense) is a bit more successful than 2...Nc6 (Classical Variation). After 2...Nf6 is played, 3. d3 is better for white than 3. Nc3.

Against 2. Nc3 (Vienna Game), black's most successful reply is 2...Nf6 (Falkbeer Variation). If white plays 3. f4 (Vienna Gambit) after that then 3...d5 (Modern Variation) is good for black. Black shouldn't play 3...exf4 to accept the gambit as that has a very low success rate for black.

Against 2. Nf3 f5 (Latvian Gambit), play 3. Nxe5.

Against 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 (Ponziani's Opening), 3...d5 is better than 3...Nf6 for black.

Against 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 (Scotch Game), black should play 3...exd4. Overall the best continuation for white is 4. c3 (Goring Gambit) but that is risky because the 4...d5 (Declined) reply is good for black. If black accepts the Goring Gambit then they shouldn't fully accept it by taking the pawn on b2 as well as this is very good for white. The main line of 4. Nxd4 is nearly as successful for white overall and doesn't have the problem of one of the main replies being more successful for black. Black's two main continuations after 4. Nxd4 are 4...Bc5 and 4...Nf6 (Schmidt Variation) and they both have similar success rates for black.

Against 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (Ruy Lopez), the best replies are 3...a6 (Morphy Defense), 3...f5 (Schliemann Gambit) and 3...Nf6 (Berlin Gambit). The least successful replies are 3...d6 (Steinitz Defense), 3...Nd4 (Bird's Defense) and 3...Bc5 (Classical Defense). If black plays 3...a6 (Morphy Defense), 4. Ba5 is better than 4. Bxc6 (Exchange Variation). If a closed variation is played, the Centre Attack and Worrall Attack are almost as good as the main line. If the main line of a Closed Variation is played up until black's 9th move then black's most successful continuation at that point is 9...Nb8 (Breyer's Variation). Overall, black's best variation is the Marshall Counter-Gambit however trying to play for that is a bit risky as 8. a4 is very successful for white. Also good for black is the Rio de Janiero Variation.

Against 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 (Giuoco Piano), 3...Nf6 (Two Knight's Defense) is slightly more successful than 3...Bc5 (Main Line). In the 3...Bc5 Main Line, white should play 4. c3 to prepare d4 but if black plays 4...Nf6 then 5. d3 is a more successful continuation for white than 5. d4. In the main line, white should avoid playing the Moller Attack as that is good for black. The Evans Gambit,Giuoco Pianissimo and 3...Bc5 4. Nc3 line are not too good for white either.

Against 2. Nf3 Nf6 (Petroff's Defense), 3. d4 (Steinitz Variation) is white's best reply. If white plays 3. Nxe5, then black should play 3...d6 (Paulsen Variation). The 3. Nxe5 Qe7 Variation and 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 (Damiano Variation) are bad for black.

Other 1. e4 Replies

Against 1...b6 (Queenside Fianchetto), play 2. d4.

Against 1...c5 (Sicilian Defense), the two most successful replies are 2. Nf3 and then 2. c3 (Alapin Variation). Other continuations like 2. Nc3 (Closed Variation), 2. f4 (Grand Prix Attack) and 2. b4 (Wing Gambit) aren

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