List of chess openings named after people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Oxford Companion to Chess lists 1,327 named openings and variants.[1] Chess players' names are the most common sources of opening names. The name given to an opening is not always that of the first player to adopt it; often an opening is named for the player who was one of the first to popularise it or to publish analysis of it.
- Abonyi Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Nec6 – named after István Abonyi[2]
- Adams Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 – named after Weaver W. Adams[3]
- Adler Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 – named after Mór Adler[4]
- Alapin's Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 – named after Semyon Alapin[5]
- Alapin Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.c3 – named after Semyon Alapin[6]
- Albin Countergambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 – named after Adolf Albin[7]
- Alburt Variation of the Alekhine's Defence – 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 – named after Lev Alburt[8]
- Alekhine–Chatard Attack on the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 – named after Alexander Alekhine and Eugene Chatard[9]
- Alekhine's Defence – 1.e4 Nf6 – named after Alexander Alekhine[7]
- Alekhine Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 – named after Alexander Alekhine[10]
- Alien Gambit of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Ng5 – named after chess YouTuber Witty_Alien[11]
- Allgaier Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ng5 – named after Johann Baptist Allgaier[10]
- Amar Opening – 1.Nh3 – named after Charles Amar[12][13]
- Anderssen's Opening – 1.a3 – named after Adolf Anderssen[14]
- Arkell–Khenkin Variation of the Caro–Kann Defense – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 – named after Keith Arkell and Igor Khenkin[15]
- Averbakh System of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 – named after Yuri Averbakh[16]
B
- Balogh Defense – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 – named after János Balogh[17]
- Barcza System – 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 – named after Gedeon Barcza
- Barnes Opening – 1.f3 – named after Thomas Wilson Barnes[18]
- Basman Defence – 1.e4 g5 – named after Michael Basman[19]
- Becker Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h6 – named after Albert Becker[10]
- Bellon Gambit – 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 b5 – named after Juan Manuel Bellón López
- Benko Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 – named after Pal Benko[20]
- Benko's Opening – 1.g3 – named after Pal Benko[21]
- Bird Defense of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 – named after Henry Bird[22]
- Bird's Opening – 1.f4 – named after Henry Bird[7]
- Blackburne Shilling Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 – named after Joseph Henry Blackburne[23]
- Blackmar–Diemer Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 – named after Armand Blackmar and Emil Josef Diemer[7]
- Blumenfeld Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nf3 b5 – named after Benjamin Blumenfeld[7]
- Boden–Kieseritzky Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxe4 4.Nc3 – named after Samuel Boden and Lionel Kieseritzky
- Bogo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ – named after Efim Bogoljubov
- Bogoljubov Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 – named after Efim Bogoljubov
- Boleslavsky Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 e5 – named after Isaac Boleslavsky[18]
- Bongcloud Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.Ke2 – named after Chess.com user Lenny_Bongcloud, who used this opening many times, and kept losing[24]
- Bonsch-Osmolovsky Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Ne7 – named after Mikhail Bonsch-Osmolovsky[25]
- Botvinnik System of the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 – named after Mikhail Botvinnik[26]
- Botvinnik Variation of the English Opening – 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.e4 – named after Mikhail Botvinnik[18]
- Brentano Defense of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g5 – named after Franz Brentano[27]
- Breyer Variation of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qf3 – named after Gyula Breyer[28]
- Breyer Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nb8 – named after Gyula Breyer[29]
C
- Camara Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7 – named after International Master Hélder Câmara[30]
- Capablanca Variation of the Reti Opening – 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb2 Bg4 – named after José Raúl Capablanca[31]
- Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 – named after Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann[7]
- Carrera Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qh5 – named after Pietro Carrera[32]
- Chekhover Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 – named after Vitaly Chekhover[33]
- Chigorin Defence of the Queen's Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 – named after Mikhail Chigorin[7]
- Chigorin Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 – named after Mikhail Chigorin
- Chigorin Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 – named after Mikhail Chigorin[7]
- Clemenz Opening – 1.h3 – named after Hermann Clemenz[18]
- Cochrane Gambit of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 – named after John Cochrane[34]
- Colle System – 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 – named after Edgard Colle[7]
- Colman Variation of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3 Rb8 – named after Eugene Ernest Colman[35]
- Cozio Defence of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 – named after Carlo Cozio[10]
- Cunningham Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 – named after Alexander Cunningham[7]
D
- Damiano Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 – named after Pedro Damiano[36] although he gave the refutation rather than endorsing it [37]
- Desprez Opening – 1.h4 – named after Marcel Desprez[38]
- Döry Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Ne4 – named after Ladislaus Döry[7]
- Dubov Tarrasch – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 – named after Daniil Dubov
- Dunst Opening – 1.Nc3 – named after Ted A. Dunst[7]
- Duras Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c4 – named after Oldřich Duras[39]
- Durkin Opening – 1.Na3 – named after Robert Durkin[7]
E
- Eisenberg Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nh3 – named after Louis Eisenberg[40]
- Englund Gambit – 1.d4 e5 – named after Fritz Englund[41]
- Epishin Variation of the Benko Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 d6 8.g3 Bg7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.Rb1 – named after Vladimir Epishin[42]
- Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 – named after William Davies Evans[7]
F
- Fajarowicz Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 – named after Sammi Fajarowicz[43]
- Falkbeer Countergambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 – named after Ernst Falkbeer[7]
- Fischer Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 – named after Bobby Fischer[44]
- Fleissig Variation of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Nc2 – named after Bernhard Fleissig[45][unreliable source]
- Flohr–Mikenas–Carls Variation of the English Opening – 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 – named after Salo Flohr, Vladas Mikėnas and Carl Johan Margot Carls[46]
- Flohr Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3 – named after Salo Flohr[47]
- Flohr Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qa4+ – named after Salo Flohr[48]
- Frankenstein–Dracula Variation of the Vienna Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 – named after Frankenstein's monster and Count Dracula
- From's Gambit of the Bird's Opening – 1.f4 e5 – named after Martin Severin From[7]
- Furman Variation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 – named after Semyon Furman[49]
G
- Gajewski Gambit of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 d5 – named after Grzegorz Gajewski[50]
- Glek Defense of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Na6 – named after Igor Glek[51]
- Glek Variation of the Four Knights Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 – named after Igor Glek[52]
- Gligoric – Taimanov Variation of the King's Indian Defence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 – named after Svetozar Gligorić and Mark Taimanov[53]
- Goglidze Attack – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 – named after Viktor Goglidze[54]
- Göring Gambit of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 – named after Carl Göring[7]
- Grivas Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 – named after Efstratios Grivas[55]
- Grob's Attack – 1.g4 – named after Henri Grob[56]
- Gunderam Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7 – named after Gerhard Gunderam[57]
- Gurgenidze Defense of the Modern Defense – 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 h5 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze[58]
- Gurgenidze Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 b5 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze[58]
- Gurgenidze Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.b4 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze[58]
- Gusev Countergambit of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 3.cxd5 Nf6 – named after Yuri Gusev[59]
- Greco Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6 – named after Gioachino Greco[60]
- Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 – named after Ernst Grünfeld[7]
H
- Hanham Variation of the Philidor Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 – named after James Hanham[7]
- Harrwitz Attack of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bf4 – named after Daniel Harrwitz[61]
- Hodgson Attack – 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 – named after Julian Hodgson[62]
- Hopton Attack of the Dutch Defence – 1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 – named after Hopton[63]
- Horwitz Defense – 1.d4 e6 – named after Bernhard Horwitz
- Hromádka System of the Benoni Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 d6 – named after Karel Hromádka[64]
- Hübner Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 – named after Robert Hübner[65]
I
- Ilyin-Genevsky Variation of the Dutch Defence – 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 Qe8 – named after Alexander Ilyin-Genevsky[66]
J
- Janowski Variation of the Old Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 – named after Dawid Janowski
- Jasnogrodsky Defense of the Rice Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.0-0 Bxe5 9.Re1 Qe7 10.c3 Nh5 – named after Nicolai Jasnogrodsky[67][unreliable source]
- Jerome Gambit of the Italian Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ – named after Alonzo Wheeler Jerome[68]
K
- Kan Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 – named after Ilya Kan[33]
- Karklins–Martinovsky Variation of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nd3 – named after Chicago masters Andrew Karklins and Eugene Martinovsky[69]
- Karpov Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 – named after Anatoly Karpov[70]
- Karpov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nd7 – named after Anatoly Karpov[71]
- Kasparov Variation of Pirc Defense – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 – named after Garry Kasparov
- Katalymov Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 – named after Boris Katalymov[72]
- Keene Defense to the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Qh4+ 3.g3 Qe7 – named after Raymond Keene[73]
- Keres Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 – named after Paul Keres[74]
- Keres Defence – 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4+ – named after Paul Keres[75]
- Keres Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Ne2 – named after Paul Keres[33]
- Kevitz Variation of the English Opening – 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 Nc6 – named after Alexander Kevitz[75]
- Kholmov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Be6 – named after Ratmir Kholmov[76]
- Kieseritzky Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 – named after Lionel Kieseritzky
- Knorre Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Nc3 – named after Viktor Knorre[77]
- Koltanowski Gambit of the Italian Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4 – named after George Koltanowski
- Kondratiyev Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 c5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bd2 – named after Pavel Kondratiyev[78]
- Konikowski Gambit of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 d5 – named after Jerzy Konikowski[79]
- Konstantinopolsky Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 – named after Alexander Konstantinopolsky[18]
- Kopec System – 1.e4 c5 2.Bd3 – named after Danny Kopec[80]
L
- Lamb Defense of the Blackmar–Diemer Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Nc6 named after F. Lamb[81]
- Larsen's Opening – 1.b3 – named after Bent Larsen[82]
- Lasker Defence of the Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.0-0 d6 7.d4 Bb6 – named after Emanuel Lasker[83]
- Lasker Defence of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 Ne4 – named after Emanuel Lasker[84]
- Leko Gambit of the Anti-Grünfeld – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 e5 – named after Peter Leko[85]
- Leonardis Variation of the King's Pawn Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.d3 – named after James A. Leonard[86]
- Leonhardt Variation of the Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 b5 – named after Paul Saladin Leonhardt[87]
- Levitsky Attack – 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 – named after Stepan Levitsky
- Levenfish Attack in the Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.f4 – named after Grigory Levenfish[88]
- Levenfish Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 b6 – named after Grigory Levenfish[89]
- Lisitsin Gambit of the Zukertort Opening – 1.Nf3 f5 2.e4 – named after Georgy Lisitsin[90]
- Lolli Variation of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 – named after Giambattista Lolli[91]
- Lucena Defence of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Be7 – named after Luis Ramirez de Lucena[10]
- Lundin Defense – 1.d4 Nc6 – named after Erik Lundin[92]
- Lutikov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.f3 – named after Anatoly Lutikov[45][unreliable source]
- Lutikov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.Bc2 – named after Anatoly Lutikov[10]
M
- MacLeod Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.c3 – named after Nicholas MacLeod
- Makogonov System of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 – named after Vladimir Makogonov[93]
- Makogonov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.b4 – named after Vladimir Makogonov[10]
- Maróczy Bind of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 – named after Géza Maróczy[7]
- Marshall Attack of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 – named after Frank Marshall[94]
- Marshall Defense to the Queen's Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 – named after Frank Marshall[10]
- Marshall Gambit in the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 – named after Frank Marshall[10]
- Marshall Gambit of the Tarrasch Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e4 – named after Frank Marshall[10]
- Marshall Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 d5 – named after Frank Marshall[10]
- Max Lange Attack of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Bc5 6.e5 – named after Max Lange[18]
- McCutcheon Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 – named after John Lindsay McCutcheon[95]
- McDonnell Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 6.Nc3 – named after Alexander McDonnell[96]
- Mieses Opening – 1.d3 – named after Jacques Mieses[18]
- Mikenas Variation of the Modern Benoni – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.e5 – named after Vladas Mikėnas[97]
- Miles Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bf4 – named after Tony Miles[10]
- Moeller Attack of the Italian Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 – named after Jorgen Moeller[98]
- Monticelli Trap of the Bogo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 b6 6.g3 Bb7 7.Bg2 0-0 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.Ng5 – named after Mario Monticelli
- Morozevich Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7 – named after Alexander Morozevich[99]
- Morozevich Variation of the Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Ndb7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 – named after Alexander Morozevich[100]
- Morphy Defense to the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 – named after Paul Morphy[10]
- Morphy Gambit of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nh3 – named after Paul Morphy[101]
- Muzio Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 – named after Mutio[102] d'Alessandro, a third-rate Neapolitan player, following a mistranslation by Jacob Sarratt of Alessandro Salvio[103]
N
- Nadanian Attack of the Queen's Pawn Opening – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 h6 3.c4 g5 – named after Ashot Nadanian[104]
- Nadanian Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Na4 – named after Ashot Nadanian[105]
- Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 – named after Miguel Najdorf[106]
- Napoleon Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3 – named after Napoleon Bonaparte[107]
- Neumann Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nc6 – named after Gustav Neumann[108]
- Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 – named after Aron Nimzowitsch[109]
- Nimzowitsch Defence – 1.e4 Nc6 – named after Aron Nimzowitsch[110]
- Nimzowitsch Variation of the Sicilian Defense – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 – named after Aron Nimzowitsch[33]
- Noteboom Variation of the Semi-Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 – named after Daniël Noteboom[111]
O
- O'Kelly Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 – named after Albéric O'Kelly de Galway[112]
- Opočenský Opening (i.e. Trompowsky Attack) – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 – named after Karel Opočenský[113]
- Opočenský Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd2 – named after Karel Opočenský[45][unreliable source]
- Opočenský Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 – named after Karel Opočenský[114]
- Owen's Defense – 1.e4 b6 – named after John Owen[18]
P
- Panov Attack of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 – named after Vasily Panov[7]
- Parham Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 – named after Bernard Parham[115]
- Paulsen Attack of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nc4 – named after Louis Paulsen[7]
- Perenyi Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 e5 8.Nf5 g6 9.g5 – named after Bela Perenyi[116]
- Petrosian Variation of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 – named after Tigran Petrosian[10]
- Petrosian Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 – named after Tigran Petrosian[10]
- Petrov Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 – named after Alexander Petrov[7]
- Philidor Countergambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 – named after François-André Danican Philidor[7]
- Philidor Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 – named after François-André Danican Philidor[7]
- Philidor Variation of the Bishop's Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3 – named after François-André Danican Philidor
- Pirc Defence – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 – named after Vasja Pirc[7]
- Polerio Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Be7 – named after Giulio Cesare Polerio[117]
- Pollock's Defense to the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Na5 – named after William Pollock[10]
- Polugaevsky Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5 – named after Lev Polugaevsky[118]
- Ponziani Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 – named after Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani[7]
- Popov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a5 – named after Bulgarian correspondence player Georgi Alexandrov Popov[119][120]
- Prie Attack of the Queen's Pawn Opening – 1.d4 d5 2.a3 – named after Éric Prié[121]
- Puc Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c6 – named after Stojan Puc[122]
Q
- Quinteros Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Qc7 – named after Miguel Quinteros[123]
R
- Ragozin Defence of the Queen's Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 – named after Viacheslav Ragozin[7]
- Réti Opening – 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 – named after Richard Réti[18]
- Rice Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.0-0 – named after Isaac Rice[7]
- Richter–Rauzer Attack in the Sicilian Defense – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 – named after Kurt Richter and Vsevolod Rauzer[33]
- Richter–Veresov Attack – 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 – named after Kurt Richter and Gavriil Veresov[124]
- Riumin Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 named after Nikolai Riumin[125]
- Robatsch Defence – 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 – named after Karl Robatsch[7]
- Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 – named after Nicolas Rossolimo[126]
- Rousseau Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d3 – named after Eugène Rousseau[127]
- Rubinstein Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe4 Ng4 4.Bf4 – named after Akiba Rubinstein[7]
- Rubinstein Variation of the Four Knights Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 – named after Akiba Rubinstein[7]
- Rubinstein Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 – named after Akiba Rubinstein[7]
- Rubinstein Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 – named after Akiba Rubinstein[7]
- Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 – named after Ruy López de Segura[7]
S
- Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 – named after Friedrich Sämisch[16]
- Sämisch Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 – named after Friedrich Sämisch[128]
- Santasiere's Folly – 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b4 – named after Anthony Santasiere[129]
- Schallopp Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 – named after Emil Schallopp[18]
- Schlechter Gambit of the Bird's Opening – 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 Nc6 – named after Carl Schlechter[citation needed]
- Schlechter–Rubinstein System of the Tarrasch Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 – named after Carl Schlechter and Akiba Rubinstein[10]
- Schlechter Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 – named after Carl Schlechter[130]
- Schlechter Variation of the Grunfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 c6 – named after Carl Schlechter[131]
- Schlechter Variation of the Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6 – named after Carl Schlechter[131]
- Schliemann–Jaenisch Gambit of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 – named after Carl Jaenisch and Adolph Schliemann[18]
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 – named after Siegbert Tarrasch[132]
- Shabalov–Shirov Gambit of the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 – named after Alexander Shabalov and Alexei Shirov[133]
- Short Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence Advance – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.c3 e6 5.Be2 – named after Nigel Short
- Smith–Morra Gambit of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 – named after Texas master Ken Smith and Morra[134]
- Smyslov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Bg4 – named after Vasily Smyslov[135]
- Smyslov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 h6 – named after Vasily Smyslov[136]
- Snyder Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.b3 – named after Robert Snyder[137]
- Sokolsky Opening – 1.b4 – named after Alexey Sokolsky[18]
- Soldatenkov Variation of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.fxe5 – named after Vasily Soldatenkov[138]
- Soltis Variation of the Yugoslav Attack – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.h4 h5 – named after Andrew Soltis[139]
- Soultanbeieff Variation of Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 Victor Soultanbeieff[140]
- Sozin–Fischer Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Bb3 0-0 9.0-0 – named after Veniamin Sozin and Bobby Fischer[141]
- Spielmann Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3 – named after Rudolph Spielmann[142]
- Stamma Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.h4 – named after Philipp Stamma[143]
- Staunton Gambit of the Dutch Defence – 1.d4 f5 2.e4 – named after Howard Staunton[7]
- Steinitz Attack of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.e5 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz[144]
- Steinitz Defense of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz[145]
- Steinitz Gambit of the Vienna Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz[7]
- Steinitz Variation of the Petrov Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz[146]
- Steinitz Variation of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 5.Nc3 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz[147]
- Steinitz Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.g3 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz[148]
- Sveshnikov Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 – named after Evgeny Sveshnikov[149]
- Szén Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 – named after József Szén[150]
T
- Taimanov Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 – named after Mark Taimanov[151]
- Tal Gambit of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 Nf6 – named after Mikhail Tal
- Tal Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 – named after Mikhail Tal
- Tarrasch Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 – named after Siegbert Tarrasch[152]
- Tarrasch Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 – named after Siegbert Tarrasch[153]
- Tennison Gambit – 1.Nf3 d5 2.e4 – named after Otto Tennison[10]
- Torre Attack – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 – named after Carlos Torre[154]
- Traxler Variation of the Two Knights Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 – named after Karel Traxler[155]
- Trompowsky Attack – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 – named after Octavio Trompowsky[7]
U
- Ufimtsev Defence – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 – named after Anatoly Ufimtsev[156]
- Uhlmann–Szabo System
- Urusov Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 – named after the Russian Prince Sergey Urusov
V
- Van 't Kruijs Opening – 1.e3 – named after Maarten van 't Kruijs[7]
- Velimirovic Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 – named after Dragoljub Velimirović[157]
- Villemson Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.d4 – named after Martin Villemson[158]
- Vinogradov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qe7 – named after Paul Vinogradov[159]
- Vitolins Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bb5+ – named after Alvis Vītoliņš[160]
W
- Wade Defence – 1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4 – named after Robert Wade[161]
- Wagner Gambit of the Swiss Gambit – 1.f4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g4 – named after Alexander Wagner[162]
- Ware Defense – 1.e4 a5 – named after Preston Ware
- Ware Opening – 1.a4 – named after Preston Ware[18]
- Winawer Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 – named after Simon Winawer[163]
- Wolf Gambit of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.Nge2[citation needed]
- Worrall Attack of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2 – named after Thomas Herbert Worrall[164]
Z
- Zaitsev Gambit of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 – named after Alexander Zaitsev[165]
- Zaitsev Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 – named after Igor Zaitsev[18]
- Zilbermints Gambit of the Englund Gambit – 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nge7 – named after Lev Zilbermints[166]
- Zukertort Opening – 1.Nf3 – Named after Johannes Zukertort[90]
- Zvjaginsev Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Na3 – named after Vadim Zvjaginsev[167]