Encyclopédie Interactive des Ouvertures d’Échecs

5 Classical Schools · 24 Volumes & All 96 Interactive Chapters

I · Open Games (1. e4 e5 · ECO C20–C99)

• Vol.01 (C50–C59) · Italian Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4)

  One of the oldest recorded openings in chess history, the Italian Game places the light-squared bishop on the a2–g8 diagonal at move three, eyeing f7 while preparing either a rapid c3–d4 central strike, the romantic Evans Gambit (4. b4), or the deep Giuoco Pianissimo (d3 + c3) squeeze.

  Ch.1 Giuoco Piano & Pianissimo · Ch.2 Classical & Greco Variations · Ch.3 Two Knights Defense · Ch.4 Evans & Italian Gambits

• Vol.02 (C60–C99) · Ruy Lopez (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5)

  Revered as the cornerstone of classical chess education, the Ruy Lopez develops 3. Bb5 to apply lasting indirect pressure against Black's e5 stronghold, branching into the fortress-like Berlin Defense, the counterattacking Open Spanish, the sacrificial Marshall Attack, and rich Closed Chigorin/Breyer systems.

  Ch.1 Morphy Defense Mainlines · Ch.2 Berlin & Classical Defenses · Ch.3 Open & Exchange Variations · Ch.4 Closed & Marshall Attack

• Vol.03 (C44–C49) · Scotch & Four Knights Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 / 3. Nc3)

  Rather than maneuvering behind closed pawns, the Scotch Game (3. d4) and Four Knights Game (3. Nc3 Nf6) confront the center head-on—either liquidating d4 to open central files immediately for rapid piece play or maintaining harmonious classical symmetry.

  Ch.1 Scotch Classical & Mieses · Ch.2 Scotch & Göring Gambits · Ch.3 Four Knights Spanish & Italian · Ch.4 Four Knights Scotch & Belgrade

• Vol.04 (C40–C43) · Petrov & Philidor Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 / 2...d6)

  Built for Black players who refuse to let White dictate the tempo after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3, Petrov's Defense (2...Nf6) immediately counter-attacks e4 to neutralize sharp gambits, while Philidor's Defense (2...d6) constructs a compact, resilient central strongpoint.

  Ch.1 Petrov Classical & Nimzowitsch · Ch.2 Petrov Modern, Stafford & Latvian · Ch.3 Philidor Hanham & Lion · Ch.4 Philidor Exchange & Countergambits

• Vol.05 (C25–C39) · King's Gambit & Vienna Game (1. e4 e5 2. f4 / 2. Nc3)

  Uniting the swashbuckling King's Gambit (2. f4) with its refined cousin the Vienna Game (2. Nc3 followed by f4 or Bc4), this volume teaches how to pry open the f-file, deflect Black's e5 pawn, and coordinate rapid attacks against f7 before Black consolidates.

  Ch.1 King's Gambit Accepted: Knight · Ch.2 Bishop's Gambit & Muzio · Ch.3 Falkbeer & Gambit Declined · Ch.4 Vienna Game & Vienna Gambit

• Vol.06 (C20–C24) · Center, Danish & Bishop's Opening (1. e4 e5 2. d4 / 2. Bc4 / 3. c3)

  Covering the Bishop's Opening (2. Bc4), Center Game (2. d4), Ponziani (3. c3), and Danish Gambit (2. d4 exd4 3. c3), these early deviations sidestep Petrov symmetry while launching sweeping diagonal batteries and rapid development gambits.

  Ch.1 Center Game Mainlines · Ch.2 Danish Gambit Accepted & Declined · Ch.3 Bishop's Opening & Urusov Gambit · Ch.4 Ponziani & King's Pawn Sidelines

II · Semi-Open Defenses (vs 1. e4 · ECO B00–C19)

• Vol.07 (B32–B99) · Sicilian: Open Mainlines (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 ... 3. d4 cxd4)

  The highest-scoring and most combative response to 1. e4: after 1...c5 2. Nf3 and 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4, the Open Sicilian trades a flank pawn for a central pawn, igniting iconic battles across the Najdorf, Dragon, Sveshnikov, Classical, Taimanov, and Scheveningen.

  Ch.1 Najdorf Variation (5...a6) · Ch.2 Dragon & Accelerated Dragon · Ch.3 Classical, Rauzer & Sveshnikov · Ch.4 Scheveningen, Kan & Taimanov

• Vol.08 (B20–B55) · Sicilian: Anti-Sicilian Systems (1. e4 c5 2. c3 / 2. Nc3 / 3. Bb5+)

  Designed for White players who prefer dictating the terrain against 1...c5 without memorizing thirty moves of Najdorf theory, Anti-Sicilian systems encompass the 2. c3 Alapin, the positional Rossolimo/Moscow (3. Bb5+), the Closed Sicilian, and the Grand Prix Attack.

  Ch.1 Alapin Variation (2. c3) · Ch.2 Closed Sicilian & Grand Prix · Ch.3 Smith-Morra & Wing Gambits · Ch.4 Rossolimo, Moscow & O'Kelly

• Vol.09 (C00–C19) · French Defense (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5)

  After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5, the French Defense immediately challenges White's center from a fortified base, producing classic pawn-chain struggles across the Advance (3. e5), Winawer (3. Nc3 Bb4), Classical (3...Nf6), Tarrasch (3. Nd2), and Exchange lines.

  Ch.1 Advance, Exchange & King's Indian · Ch.2 Tarrasch (3. Nd2) & Rubinstein · Ch.3 Winawer Variation (3. Nc3 Bb4) · Ch.4 Classical & Steinitz (3...Nf6)

• Vol.10 (B10–B19) · Caro-Kann Defense (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5)

  With 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5, the Caro-Kann achieves the central sturdiness of the French Defense while keeping the c8–h3 diagonal wide open so Black's light-squared bishop can develop smoothly outside the pawn chain before ...e6 is played.

  Ch.1 Classical, Karpov & Tartakower · Ch.2 Advance Variation (3. e5) · Ch.3 Exchange & Panov Attack · Ch.4 Two Knights & Fantasy Sidelines

• Vol.11 (B00–B09) · Scandinavian, Alekhine & Pirc (1. e4 d5 / 1...Nf6 / 1...d6)

  Grouping three fiercely independent replies to 1. e4—the Scandinavian (1...d5), Alekhine's Defense (1...Nf6), and the Pirc/Modern complex (1...d6 / 1...g6)—this volume equips Black to disrupt standard 1. e4 patterns from the very first move.

  Ch.1 Scandinavian Defense (1...d5) · Ch.2 Alekhine Defense (1...Nf6) · Ch.3 Pirc & Modern Defense (1...d6/g6) · Ch.4 Nimzowitsch (1...Nc6) & Owen (1...b6)

III · Closed Games (1. d4 d5 · ECO D00–D69)

• Vol.12 (D30–D69) · Queen's Gambit Declined (1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6)

  The bedrock of 1. d4 d5 play: by declining the c4 pawn with 2...e6, the Queen's Gambit Declined establishes an unshakable central point on d5 and gives rise to the game's most instructive strategic blueprints—from the Carlsbad Exchange structure to the Ragozin and Tartakower.

  Ch.1 Orthodox, Tartakower & Lasker · Ch.2 QGD Exchange & Harrwitz · Ch.3 Ragozin, Vienna & Cambridge · Ch.4 Albin Countergambit & Chigorin

• Vol.13 (D20–D34) · Queen's Gambit Accepted & Tarrasch (1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 / 3...c5)

  Pairing the Queen's Gambit Accepted (2...dxc4) with the Tarrasch Defense (2...e6 3. Nc3 c5), this volume showcases active, open-piece remedies to 1. d4 d5—freeing Black's light-squared bishop immediately at the cost of ceding central space or accepting an Isolated Queen's Pawn.

  Ch.1 QGA Classical & Normal (3. Nf3) · Ch.2 QGA Central & Accelerated (3. e4) · Ch.3 Tarrasch Defense (3...c5) · Ch.4 Semi-Tarrasch Defense (4...c5)

• Vol.14 (D10–D19) · Slav & Semi-Slav Defense (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6)

  Supporting d5 with 2...c6 rather than 2...e6, the Slav and Semi-Slav (adding ...e6) combine one of the hardest shells in chess with razor-sharp counterattacking systems such as the Meran, Botvinnik, Moscow, and Chebanenko Slav.

  Ch.1 Slav Mainline (Czech) & Quiet · Ch.2 Slav Exchange, Geller & Gambits · Ch.3 Semi-Slav Meran & Accelerated · Ch.4 Botvinnik, Moscow & Anti-Meran

• Vol.15 (D00–D05) · London, Torre & Colle Systems (1. d4 ... 2. Bf4 / 3. Bf4 / 3. Bg5)

  Built around a rock-solid d4 + Nf3 + Bf4/Bg5 + e3 + c3 pyramid, the London, Torre, and Colle systems give White a coherent, universal blueprint against almost any Black setup—delaying theoretical memorization until a rich middlegame battle begins.

  Ch.1 London System Classical · Ch.2 Jobava London & Veresov Attack · Ch.3 Torre Attack (Bg5) · Ch.4 Colle, Zukertort & Rubinstein

• Vol.16 (A40–A45) · Trompowsky & Queen's Pawn Gambits (1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 / 1. d4 d5 2. e4)

  Sidestepping every mainstream Indian and Slav textbook on move two, the Trompowsky Attack (1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5), Levitsky/Veresov setups, and Blackmar-Diemer / Englund gambits force immediate asymmetry, damaged pawn structures, or open-file fireworks.

  Ch.1 Trompowsky & Levitsky Attacks · Ch.2 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted · Ch.3 Blackmar-Diemer Declined & Vienna · Ch.4 Mason, Chigorin & Anti-Englund

IV · Indian Defenses (1. d4 Nf6 · ECO A40–E99)

• Vol.17 (E60–E99) · King's Indian Defense (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7)

  The ultimate hypermodern counterattacking weapon against 1. d4: in the King's Indian Defense (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7), Black invites White to occupy the entire center with e4 + d4 + c4, then strikes back with ...e5 or ...c5 to ignite thrilling opposite-wing races.

  Ch.1 Orthodox, Petrosian & Bayonet · Ch.2 Fianchetto Variation (g3 + Bg2) · Ch.3 Sämisch Variation (5. f3) · Ch.4 Averbakh & Four Pawns Attack

• Vol.18 (D70–D99) · Grünfeld & Benoni Defense (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 / 2...c5)

  Uniting Ernst Grünfeld's brilliant 3...d5 strike with the Modern Benoni and Benko Gambit (3...c5 4. d5 b5), this volume demonstrates how Black dismantles or bypasses White's d4 center through concrete piece pressure along the a8–h1 diagonal.

  Ch.1 Grünfeld Exchange Variation · Ch.2 Grünfeld Russian & Neo-Grünfeld · Ch.3 Modern Benoni & Pterodactyl · Ch.4 Benko Gambit & Blumenfeld

• Vol.19 (E11–E59) · Nimzo-Indian & Queen's Indian (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 / 3. Nf3 b6)

  Representing the purest expression of hypermodern positional chess, the Nimzo-Indian (3. Nc3 Bb4), Queen's Indian (3. Nf3 b6), and Bogo-Indian control the crucial e4 square with pieces rather than pawns, remaining virtually impossible to refute.

  Ch.1 Nimzo-Indian Rubinstein (4. e3) · Ch.2 Nimzo Classical (4. Qc2) & Sämisch · Ch.3 Queen's Indian Mainlines · Ch.4 Bogo-Indian & Delayed Queen's Indian

• Vol.20 (A80–A99) · Dutch, Budapest & Old Indian (1. d4 f5 / 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5)

  Combining the combative Dutch Defense (1. d4 f5—Stonewall, Leningrad, and Classical) with the tricky Budapest Gambit (2...e5) and solid Old Indian, this volume gives Black immediate kingside imbalance against 1. d4.

  Ch.1 Dutch Leningrad Variation (g6 + Bg7) · Ch.2 Dutch Stonewall & Classical · Ch.3 Dutch Staunton Gambit & Anti-Dutch · Ch.4 Budapest Gambit & Old Indian Defense

• Vol.21 (E00–E09) · Catalan Opening (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2)

  Born when Tartakower blended the Queen's Gambit (d4 + c4) with the kingside fianchetto (g3 + Bg2), the Catalan Opening exerts relentless, long-range pressure down the h1–a8 diagonal that persists even after queens leave the board.

  Ch.1 Open Catalan (4...dxc4) · Ch.2 Closed Catalan Mainlines · Ch.3 Catalan Classical & Bogo-Catalan · Ch.4 Agincourt & Neo-Catalan Transpositions

V · Flank & Hypermodern (1. c4 / 1. Nf3 · ECO A00–A39)

• Vol.22 (A10–A39) · English Opening (1. c4 e5 / 1...c5 / 1...Nf6)

  Opening with 1. c4, the English Opening fights for the d5 square from the flank while keeping d2–d4 and e2–e4 completely flexible—allowing White to play a Reversed Sicilian with an extra tempo (1...e5) or steer smoothly into Catalan and Queen's Gambit territory.

  Ch.1 King's English (1...e5) · Ch.2 Symmetrical Variation (1...c5) · Ch.3 Anglo-Indian & Anglo-Grünfeld · Ch.4 Agincourt, Caro-Kann & Mikenas

• Vol.23 (A04–A09) · Réti & King's Indian Attack (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 / 2. g3)

  Opening with the flexible 1. Nf3, the Réti Opening (2. c4 + g3) and King's Indian Attack (d3 + Nbd2 + g3 + Bg2 + e4) embody hypermodern restraint—refusing to commit central pawns early so Black's own setup becomes the target.

  Ch.1 Réti Opening Mainlines · Ch.2 Réti Anglo-Slav & Fianchetto · Ch.3 King's Indian Attack · Ch.4 Zukertort & Hypermodern Setups

• Vol.24 (A00–A03) · Bird, Nimzo-Larsen & Flank Openings (1. f4 / 1. b3 / 1. b4 / 1. Nc3)

  Rounding out the Codex, Bird's Opening (1. f4), the Nimzo-Larsen Attack (1. b3), the Polish/Sokolsky (1. b4), and Dunst/Van Geet (1. Nc3) invite creative thinkers out of memorized highways into rich, Asymmetric battlegrounds from move one.

  Ch.1 Bird's Opening & From's Gambit (1. f4) · Ch.2 Nimzo-Larsen Attack (1. b3) · Ch.3 Polish / Sokolsky Opening (1. b4) · Ch.4 Dunst (1. Nc3) & Hungarian (1. g3)