Queen's Gambit

1. d4White occupies d4 with a well-supported pawn. The d-pawn is harder to undermine than e4 and opens the diagonal for the dark-squared bishop on c1.
2. d5Black mirrors the center with a symmetrical pawn. This leads to positional, strategic play rather than the sharp tactical battles of 1...e5.
3. c4The Queen's Gambit. White attacks d5 from the flank, offering the c-pawn to gain central control. If Black captures, White plays e4 and dominates the center.
4. e6Black declines with e6, the most solid and classical reply. The pawn on e6 reinforces d5 and prepares smooth kingside development.
5. Nc3The knight develops to c3 and adds pressure to the d5 pawn. White is preparing e4, which would give a massive pawn center.
6. Nf6Black develops the knight to f6, fighting back against e4 and preparing to castle. This is the Queen's Gambit Declined — one of Black's most trusted setups.
7. Bg5White develops the bishop to g5, pinning the f6 knight. If the knight moves, d5 becomes hard to hold. This is the classical QGD position.
8. Be7Black breaks the pin with Be7, completing the chain of kingside development. The bishop is solid here and prepares castling.
9. e3White solidifies the center with e3 and prepares to develop the f1 bishop. The pawn structure is stable — White's plan is a gradual queenside majority.
10. O-OBlack castles kingside, putting the king to safety before beginning counterplay. The position is solid but slightly passive.
11. Nf3White's third piece develops — the f3 knight completes a harmonious setup. White controls the center and is ready to advance on the queenside with c5 or b4.
12. Nbd7Black develops the b8 knight to d7 rather than c6 to avoid blocking the c-pawn, keeping options like ...c5 or ...e5 open later.

Black accepts the gambit pawn and plans to return it while gaining tempo. The immediate ...c5 strikes back at White's center. Black gets active piece play in exchange for a slightly inferior pawn structure. This was Fischer's preferred choice and remains popular at all levels.

1. d4White opens with d4.
2. d5Black plays d5, contesting the center.
3. c4White offers the Queen's Gambit with c4.
4. dxc4Black accepts — capturing on c4 and daring White to prove compensation.
5. e3White plays e3, preparing to recapture on c4 with the bishop and gaining central control.
6. Nf6Black develops Nf6, fighting for e4 and preparing to castle.
7. Bxc4White recaptures with Bxc4, restoring material and placing the bishop actively.
8. e6Black plays e6, solidifying the center and preparing to castle.
9. Nf3White develops Nf3, completing a harmonious setup.
10. c5Black plays c5 — the key counterattack, hitting d4 and returning the gambit pawn with interest.
11. O-OWhite castles, completing kingside development and connecting the rooks.
12. a6Black plays a6 — a subtle prophylactic, preventing Bb5+ and preparing ...b5 to chase the bishop.

The Tarrasch Defense: instead of defending d5, Black hits back at the centre with ...c5. The result is an isolated d-pawn in exchange for free, active piece play — a trade Siegbert Tarrasch argued was always worth making. White's main try is the Rubinstein setup with g3, aiming the bishop straight at the isolated pawn. Stockfish reads the position after 6...Nf6 at about +0.4 for White.

1. d4White plays d4, the classical queen's pawn opening.
2. d5Black replies d5, staking an equal claim in the centre.
3. c4c4 — the Queen's Gambit, offering the c-pawn to deflect Black's d5 pawn.
4. e6Black plays e6, a normal-looking move that quietly prepares something far more aggressive than the Queen's Gambit Declined.
5. Nc3White develops the knight to c3 and piles on d5.
6. c5c5! The Tarrasch. Rather than propping up d5 again, Black attacks the base of White's centre. This is the move that defines the whole system.
7. cxd5White captures on d5, forcing matters in the centre.
8. exd5Black recaptures with the e-pawn. The d5 pawn is now isolated — no neighbouring pawn can ever defend it.
9. Nf3Nf3 develops and adds a defender to d4.
10. Nc6Black develops Nc6, attacking d4 and building pressure on the open lines the exchange opened up.
11. g3g3! The Rubinstein setup, and the critical test: the bishop is heading for g2, where it stares straight at the isolated d5 pawn.
12. Nf6Black develops Nf6, defending d5 and completing the natural setup. White has a small pull — around +0.4 — but Black's pieces are genuinely active, which is the whole point of the defence.

White fianchettoes the kingside bishop, creating long-term pressure on the queenside. The Catalan bishop on g2 becomes a monster after Black captures on c4. Used by Karpov, Kramnik, and many world champions as a reliable weapon.

1. d4White opens with d4.
2. d5Black plays d5.
3. c4White plays c4, the Catalan setup begins.
4. e6Black plays e6, the most common reply.
5. Nf3White plays Nf3.
6. Nf6Black develops Nf6.
7. g3White plays g3 — the Catalan. Instead of developing the bishop normally, White prepares to fianchetto it.
8. Be7Black develops Be7, preparing to castle.
9. Bg2White plays Bg2 — the Catalan bishop. It will pressure Black's queenside for the entire game.
10. O-OBlack castles, completing kingside development.
11. O-OWhite castles.
12. dxc4Black captures dxc4, accepting the pawn. The Catalan bishop now has a completely open diagonal.
13. Qc2White plays Qc2, preparing to win back the c4 pawn while keeping the bishop's diagonal open. The pressure on the queenside is immense.