Learn the Best Chess Openings for Black

If you are a beginner or an intermediate player, you are probably interested in choosing the best chess openings to play with Black.

These openings should be easy-to-play and you should be able to easily memorize the main lines in a few minutes.

This doesn’t mean that these chess openings will be bad – It just means that they will allow you to play the opening soundly but without any unnecessary complications.

In case you are interested, we have covered the best chess openings for White in another article.

Without further ado, here are the best chess openings for Black for beginners.

Best Chess Openings for Black Against Against 1.e4

By definition, all chess openings for black depend on what is White’s first move.

The move 1.e4 is the most played first move in the history of chess.

Chess openings that start with 1.e4 are usually characterized by a dynamic and aggressive playstyle.

They are largely geared towards quick development and control of the center, which is vital for early-game positioning and maintaining advantage throughout the game.

Main characteristics of 1.e4 chess openings:

Center Control: The 1.e4 move opens lines for both the White queen and the bishop, enabling better control of the center, especially the d4 and f4 squares. The same is true for Black if it decides to play 1…e5.
Rapid Development: By clearing the path for the bishop and the queen, this pawn move allows for rapid development of the pieces, usually also for Black.
King’s Safety: Many 1.e4 openings, like the Italian Game or the Spanish Game (Ruy Lopez), often involve an early kingside castling for both sides, ensuring the safety of the kings.
Open Games: 1.e4 openings tend to lead to open games with complex tactical play. The pawn structures are often less fixed, leading to a rich variety of possible middle game structures.
Rich in Tactics: Because 1.e4 often leads to open games, it tends to involve lots of tactical battles. Control of the center can lead to attacking opportunities, and both players must be vigilant for tactical blows.

Below you will find the the top 5 chess openings for Black to face 1.e4.

French Defense

The French Defense is a popular and well-respected chess opening characterized by the initial moves 1.e4 e6.

The French Defense is a solid, robust opening often chosen by players who are comfortable playing in a somewhat closed, strategic game.

It presents a distinctive pawn structure and demands understanding a few important thematic maneuvers and tactics.

Main characteristics of the French Defense:

Pawn Structure: French Defense games are often characterized by a fixed pawn structure in the center, usually the pawn chain d4-e5 for White and d5-e6 for Black. The so-called “French pawn structure” leads to a variety of strategic plans based on undermining or defending these pawn chains.
Piece Placement: The dark square bishop for Black can often become a problem piece in the French Defense, as it can be shut in by its own pawns. Many lines involve maneuvers to trade off this bishop or find a suitable role for it in the middlegame. Black needs to carefully plan how to liberate this bishop, often through maneuvers involving …b6, …c5, or the f6 square.
Pawn Breaks: Pawn breaks are crucial in the French Defense. For Black, the primary pawn breaks often happen on c5 and f6. For White, the pawn breaks usually occur on e5, f4-f5, or a minority attack on the queenside.
Closed Position: The French Defense typically leads to a somewhat closed position, especially in the Winawer and Classical variations. This means the game is often more about positional maneuvering and less about tactical skirmishes.

Main variations of the French Defense:

Winawer Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4): This is a sharp line where Black immediately challenges White’s plan and fights for control of the e4 square.

Classical Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6): A more conservative approach where Black aims for a solid but less active setup.

Tarrasch Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2): White aims for a flexible setup to avoid the pin Bb4.

Advance Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5): White locks the center pawns and denies the Black knight its natural f6 square.

Exchange Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5): This is a less ambitious approach where White seeks a simple, symmetrical structure with less tactical complexity.

The French Defense is a sound chess opening for Black that provides rich middlegame play and thematic pawn structures and piece placements.

In the following video, International Chess Master Marcin Sieciechowicz explains some of the most uncommon lines in the French Defense:

Sicilian Defense

The Sicilian Defense, initiated by the moves 1.e4 c5, is one of the most popular and dynamic openings in chess.

It’s often chosen by players seeking an unbalanced position with rich tactical possibilities to play for the win with Black.

Main characteristics of the Sicilian Defense:

Asymmetrical Structure: The Sicilian Defense immediately creates an asymmetrical pawn structure, which can lead to rich and diverse middlegame positions. This can be beneficial for players seeking winning chances with the black pieces.
Central Control: Despite not initially moving a center pawn, Black’s first move, 1…c5, aims to control the d4 square and challenge White’s control of the center.
Open Sicilian: The Sicilian Defense often leads to an “Open Sicilian” after 2.Nf3 and 3.d4, which white uses to establish a central pawn duo (e4 and d4) while black gains a central pawn and more development after …cxd4 and …Nf6.
Pawn Structures: Sicilian pawn structures often feature a backward d-pawn for Black and isolated d-pawn for White after the common d4 push from White. The understanding of these pawn structures is crucial for strategic middlegame plans.
Development and King’s Safety: The Sicilian often allows for a quick Nc6 or d6 and Nf6 development for Black and provides possibilities for both kingside and queenside castling, depending on the variant.
Counter-attacking Potential: The Sicilian Defense is a counter-attacking system. Black often allows White to occupy the center with pawns, only to challenge this center later on.

Main variations of the Sicilian Defense:

Najdorf Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6): The Najdorf is one of the most aggressive and theory-heavy lines of the Sicilian. It offers Black flexibility and counterattacking chances.

Master the Najdorf Sicilian now.

Scheveningen Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6): This setup offers solid development and less tactical complexity than the Najdorf, while maintaining counterattacking potential.

Dragon Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6): Named for the pawn structure that resembles a dragon, this line involves a sharp battle where both sides often castle on opposite sides and race to attack the opponent’s king.

Closed Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 and 3.g3): This is a less aggressive approach where White focuses on piece development and delays the d4 push.

Alapin Variation (1.e4 c5 2.c3): This aims to control the center with pawns and prevent the typical …d5 break from Black.

The Sicilian Defense is an ambitious choice for Black and offers the potential for a rich, tactical game.

However, it is also theory-heavy and requires substantial preparation to navigate its many complex lines.

Italian Game

The Italian Game is a chess opening that begins with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4.

It’s one of the oldest recorded chess openings, with the first known instances appearing in the 16th century.

The Italian Game is characterized by open positions, rapid piece development, and aggressive play.

Main characteristics of the Italian Game:

Center Control and Development: The opening moves aim to control the center quickly with the pawn on e4 and the knight on f3, and then develop the bishop to an aggressive square.
King’s Safety: The Italian Game often involves an early castling for White, ensuring the king’s safety.
f7 Weakness: The bishop’s placement on c4 in the Italian game indirectly targets the f7 square, a common weakness in the early stage of the game because it’s only defended by the king.
Pawn Structure: Typically, the pawn structure in the Italian game is very fluid, which gives players a lot of strategic options in the middlegame.
Piece Maneuvers: It is common in the Italian Game to see the maneuver Nf1-g3 (or Nf1-e3) from White to free the f-pawn, which can be advanced to support the center or start a kingside attack.

Main variations of the Italian Game include:

Giuoco Piano (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5): Also known as the “Quiet Game”, this variation focuses on solid development and long-term strategic planning. The typical plan involves d2-d3, c2-c3 and a later d3-d4 pawn break for White.

Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6): This is a more aggressive system, where Black immediately challenges White’s control of the center and often leads to sharp, tactical play.

Evans Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4): This is a sharp gambit where White sacrifices a pawn for rapid development and open lines.

Italian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4): Here, White seeks open lines and rapid development at the cost of a pawn.

The Italian Game is a classic opening that combines direct attacking play with complex strategy.

It is versatile and can lead to a wide variety of positions, making it suitable for players of all styles.

Philidor Defense

The Philidor Defense is an extremely simple way of playing for Black against 1.e4.

It starts with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6.

Named after the 18th-century chess player François-André Danican Philidor, who advocated the importance of pawn structure, this defense is known for its solid, albeit passive setup.

Main characteristics of the Philidor Defense:

Solid Structure: The Philidor Defense is based on maintaining a solid pawn structure. The pawn on d6 helps support the e5 pawn and restricts White’s d2-d4 advance.
Pawn Chain: Black aims to establish a strong pawn chain from d6 to e5, which can be supported by pushing f7-f6 if required.
Piece Development: The development of Black’s pieces in the Philidor Defense can be somewhat less straightforward compared to other e4-e5 defenses. For example, Black’s light-squared bishop often remains undeveloped in the early game.
King’s Safety: In most lines of the Philidor Defense, Black can castle kingside relatively quickly.
Potential passivity: Black’s pieces can be less active compared to some other defenses, which can lead to more defensive, strategic play in the middlegame.

Main variations of the Philidor Defense include:

Hanham Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7): In the Hanham Variation, Black aims to maintain a strong pawn structure while gradually developing the pieces. The knight is typically developed to d7 to not block the dark-squared bishop.

Philidor Countergambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5): This is a more aggressive line where Black immediately challenges White’s central pawn on e4.

Lion Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Be2 O-O): Also known as the “Lion Defense”, this setup resembles a Pirc Defense but with an extra …e5 pawn move.

The Philidor Defense is a solid choice for Black and offers opportunities for strategic, positional play. However, it is less aggressive than many other responses to 1.e4 and requires careful play from Black to avoid passive positions.

Petroff Defense

The Petroff Defense, also known as the Russian Game, begins with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6.

Named after the Russian chess player Alexander Petrov, this defense is known for its solid structure and reputation as a drawing weapon.

Main characteristics of the Petroff Defense:

Symmetry: The Petroff Defense often leads to symmetrical pawn structures, which tends to decrease tactical opportunities and increase the importance of precise positional play.
Counterattack: The Petroff Defense focuses on counterattacking rather than passively defending. Black immediately challenges White’s e4 pawn after 2.Nf3.
Quick Development: The Petroff Defense allows Black to develop quickly and prepare for castling. The development of the bishop usually comes with a d7-d5 pawn break.
Solid Structure: The Petroff Defense is known for its solid pawn structure, with Black often reinforcing the e5 pawn with …d6 and challenging the center with …d5.
King’s Safety: Black usually manages to castle early, ensuring the king’s safety.

Main variations of the Petroff Defense:

Classical Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3): This is the main line of the Petroff, where both sides aim for rapid development and control of the center.

Three Knights Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3): This is a less aggressive approach where White opts for piece development over immediate confrontation.

Steinitz Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7): Named after the first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, this line is more aggressive and aims for a lead in development at the cost of a pawn.

Nimzowitsch Attack (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2): This line aims to exploit Black’s premature knight development on e4.

The Petroff Defense is a solid and reliable choice for Black, focusing on quick development and equalizing the position.

It is a favorite at the highest levels of chess because of its reputation for solidity, but it requires precise knowledge and understanding of the opening theory to navigate its intricacies.

Learn all about the Petroff Defense here.

Best Chess Openings for Black Against 1.d4

1.d4 chess openings are characterized by their strategic and positional nature.

The focus here is less on immediate tactical skirmishes and more on long-term strategic planning, including piece placement, pawn structure, and control over important central and semi-central squares.

Main characteristics of 1.d4 chess openings:

Control of the Center: The 1.d4 move aims to control the center, particularly the e5 square. Often this move is followed by 2.c4, further exerting control on the center and challenging Black’s hold on the d5 square.
Pawn Structures: The pawn structures arising from 1.d4 openings are often more fixed compared to 1.e4 openings, leading to slower, strategic battles.
Piece Development: The 1.d4 move opens the line for the queen’s bishop, enabling early piece development.
King’s Safety: Many 1.d4 openings allow for an early and safe kingside castling.
Flexibility: The 1.d4 openings offer significant flexibility, with the ability to transition into many different pawn structures and setups, such as the Queen’s Gambit structures, King’s Indian Defense structures, and others.

These are some of the best chess openings for Black when facing 1.d4.

Queen’s Gambit Accepted

The Queen’s Gambit Accepted (QGA) is a chess opening that starts with the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4.

The opening is characterized by Black accepting the gambit offered by White in an attempt to hold on to the pawn and disrupt White’s control of the center.

Main characteristics of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted:

Center Control: Even though Black temporarily gives up central control after accepting the gambit, the idea is to challenge White’s center later with …e5 or …c5.
Pawn Structure: If Black manages to hold onto the extra pawn, it can lead to asymmetrical pawn structures which can provide both opportunities and challenges.
Piece Development: Accepting the gambit pawn can potentially slow down Black’s piece development, especially the queenside pieces.
King’s Safety: Depending on the variation, Black can usually manage to castle early, ensuring the safety of the king.
Pawn Recovery: For White, one of the main goals in the opening phase is to recover the gambited pawn on c4 while simultaneously developing pieces.

Main variations of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted:

Classical Variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3): White aims to recapture the pawn with the bishop and maintain a solid structure.

Main Line (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4): This line leads to symmetrical pawn structures and balanced play.

Alekhine Variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6): Named after former World Champion Alexander Alekhine, this variation aims to hold onto the pawn, allowing asymmetrical pawn structures to arise.

Central Variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4): With this aggressive line, White establishes strong central control and develops quickly at the cost of leaving the gambited pawn on c4 for a bit longer.

The Queen’s Gambit Accepted can lead to a variety of pawn structures and imbalances.

It requires a more solid understanding of opening principles and careful play, as the early divergence from typical opening theory can lead to unique positions.

Watch IM Milovan Ratkovic explain the Queen’s Gambit Accepted Nc3 Variation:

Slav Defense

The Slav Defense is a highly respected opening characterized by the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6.

It is known for its solidity and resilience, offering Black a strong pawn structure and relatively safe development.

Main characteristics of the Slav Defense:

Pawn Structure: The Slav Defense’s primary feature is its sturdy pawn structure. The pawn on c6 supports the central d5 pawn and prepares for potential pawn advances in the center.
Piece Development: The Slav allows Black to develop the pieces harmoniously, although the light-squared bishop can sometimes be challenging to develop.
King’s Safety: The Slav Defense often leads to positions where Black can castle kingside early, ensuring the king’s safety.
Flexibility: The Slav Defense is highly flexible, with potential to transpose into other openings, such as the Semi-Slav Defense or the Caro-Kann Defense.
Control of d5 Square: Black aims to maintain control of the d5 square, often leading to a central pawn tension that can dictate the nature of the middlegame.

Main variations of the Slav Defense:

Main Line (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4): Black accepts a pawn and aims to hold onto it, resulting in an asymmetrical pawn structure and rich middlegame play.

Exchange Variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5): White opts for a symmetrical pawn structure, aiming for a straightforward and slightly less complex game.

Semi-Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6): Black delays capturing on c4, instead solidifying the center, which can lead to highly complex and tactical play.

Chebanenko Variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6): This is a more hypermodern line, where Black prepares to expand on the queenside.

The Slav Defense is a solid and dependable choice for Black, offering both tactical and strategic opportunities.

It requires a good understanding of pawn structures and positional strategies, making it a favorite choice among top-level players.

King’s Indian Defense

The King’s Indian Defense (KID) is a chess opening characterized by the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6.

The KID is known for its dynamic and counter-attacking nature, often leading to complex and rich middlegame positions.

It has been a favorite choice of many world champions, including Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov.

Main characteristics of the King’s Indian Defense:

Fianchetto Setup: The King’s Indian Defense is noted for its fianchetto setup, with the bishop placed on g7 to control the long diagonal.
Pawn Structure: In many KID lines, Black allows White to establish a broad pawn center, only to later counter-attack this center, particularly targeting the d4 pawn.
Piece Development: Black’s piece development in the KID is flexible but tends to follow a similar setup with …d6, …Nbd7, …e5 or …d5, and …Nc6 in some lines.
King’s Safety: Black is usually able to castle kingside early in the KID, ensuring the king’s safety.
Dynamic Counterplay: The KID often leads to highly complex positions, with Black generating significant counterplay on the queenside or in the center.

Main variations of the King’s Indian Defense:

Classical Variation (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5): This is the main line of the King’s Indian Defense, leading to rich, complex play.

Saemisch Variation (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3): This line strengthens the center and prepares to launch a pawn storm against the king if Black castles short.

Four Pawns Attack (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4): This is a highly aggressive approach aiming to refute the KID directly by seizing space in the center.

Fianchetto Variation (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3): Here, White opts to fianchetto the bishop, aiming for a more positional game.

The King’s Indian Defense is a highly dynamic and tactical choice for Black, offering the potential for a rich, counter-attacking game.

However, it also requires a deep understanding of the resulting pawn structures and piece placements to navigate the complex middlegame positions that can arise.

In the following video, IM Ratkovic explains how to play the King’s Indian Defense against the super popular London System:

Queen’s Gambit Declined

The Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) is a chess opening that begins with the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6.

It is one of the oldest known chess openings, and it is highly respected for its solidity and strategic depth.

Main characteristics of the Queen’s Gambit Declined:

Solid Structure: The QGD is characterized by a highly solid pawn structure, with Black aiming for stability over dynamism in the early game.
Center Control: Black’s moves aim to maintain strong control over the crucial d5 square, allowing for counterattacks against White’s central pawns.
Piece Development: The QGD often leads to a straightforward development of Black’s minor pieces, although the light-squared bishop can sometimes become a problematic piece to develop effectively.
King’s Safety: The QGD usually allows Black to castle kingside relatively early, ensuring the king’s safety.
Flexibility: The QGD is quite flexible, offering several options for Black to deviate and transition into other setups like the Semi-Slav or the Tarrasch Defense.

Main variations of the Queen’s Gambit Declined:

Orthodox Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7): This is a traditional and solid way to play the QGD, aiming for a balanced setup.

Tarrasch Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5): A more aggressive approach, leading to more open positions and dynamic play.

Lasker Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 Be7 6.e3 O-O 7.Nf3 Ne4): This line, popularized by Emanuel Lasker, involves a well-timed …Ne4 maneuver to relieve the central tension early.

Cambridge Springs Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 c6 6.Nf3 Qa5): A more tactical variant, where Black exploits potential weaknesses in White’s queenside.

The Queen’s Gambit Declined is a strategic and robust choice for Black, offering a solid pawn structure and good piece coordination.

It has been trusted by many world champions and remains a popular choice at all levels of play.

Grunfeld Defense

The Grünfeld Defense is a chess opening characterized by the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5.

Named after the Austrian-Czech Grandmaster Ernst Grünfeld, it’s a hypermodern opening that allows White to build a large pawn center, which Black aims to undermine and counter-attack.

Main characteristics of the Grünfeld Defense:

Hypermodern Approach: Unlike classical openings, the Grünfeld Defense doesn’t aim for immediate occupation of the center with pawns. Instead, Black allows White to occupy the center and aims to undermine this center from afar.
Piece Play: The Grünfeld Defense puts a premium on piece activity, especially the bishop on g7 and the knight on f6, which often gets to jump into e4.
Counterattack: Black focuses on a strong counterattack, especially targeting the d4 pawn, after allowing White to build a broad pawn center.
Pawn Structure: The pawn structures in the Grünfeld Defense can vary greatly depending on the specific line played. Still, Black often ends up with a pawn majority on the queenside which can become a strength in the endgame.
King’s Safety: Black can often castle early in the Grünfeld Defense, ensuring the safety of the king.

Main variations of the Grünfeld Defense:

Exchange Variation (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7): This is the most common line, where White builds a big center while Black prepares to attack it.

Russian System (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3): This system aims to put pressure on the d5 pawn and dissuade Black from exchanging on c3.

Bf4 system (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4): This is a solid system where White develops pieces quickly and avoids some of the mainline theory.

The Grünfeld Defense is an aggressive opening, popular at all levels of chess because of its potential for unbalanced positions and rich middlegame play.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the rich and varied landscape of chess openings for Black offers an arsenal of strategies that cater to all kinds of players, from the solid and strategic to the dynamic and counter-attacking.

Each opening holds its unique appeal and challenges, providing us with a remarkable testament to chess’s enduring complexity and depth.

Whether you’re drawn to the solid structures of the Slav and Queen’s Gambit Declined, the dynamic counterplay of the King’s Indian and Grünfeld defenses, or the ambitious tactical battles of the Sicilian Defense, it’s clear that the openings are a pivotal part of your chess journey.

They not only set the tone for the game but also significantly influence your middlegame plans and strategies.

Understanding these openings and their subtleties is crucial for any serious chess player.

However, remember that knowing an opening is not just about memorizing lines; it’s about understanding the underlying principles and typical plans and structures.

A good opening knowledge helps you navigate the early game with confidence, setting the stage for favorable middlegame positions and potential endgame advantages.

As you continue to refine your chess skills, keep exploring these openings for Black in depth.

Play them, experiment with them, and find the ones that resonate with your personal style and preference.

In the intricate and fascinating world of chess, choosing the right opening can be a formidable weapon, paving the way to many enjoyable and successful games.

Happy chess openings with Black!