In hypermodern fashion, Black allows White to establish a centre with pawns on d4 and e4, but plans to undermine it later. This position can be reached by several move orders; the move sequence given above is the most common.
Dutch Defence
Black's 1...f5 stakes a claim to the e4-square and envisions an attack in the middlegame on White's kingside; however, it also weakens Black's kingside to some extent, especially on the e8–h5 diagonal.[1] Like its 1.e4 counterpart, the Sicilian Defence, the Dutch is an aggressive and unbalancing opening, resulting in the lowest percentage of draws among the most common replies to 1.d4.[2] Historically, White has tried many methods to exploit the kingside weaknesses, such as the Staunton Gambit (2.e4) and Korchnoi Attack (2.h3 and 3.g4).
Italian Game
White develops the bishop to the active square c4 (the so-called "Italian bishop"), where it attacks Black's pawn on f7, protected only by the king. Black usually responds with 3...Bc5 (the Giuoco Piano) or 3...Nf6 (the Two Knights Defense).
King's Gambit
White offers a pawn to divert Black's e-pawn from the center. If Black accepts the gambit, White will usually target the weak square f7, defended only by the king. A downside to the King's Gambit is that it weakens White's own king's position. Black can also decline the gambit, usually by the Falkbeer Countergambit (2...d5) or the Classical Defense (2...Bc5).
King's Gambit
White offers a pawn to divert Black's e-pawn from the center. If Black accepts the gambit, White will usually target the weak square f7, defended only by the king. A downside to the King's Gambit is that it weakens White's own king's position. Black can also decline the gambit, usually by the Falkbeer Countergambit (2...d5) or the Classical Defense (2...Bc5).
Two Knights Defense
The Two Knights Defense (also called the Prussian Defense) is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
Four Knights Game
The Four Knights Game is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
Scandinavian Defense
The Scandinavian Defense (or Center Counter Defense, or Center Counter Game) is a chess opening beginning with the moves:
Evans Gambit
The Evans Gambit is an attacking line of the Giuoco Piano. White offers a pawn to divert the bishop on c5. If Black accepts, White can follow up with c3 and d4, ripping open the centre, while also opening diagonals to play Ba3 or Qb3 at some point, preventing Black from castling kingside and threatening the pawn on f7, respectively. If Black declines, the pawn on b4 stakes out space on the queenside, and White can follow up with a4 later in the game, potentially gaining a tempo by threatening to trap Black's dark-square bishop.
Nimzowitsch Defence
The Nimzowitsch Defence is a somewhat uncommon chess opening characterised by the moves:
Ruy Lopez
White develops the bishop to the active square b5 (the so-called "Spanish bishop"), attacking the knight that defends Black's e-pawn.
Giuoco Piano
In King Pawn Openings by Dražen Marović and Idriz Sušić (1975) the authors write: "White aims to develop quickly – but so does Black. White can construct a pawn centre but in unfavourable conditions, a centre which cannot provide a basis for further active play."[2]
Philidor Defence
The Philidor Defence (or Philidor's Defence) is a chess opening characterised by the moves:
Petrov's Defence
Petrov's Defence is a chess opening characterised by the following moves: