Understand opening ideas, don't memorize them.
With 100+ opening lessons, LearnChess is one of the most comprehensive opening databases anywhere — and every lesson teaches the idea behind each move, not a brittle sequence you forget by next week.
From a move list to a real plan
Browse the openings
Explore openings through a move tree — drill down by the moves you actually play to find your lines.
Learn the plan
Each move comes with the idea behind it and why the tempting alternative falls short.
Drill your repertoire
Save your lines into a repertoire and test yourself until each one sticks.
The Caro-Kann's whole point: the bishop gets out before ...e6 can lock it in.
Learn the why behind every move
Memorized lines collapse the moment your opponent deviates. Every lesson teaches the plan behind each move and shows you why it works — so you find good moves on your own, off book.
Search by name, or play the moves to filter
Open Games
Italian Game · Ruy Lopez · Scotch · Evans Gambit …
Sicilian Defense
Najdorf · Dragon · Sveshnikov · Alapin …
1.e4 Semi-Open
French · Caro-Kann · Scandinavian · Pirc …
Queen's Gambit
QGD · Slav · Semi-Slav · Catalan …
Indian Defenses
King's Indian · Nimzo-Indian · Grünfeld · Benoni …
Queen's Pawn Systems
London · Colle · Trompowsky …
Flank Openings
English · Réti · Bird's …
100+ openings — find yours in seconds
Every opening worth knowing, grouped from the Open Games to the Flank Openings. Search by name, or just play the moves on a board and watch the list narrow to the lines that start that way — so you go straight to the opening you actually play.
Open the board or ask the coach — on any move you're unsure about.
Unsure about a move? Open the board and ask.
Every position has the analysis board one tap away — and the AI coach right beside it. Open Stockfish on any move, or just ask the coach why in plain English. Whenever a line doesn't click, you get a real answer for that exact position.
Master it once, then 90-day reviews keep it from fading.
Then lock it into a repertoire
Learning the ideas is step one. When you're ready, roll the openings you've studied into a White and Black repertoire that's tested and built to last — a whole feature of its own.
Everything to learn openings properly
Transpositions & fork points
Jump between related openings the moment their lines overlap — see how they connect.
100+ opening lessons
From the main lines to sharp traps and gambits, with the plan behind every one.
Play every move
Interactive lessons — you make the moves, with the why and a coach at every step.
Traps & gambits
Learn the tricks that win games fast — and how to refute them when they're tried on you.
Understand your openings. Win more games.
Learn the ideas behind your openings and build a repertoire that lasts — free to start.
Explore opening lessons