What are good openings in chess?

Typically, there are four widely accepted (and most common) opening moves for white. They are e4, d4, c4, and Nf3. We will consider each below, as well as some possible alternatives to these moves. In general, the goals of the opening are to attack and/or occupy the center, develop the pieces (especially the knights and bishops) and increase mobility of the pieces, prepare defenses for your king (often through castling), and preparing your attack on your opponent.

King's Pawn Opening (1. e4)

In the King's Pawn Opening, white plays aggressively - opening lines for the queen and king's-side bishop, attacks and occupies the center, and prepares for d4 later on to develop a classical center.

Black has several responses to e4 which are in approximate order of popularity c5, e5, e6, c6, d6, d5, g6, Nf6, or Nc6. The first, c5, leads to the popular Sicilian Defense. Through this opening, white and black both play aggressively in an attack-counterattack style. A typical second move might be 2. Nf3 Nc6.

The second, e5, leads to several popular variations, most notably the Ruy Lopez (or Spanish) Opening - 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. The Ruy Lopez if often countered with the Morphy Defense 3... a6. Other variations of 1. e4 e5 typically include King's Gambit, Vienna Game, Bishops Opening, and Center Game.

The move e6 leads to the French Defense which prepares for the later d5.

Queen's Pawn Opening (1. d4)

Typical responses to 1. d4 are 1... d5 and Nf6. Also, the Dutch Defense 1... f5 is frequently used. Generally, the Queen's Pawn Opening invites a more closed game (as compared to the King's Pawn Opening's more open, tactical games). Also, d4 tends to be used less frequently, especially be amateur players. Finally, there are generally less traps and pitfalls with d4 based opening when compared to e4 openings. Usually moves which appear natural have no serious ramifications.

English Opening (1. c4)

The English Opening is very versatile and easily transposes into other openings. For example, 1... e5 leads to a Reversed Sicilian position, and e6 usually leads to the Queen's Gambit Declined. Typical responses by black are 1... Nf6, e5, e6, c5, g6, c6, or f5. The move 1... c5 leads to the symmetrical variation, which is often considered quite difficult to play.

Nf3 Opening

This opening is also quite versatile, particularly allowing white to either transpose or not transpose into various variations. This can be a useful tactic for avoiding certain positions while inviting others. White keeps the tempo and his position while waiting for black to provide more information as to how the opening will go before committing to a line. Generally e5 lines are avoided (as the knight can take the pawn), so more typical are d5 lines and sometimes c5 lines. Frequent responses by black include Nf6, d5, c5, and g6.

Other Openings

Other openings for white are typically considered dubious and for some mistakes. The moves 1. a4, h4, Na3, Nh3 are generally considered mistakes. The moves 1. a3, b3, b4, c3, d3, E3, f4, g3, and Nc3 are generally considered playable, and occasionally used as tactics for white. Black responses to these moves are usually e5 or d5 depending on the specific circumstance.