A practical first opening repertoire
Your first repertoire should get you developed, castled and into positions you understand. It should not demand a second career in memorisation. This compact set gives you one dependable answer for each major first move.
An opening repertoire is a collection of positions you are willing to reach. The moves matter, but the recurring plans matter more. Learn where the pieces belong, which pawn break changes the position, and which attractive mistake you must avoid.
The compact repertoire
Three openings. One classical education.
Develop quickly, castle, prepare d4 and learn to build an attack without forcing it.
Black against 1.e4The Caro-KannChallenge the centre with ...c6 and ...d5 while preserving a sound pawn structure.
Black against 1.d4Queen’s Gambit DeclinedBuild a reliable centre, complete development and free the position at the right moment.
As White
The Italian Game
Calm, classical, and principled: quick development, a safe king, and the slow build-up Emms recommends as a first weapon.
- Develop the kingside and castle before beginning an attack.
- Use c3 to prepare the central break d4.
- Keep the bishop on c4 alive unless an exchange earns something concrete.
Main line: Giuoco Pianissimo
Black against 1.e4
The Caro-Kann (Black)
Lakdawala's rock-solid answer to 1.e4: meet the center with ...c6 and ...d5, then the Smyslov/Karpov ...Nd7 system. Sound structure, no weaknesses, a lifetime defence.
- Support ...d5 with ...c6 and challenge White’s centre immediately.
- Develop the light-squared bishop before ...e6 whenever the position allows it.
- Seek the freeing break ...c5 instead of accepting permanent passivity.
Advance Variation: Short's System
Black against 1.d4
Queen's Gambit Declined (Black)
Davies' one-setup answer to 1.d4: ...Nf6, ...Be7, ...Nbd7 and ...c6 against everything. The oldest, soundest defence in chess: played by every world champion.
- Hold the central point on d5 with pieces and pawns.
- Develop calmly with ...Nf6, ...Be7 and ...Nbd7 before seeking activity.
- Use ...c5 or ...e5 to free the position when development is complete.
Main Line with Bg5
How to study it
Rehearse decisions, not strings.
First, understand the destination
Play through each main line slowly and stop at every highlighted move. Name the development goal, pawn break or danger before advancing the board.
Then, vary the opponent’s reply
A repertoire becomes usable only when the opponent leaves your favorite line. Compare nearby branches and find the idea that survives the change.
Finally, play and review
Use the opening against a measured bot, then review the first moment you no longer knew what to do. That position belongs in your next study session.
Make it yours
Practise the repertoire from both sides.
The app schedules the lines, changes the move order and brings back the branches you are beginning to forget.
From the Strong Squares curriculum: every line and plan on this page comes from the authored opening repertoire already used by the trainer. Automated checks verify every move sequence before publication. Read the teaching method.