Which opening should a beginner learn first?
One of the most common questions in chess — so let's build a great answer together.
The classic advice is to start with open games (1.e4 e5) because they teach the basic principles quickly:
- Control the centre with pawns and pieces
- Develop knights and bishops quickly
- Castle early
- Don't grab pawns at the cost of development
The Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) is a favourite first opening for many coaches:
What did you start with, and what would you recommend today? If you want to dive in, the free opening guides cover the plans and traps of 80+ openings.