List of chess openings named after people

The Oxford Companion to Chess lists 1,327 named openings and variants.^[1] Chess players' names are the most common sources of opening names. The name given to an opening is not always that of the first player to adopt it; often an opening is named for the player who was one of the first to popularise it or to publish analysis of it.

Contents

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

• See also
• References
• External links

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A

• Abonyi Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Nec6 – named after István Abonyi^[2]
• Adams Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 – named after Weaver W. Adams^[3]
• Adler Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 – named after Mór Adler^[4]
• Alapin's Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 – named after Semyon Alapin^[5]
• Alapin Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.c3 – named after Semyon Alapin^[6]
• Albin Countergambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 – named after Adolf Albin^[7]
• Alburt Variation of the Alekhine's Defence – 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 – named after Lev Alburt^[8]
• Alekhine–Chatard Attack on the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 – named after Alexander Alekhine and Eugene Chatard^[9]
• Alekhine's Defence – 1.e4 Nf6 – named after Alexander Alekhine^[7]
• Alekhine Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 – named after Alexander Alekhine^[10]
• Allgaier Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ng5 – named after Johann Baptist Allgaier^[10]
• Amar Opening – 1.Nh3 – named after Charles Amar^[11][12]
• Anderssen's Opening – 1.a3 – named after Adolf Anderssen^[13]
• Arkell–Khenkin Variation of the Caro–Kann Defense – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 – named after Keith Arkell and Igor Khenkin^[14]
• Averbakh System of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 – named after Yuri Averbakh^[15]

B

• Balogh Defense – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 – named after János Balogh^[16]
• Barcza System – 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 – named after Gedeon Barcza
• Barnes Opening – 1.f3 – named after Thomas Wilson Barnes^[17]
• Basman Defence – 1.e4 g5 – named after Michael Basman^[18]
• Becker Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h6 – named after Albert Becker^[10]
• Bellon Gambit – 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 b5 – named after Juan Manuel Bellón López
• Benko Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 – named after Pal Benko^[19]
• Benko's Opening – 1.g3 – named after Pal Benko^[20]
• Bird Defense of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 – named after Henry Bird^[21]
• Bird's Opening – 1.f4 – named after Henry Bird^[7]
• Blackburne Shilling Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 – named after Joseph Henry Blackburne^[22]
• Blackmar–Diemer Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 – named after Armand Blackmar and Emil Josef Diemer^[7]
• Blumenfeld Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nf3 b5 – named after Benjamin Blumenfeld^[7]
• Boden–Kieseritzky Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxe4 4.Nc3 – named after Samuel Boden and Lionel Kieseritzky
• Bogo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ – named after Efim Bogoljubov
• Bogoljubov Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 – named after Efim Bogoljubov
• Boleslavsky Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 e5 – named after Isaac Boleslavsky^[17]
• Bongcloud Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.Ke2 – named after Chess.com user Lenny_Bongcloud, who used this opening many times, and kept losing^[23]
• Bonsch-Osmolovsky Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Ne7 – named after Mikhail Bonsch-Osmolovsky^[24]
• Botvinnik System of the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 – named after Mikhail Botvinnik^[25]
• Botvinnik Variation of the English Opening – 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.e4 – named after Mikhail Botvinnik^[17]
• Brentano Defense of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g5 – named after Franz Brentano^[26]
• Breyer Variation of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qf3 – named after Gyula Breyer^[27]
• Breyer Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nb8 – named after Gyula Breyer^[28]

C

• Camara Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7 – named after International Master Hélder Câmara^[29]
• Capablanca Variation of the Reti Opening – 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb2 Bg4 – named after José Raúl Capablanca^[30]
• Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 – named after Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann^[7]
• Carrera Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qh5 – named after Pietro Carrera^[31]
• Chekhover Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 – named after Vitaly Chekhover^[32]
• Chigorin Defence of the Queen's Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 – named after Mikhail Chigorin^[7]
• Chigorin Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 – named after Mikhail Chigorin
• Chigorin Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 – named after Mikhail Chigorin^[7]
• Clemenz Opening – 1.h3 – named after Hermann Clemenz^[17]
• Cochrane Gambit of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 – named after John Cochrane^[33]
• Colle System – 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 – named after Edgard Colle^[7]
• Colman Variation of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Qf3 Rb8 – named after Eugene Ernest Colman^[34]
• Cozio Defence of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 – named after Carlo Cozio^[10]
• Cunningham Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 – named after Alexander Cunningham^[7]

D

• Damiano Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 – named after Pedro Damiano^[35] although he gave the refutation rather than endorsing it ^[36]
• Desprez Opening – 1.h4 – named after Marcel Desprez^[37]
• Döry Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Ne4 – named after Ladislaus Döry^[7]
• Dubov Tarrasch – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 – named after Daniil Dubov
• Dunst Opening – 1.Nc3 – named after Ted A. Dunst^[7]
• Duras Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c4 – named after Oldřich Duras^[38]
• Durkin Opening – 1.Na3 – named after Robert Durkin^[7]

E

• Eisenberg Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nh3 – named after Louis Eisenberg^[39]
• Englund Gambit – 1.d4 e5 – named after Fritz Englund^[40]
• Epishin Variation of the Benko Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 d6 8.g3 Bg7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.Rb1 – named after Vladimir Epishin^[41]
• Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 – named after William Davies Evans^[7]

F

• Fajarowicz Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 – named after Sammi Fajarowicz^[42]
• Falkbeer Countergambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 – named after Ernst Falkbeer^[7]
• Fischer Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 – named after Bobby Fischer^[43]
• Fleissig Variation of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Nc2 – named after Bernhard Fleissig^{[44][unreliable source]}
• Flohr–Mikenas–Carls Variation of the English Opening – 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 – named after Salo Flohr, Vladas Mikėnas and Carl Johan Margot Carls^[45]
• Flohr Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3 – named after Salo Flohr^[46]
• Flohr Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qa4+ – named after Salo Flohr^[47]
• Frankenstein–Dracula Variation of the Vienna Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 – named after Frankenstein's monster and Count Dracula
• From's Gambit of the Bird's Opening – 1.f4 e5 – named after Martin Severin From^[7]
• Furman Variation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 – named after Semyon Furman^[48]

G

• Gajewski Gambit of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 d5 – named after Grzegorz Gajewski^[49]
• Glek Defense of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Na6 – named after Igor Glek^[50]
• Glek Variation of the Four Knights Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 – named after Igor Glek^[51]
• Gligoric – Taimanov Variation of the King's Indian Defence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 – named after Svetozar Gligorić and Mark Taimanov^[52]
• Goglidze Attack – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 – named after Viktor Goglidze^[53]
• Göring Gambit of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 – named after Carl Göring^[7]
• Grivas Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 – named after Efstratios Grivas^[54]
• Grob's Attack – 1.g4 – named after Henri Grob^[55]
• Gunderam Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7 – named after Gerhard Gunderam^[56]
• Gurgenidze Defense of the Modern Defense – 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 h5 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze^[57]
• Gurgenidze Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 b5 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze^[57]
• Gurgenidze Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.b4 – named after Bukhuti Gurgenidze^[57]
• Gusev Countergambit of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 3.cxd5 Nf6 – named after Yuri Gusev^[58]
• Greco Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6 – named after Gioachino Greco^[59]
• Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 – named after Ernst Grünfeld^[7]

H

• Hanham Variation of the Philidor Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 – named after James Hanham^[7]
• Harrwitz Attack of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bf4 – named after Daniel Harrwitz^[60]
• Hodgson Attack – 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 – named after Julian Hodgson^[61]
• Hopton Attack of the Dutch Defence – 1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 – named after Hopton^[62]
• Horwitz Defense – 1.d4 e6 – named after Bernhard Horwitz
• Hromádka System of the Benoni Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 d6 – named after Karel Hromádka^[63]
• Hübner Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 – named after Robert Hübner^[64]

I

• Ilyin-Genevsky Variation of the Dutch Defence – 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.Nc3 Qe8 – named after Alexander Ilyin-Genevsky^[65]

J

• Janowski Variation of the Old Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 – named after Dawid Janowski
• Jasnogrodsky Defense of the Rice Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.0-0 Bxe5 9.Re1 Qe7 10.c3 Nh5 – named after Nicolai Jasnogrodsky^{[66][unreliable source]}
• Jerome Gambit of the Italian Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ – named after Alonzo Wheeler Jerome^[67]

K

• Kan Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 – named after Ilya Kan^[32]
• Karklins–Martinovsky Variation of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nd3 – named after Chicago masters Andrew Karklins and Eugene Martinovsky^[68]
• Karpov Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 – named after Anatoly Karpov^[69]
• Karpov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Nd7 – named after Anatoly Karpov^[70]
• Kasparov Variation of Pirc Defense – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 – named after Garry Kasparov
• Katalymov Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 – named after Boris Katalymov^[71]
• Keene Defense to the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Qh4+ 3.g3 Qe7 – named after Raymond Keene^[72]
• Keres Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 – named after Paul Keres^[73]
• Keres Defence – 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4+ – named after Paul Keres^[74]
• Keres Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Ne2 – named after Paul Keres^[32]
• Kevitz Variation of the English Opening – 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 Nc6 – named after Alexander Kevitz^[74]
• Kholmov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Be6 – named after Ratmir Kholmov^[75]
• Kieseritzky Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 – named after Lionel Kieseritzky
• Knorre Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Nc3 – named after Viktor Knorre^[76]
• Koltanowski Gambit of the Italian Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4 – named after George Koltanowski
• Kondratiyev Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3 c5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bd2 – named after Pavel Kondratiyev^[77]
• Konikowski Gambit of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 d5 – named after Jerzy Konikowski^[78]
• Konstantinopolsky Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 – named after Alexander Konstantinopolsky^[17]
• Kopec System – 1.e4 c5 2.Bd3 – named after Danny Kopec^[79]

L

• Lamb Defense of the Blackmar–Diemer Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 Nc6 named after F. Lamb^[80]
• Larsen's Opening – 1.b3 – named after Bent Larsen^[81]
• Lasker Defence of the Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.0-0 d6 7.d4 Bb6 – named after Emanuel Lasker^[82]
• Lasker Defence of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 Ne4 – named after Emanuel Lasker^[83]
• Leko Gambit of the Anti-Grünfeld – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 e5 – named after Peter Leko^[84]
• Leonhardt Variation of the Evans Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 b5 – named after Paul Saladin Leonhardt^[85]
• Levitsky Attack – 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 – named after Stepan Levitsky
• Levenfish Attack in the Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.f4 – named after Grigory Levenfish^[86]
• Levenfish Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 b6 – named after Grigory Levenfish^[87]
• Lisitsin Gambit of the Zukertort Opening – 1.Nf3 f5 2.e4 – named after Georgy Lisitsin^[88]
• Lolli Variation of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.d4 – named after Giambattista Lolli^[89]
• Lucena Defence of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Be7 – named after Luis Ramirez de Lucena^[10]
• Lundin Defense – 1.d4 Nc6 – named after Erik Lundin^[90]
• Lutikov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.f3 – named after Anatoly Lutikov^{[44][unreliable source]}
• Lutikov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.Bc2 – named after Anatoly Lutikov^[10]

M

• MacLeod Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.c3 – named after Nicholas MacLeod
• Makogonov System of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 – named after Vladimir Makogonov^[91]
• Makogonov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.b4 – named after Vladimir Makogonov^[10]
• Maróczy Bind of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 – named after Géza Maróczy^[7]
• Marshall Attack of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 – named after Frank Marshall^[92]
• Marshall Defense to the Queen's Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 – named after Frank Marshall^[10]
• Marshall Gambit in the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 – named after Frank Marshall^[10]
• Marshall Gambit of the Tarrasch Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e4 – named after Frank Marshall^[10]
• Marshall Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 d5 – named after Frank Marshall^[10]
• Max Lange Attack of the Two Knights Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Bc5 6.e5 – named after Max Lange^[17]
• McCutcheon Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 – named after John Lindsay McCutcheon^[93]
• McDonnell Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 6.Nc3 – named after Alexander McDonnell^[94]
• Mieses Opening – 1.d3 – named after Jacques Mieses^[17]
• Mikenas Variation of the Modern Benoni – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.e5 – named after Vladas Mikėnas^[95]
• Miles Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bf4 – named after Tony Miles^[10]
• Moeller Attack of the Italian Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 – named after Jorgen Moeller^[96]
• Monticelli Trap of the Bogo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 b6 6.g3 Bb7 7.Bg2 0-0 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.Ng5 – named after Mario Monticelli
• Morozevich Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7 – named after Alexander Morozevich^[97]
• Morozevich Variation of the Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Ndb7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 g5 – named after Alexander Morozevich^[98]
• Morphy Defense to the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 – named after Paul Morphy^[10]
• Morphy Gambit of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nh3 – named after Paul Morphy^[99]
• Muzio Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 – named after Mutio^[100] d'Alessandro, a third-rate Neapolitan player, following a mistranslation by Jacob Sarratt of Alessandro Salvio^[101]

N

• Nadanian Attack of the Queen's Pawn Opening – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 h6 3.c4 g5 – named after Ashot Nadanian^[102]
• Nadanian Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Na4 – named after Ashot Nadanian^[103]
• Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 – named after Miguel Najdorf^[104]
• Napoleon Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3 – named after Napoleon Bonaparte^[105]
• Neumann Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nc6 – named after Gustav Neumann^[106]
• Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 – named after Aron Nimzowitsch^[107]
• Nimzowitsch Defence – 1.e4 Nc6 – named after Aron Nimzowitsch^[108]
• Nimzowitsch Variation of the Sicilian Defense – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 – named after Aron Nimzowitsch^[32]
• Noteboom Variation of the Semi-Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 – named after Daniël Noteboom^[109]

O

• O'Kelly Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 – named after Albéric O'Kelly de Galway^[110]
• Opočenský Opening (i.e. Trompowsky Attack) – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 – named after Karel Opočenský^[111]
• Opočenský Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd2 – named after Karel Opočenský^{[44][unreliable source]}
• Opočenský Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 – named after Karel Opočenský^[112]
• Owen's Defense – 1.e4 b6 – named after John Owen^[17]

P

• Panov Attack of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 – named after Vasily Panov^[7]
• Parham Attack – 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 – named after Bernard Parham^[113]
• Paulsen Attack of the Petrov's Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nc4 – named after Louis Paulsen^[7]
• Perenyi Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 e5 8.Nf5 g6 9.g5 – named after Bela Perenyi^[114]
• Petrosian Variation of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 – named after Tigran Petrosian^[10]
• Petrosian Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 – named after Tigran Petrosian^[10]
• Petrov Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 – named after Alexander Petrov^[7]
• Philidor Countergambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 – named after François-André Danican Philidor^[7]
• Philidor Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 – named after François-André Danican Philidor^[7]
• Philidor Variation of the Bishop's Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3 – named after François-André Danican Philidor
• Pirc Defence – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 – named after Vasja Pirc^[7]
• Polerio Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Be7 – named after Giulio Cesare Polerio^[115]
• Pollock's Defense to the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Na5 – named after William Pollock^[10]
• Polugaevsky Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5 – named after Lev Polugaevsky^[116]
• Ponziani Opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 – named after Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani^[7]
• Popov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a5 – named after Bulgarian correspondence player Georgi Alexandrov Popov^[117][118]
• Prie Attack of the Queen's Pawn Opening – 1.d4 d5 2.a3 – named after Éric Prié^[119]
• Puc Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c6 – named after Stojan Puc^[120]

Q

• Quinteros Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Qc7 – named after Miguel Quinteros^[121]

R

• Ragozin Defence of the Queen's Gambit – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 – named after Viacheslav Ragozin^[7]
• Réti Opening – 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 – named after Richard Réti^[17]
• Rice Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.0-0 – named after Isaac Rice^[7]
• Richter–Rauzer Attack in the Sicilian Defense – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 – named after Kurt Richter and Vsevolod Rauzer^[32]
• Richter–Veresov Attack – 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 – named after Kurt Richter and Gavriil Veresov^[122]
• Riumin Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 named after Nikolai Riumin^[123]
• Robatsch Defence – 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 – named after Karl Robatsch^[7]
• Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 – named after Nicolas Rossolimo^[124]
• Rousseau Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d3 – named after Eugène Rousseau^[125]
• Rubinstein Variation of the Budapest Gambit – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe4 Ng4 4.Bf4 – named after Akiba Rubinstein^[7]
• Rubinstein Variation of the Four Knights Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 – named after Akiba Rubinstein^[7]
• Rubinstein Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 – named after Akiba Rubinstein^[7]
• Rubinstein Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 – named after Akiba Rubinstein^[7]
• Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 – named after Ruy López de Segura^[7]

S

• Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 – named after Friedrich Sämisch^[15]
• Sämisch Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 – named after Friedrich Sämisch^[126]
• Santasiere's Folly – 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b4 – named after Anthony Santasiere^[127]
• Schallopp Defense of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 – named after Emil Schallopp^[17]
• Schlechter Gambit of the Bird's Opening – 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 Nc6 – named after Carl Schlechter^{[citation needed]}
• Schlechter–Rubinstein System of the Tarrasch Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 – named after Carl Schlechter and Akiba Rubinstein^[10]
• Schlechter Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3 – named after Carl Schlechter^[128]
• Schlechter Variation of the Grunfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 c6 – named after Carl Schlechter^[129]
• Schlechter Variation of the Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6 – named after Carl Schlechter^[129]
• Schliemann–Jaenisch Gambit of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 – named after Carl Jaenisch and Adolf Karl Wilhelm Schliemann^[17]
• Semi-Tarrasch Defense of the Queen's Gambit Declined – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 – named after Siegbert Tarrasch^[130]
• Shabalov–Shirov Gambit of the Semi-Slav Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 – named after Alexander Shabalov and Alexei Shirov^[131]
• Short Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence Advance – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.c3 e6 5.Be2 – named after Nigel Short
• Smith–Morra Gambit of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 – named after Texas master Ken Smith and Morra^[132]
• Smyslov Variation of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Bg4 – named after Vasily Smyslov^[133]
• Smyslov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 h6 – named after Vasily Smyslov^[134]
• Snyder Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.b3 – named after Robert Snyder^[135]
• Sokolsky Opening – 1.b4 – named after Alexey Sokolsky^[17]
• Soldatenkov Variation of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.fxe5 – named after Vasily Soldatenkov^[136]
• Soltis Variation of the Yugoslav Attack – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.h4 h5 – named after Andrew Soltis^[137]
• Soultanbeieff Variation of Slav Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 Victor Soultanbeieff^[138]
• Sozin–Fischer Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Bb3 0-0 9.0-0 – named after Veniamin Sozin and Bobby Fischer^[139]
• Spielmann Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3 – named after Rudolph Spielmann^[140]
• Stamma Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.h4 – named after Philipp Stamma^[141]
• Staunton Gambit of the Dutch Defence – 1.d4 f5 2.e4 – named after Howard Staunton^[7]
• Steinitz Attack of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.e5 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz^[142]
• Steinitz Defense of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz^[143]
• Steinitz Gambit of the Vienna Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz^[7]
• Steinitz Variation of the Petrov Defense – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz^[144]
• Steinitz Variation of the Scotch Game – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 5.Nc3 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz^[145]
• Steinitz Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.g3 – named after Wilhelm Steinitz^[146]
• Sveshnikov Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 – named after Evgeny Sveshnikov^[147]
• Szén Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 – named after József Szén^[148]

T

• Taimanov Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 – named after Mark Taimanov^[149]
• Tal Gambit of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 Nf6 – named after Mikhail Tal
• Tal Variation of the Caro–Kann Defence – 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 bf5 4.h4 – named after Mikhail Tal
• Tarrasch Defense – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 – named after Siegbert Tarrasch^[150]
• Tarrasch Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 – named after Siegbert Tarrasch^[151]
• Tennison Gambit – 1.Nf3 d5 2.e4 – named after Otto Tennison^[10]
• Torre Attack – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 – named after Carlos Torre^[152]
• Traxler Variation of the Two Knights Defence – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 – named after Karel Traxler^[153]
• Trompowsky Attack – 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 – named after Octavio Trompowsky^[7]

U

• Ufimtsev Defence – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 – named after Anatoly Ufimtsev^[154]
• Uhlmann–Szabo System
• Urusov Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 – named after the Russian Prince Sergey Urusov

V

• Van 't Kruijs Opening – 1.e3 – named after Maarten van 't Kruijs^[7]
• Velimirovic Attack of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 – named after Dragoljub Velimirović^[155]
• Villemson Gambit of the King's Gambit – 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.d4 – named after Martin Villemson^[156]
• Vinogradov Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qe7 – named after Paul Vinogradov^[157]
• Vitolins Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bb5+ – named after Alvis Vītoliņš^[158]

W

• Wade Defence – 1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4 – named after Robert Wade^[159]
• Wagner Gambit of the Swiss Gambit – 1.f4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g4 – named after Alexander Wagner^[160]
• Ware Defense – 1.e4 a5 – named after Preston Ware
• Ware Opening – 1.a4 – named after Preston Ware^[17]
• Winawer Variation of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 – named after Simon Winawer^[161]
• Wolf Gambit of the French Defence – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.Nge2^{[citation needed]}
• Worrall Attack of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2 – named after Thomas Herbert Worrall^[162]

Z

• Zaitsev Gambit of the Grünfeld Defence – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4 – named after Alexander Zaitsev^[163]
• Zaitsev Variation of the Ruy Lopez – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 – named after Igor Zaitsev^[17]
• Zilbermints Gambit of the Englund Gambit – 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nge7 – named after Lev Zilbermints^[164]
• Zukertort Opening – 1.Nf3 – Named after Johannes Zukertort^[88]
• Zvjaginsev Variation of the Sicilian Defence – 1.e4 c5 2.Na3 – named after Vadim Zvjaginsev^[165]

See also

• Chess opening
• List of chess openings
• List of chess openings named after places