Repertoire Builder

Chess opening guides

24 articles, each grounded in this site’s own Lichess Opening Explorer data.

Every guide

How to Beat the London System

The London System (1.d4 d5 2.Bf4) scores well for White at club level - here's what the data says Black's best replies actually are.

Best Chess Openings for Beginners, by Win Rate

The openings this site tracks, ranked by measured score at 1400-1600, with the sample size for every number shown.

Sicilian vs. French vs. Caro-Kann, Compared

Head-to-head win rates for the Sicilian, French, and Caro-Kann against 1.e4, across all four rating bands this site tracks.

The Most Common Opening Mistakes at 1600-1800

Moves that are played often but score badly at 1600-1800, aggregated across every opening this site tracks, straight from the arithmetic of real game outcomes.

Should You Study Openings Under 1500?

Standard advice says opening theory barely matters below 1500. Here is how much each tracked opening's score actually moves between rating bands.

The Scandinavian Defense at Club Level

1...d5 gets dismissed as unsound in beginner advice. Here is its measured score by rating band, from real Lichess games at every level this site tracks.

How to Build Your Opening Repertoire

A data-first method for choosing your openings: reading Opening Explorer stats, weighing win rate against sample size, and when deviating is fine.

Opening Principles, by Win Rate

Develop pieces, fight the center, castle early: classic advice. How moves matching each pattern actually score, by opening, in real Lichess data.

Blitz vs. Classical Opening Strategy

Does your opening need to change for bullet, blitz, rapid, or classical? What changes in general, and what this site can and cannot measure about it.

Aggressive vs. Positional Openings

Choosing an opening by playing style: which tracked openings carry a sharp, tactical reputation versus a solid one, checked against real draw rates.

How to Upgrade Your Repertoire as You Improve

Should you change openings as your rating climbs? What forum debates disagree on, and what this site actually shows about how much scores shift by rating band.

Rapid Chess Opening Prep

How much opening prep actually pays off in rapid chess, and which openings need the least of it - a practical prep budget, not a blitz-vs-classical survey.

How Many Chess Openings Should You Learn?

More openings isn't a better repertoire. What breadth-vs-depth advice actually recommends, and why 2-4 openings is normal, not thin.

Best White Openings at 1400-1600, by Win Rate

Scotch Game leads White's tracked openings at 1400-1600, scoring 54.7% - full ranking and sample size for every number shown.

Best White Openings at 1600-1800, by Win Rate

Scotch Game leads White's tracked openings at 1600-1800, scoring 54.0% - full ranking and sample size for every number shown.

Best White Openings at 1800-2000, by Win Rate

Scotch Game leads White's tracked openings at 1800-2000, scoring 56.6% - full ranking and sample size for every number shown.

Best White Openings at 2000+, by Win Rate

London System leads White's tracked openings at 2000+, scoring 54.3% - full ranking and sample size for every number shown.

Best Black Openings at 1400-1600, by Win Rate

Caro-Kann Defense leads Black's tracked openings at 1400-1600, scoring 50.2% - full ranking and sample size for every number shown.

Best Black Openings at 1600-1800, by Win Rate

French Defense leads Black's tracked openings at 1600-1800, scoring 50.2% - full ranking and sample size for every number shown.

Best Black Openings at 1800-2000, by Win Rate

Scandinavian Defense leads Black's tracked openings at 1800-2000, scoring 50.7% - full ranking and sample size for every number shown.

Best Black Openings at 2000+, by Win Rate

Scandinavian Defense leads Black's tracked openings at 2000+, scoring 49.2% - full ranking and sample size for every number shown.

The Most Common Opening Mistakes at 1400-1600

Moves that are played often but score badly at 1400-1600, aggregated across every opening this site tracks, straight from the arithmetic of real game outcomes.

The Most Common Opening Mistakes at 1800-2000

Moves that are played often but score badly at 1800-2000, aggregated across every opening this site tracks, straight from the arithmetic of real game outcomes.

The Most Common Opening Mistakes at 2000+

Moves that are played often but score badly at 2000+, aggregated across every opening this site tracks, straight from the arithmetic of real game outcomes.