The first reply as Black defines the kind of game you want: solid structure, sharp counterplay, or asymmetrical imbalance? Unlike White, Black reacts — but your choice of defense can steer the game into types you like. This guide walks through 50 reliable and popular replies for Black, from ultra-solid systems to sharp counterattacking weapons.
Each entry gives the opening name, the opening’s first moves, a short plain-English explanation of what Black is trying to achieve, and a simple “Typical plan” so you understand the why behind the moves. You don’t need to memorize endless theory — learn the plans and the typical piece setups, and you’ll feel comfortable in most middlegames.
- Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5).
Fight for an asymmetrical, dynamic game from move one. Black accepts an unbalanced pawn structure to get active piece play and counterplay on the queenside while White chases kingside space.
Typical plan. Play …d6/…e6 and …Nc6, develop the king’s bishop behind the pawn barrier or fianchetto it, contest d4, and counterattack on the queenside with …b5/…a6 and rooks on open files.
- French Defense (1.e4 e6).
A solid, counterpunching structure that surrenders a little central space for a resilient pawn chain (…e6 and …d5). Black aims for long-term counterplay against White’s center.
Typical plan. Play …d5 to challenge e4, develop the queen’s knight to d7, keep the light-squared bishop’s crises in mind (often …b6 or …Bd7), then break with …c5 or …f6 depending on the variation.
- Caro–Kann Defense (1.e4 c6).
A robust, less tactical alternative to the French: Black builds a solid pawn base and seeks harmonious piece play while avoiding early sharp lines.
Typical plan. After …d5 exchange, develop smoothly with …Bf5 or …Bg4, bring knights to f6/d7, castle, and strike at the center with …c5 or …f6 when fully developed.
- Scandinavian / Center Counter (1.e4 d5).
Immediate central challenge — trade and rapid development in exchange for an early queen sortie sometimes. Good practical weapon to equalize quickly.
Typical plan. Exchange on d5, recapture (often with the queen or knight), develop rapidly with …Nf6 and …Bf5, and finish development safely (often …e6 and …Be7) while exploiting White’s time spent.
- Petroff (Russian) Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6).
Extremely solid, symmetrical reply that neutralizes White’s early initiative and often leads to even, technical positions. Great for players who like peaceable equality.
Typical plan. Exchange pieces calmly, complete development with …Be7 and …O-O, aim for central or queenside breaks with …d6/…c5, and rely on sound structure and piece play.
- Alekhine’s Defense (1.e4 Nf6).
Invite White to overextend pawns, then attack the extended center. Risky in return for dynamic counterplay and tactical chances.
Typical plan. Lure pawns forward (often d4, e5), undermine them with …d6 and …c5 or …Nd5, strike at overextended pawns, and free your pieces to create active counterattacks.
- Pirc Defense (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3 g6).
A hypermodern choice: allow White a center to fight for counterplay later. Suits players who prefer flexible setups and kingside fianchetto.
Typical plan. Fianchetto the bishop to g7, play …Nbd7 and …e5 or …c5 at the right moment, counterattack the center and use pawn breaks to liberate your pieces.
- Modern (Robatsch) Defense (1.e4 g6).
Very flexible, similar to the Pirc but even more reserved — Black waits and counters the center later with …d6 and …c5 or …e5.
Typical plan. Fianchetto the bishop to g7, keep a compact pawn formation, and strike with …c5 or …e5 once White’s center can be challenged.
- Open Game — 1…e5 (1.e4 e5).
Classical, symmetrical reply leading to Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch, and many tactical or positional continuations. Black seeks equal piece play and central balance.
Typical plan. Develop knights to f6 and c6, bishops to c5 or e7, castle king-side, and contest the center with …d5 or …c6 depending on the variation.
- Philidor Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6).
A compact, somewhat passive setup that aims for solid structure and counterthrusts later. Useful at club level to avoid heavy theory.
Typical plan. Keep a steady pawn chain, develop pieces to natural squares (…Nf6, …Be7), then play …c6 and …d5 or freer the position with …f5 in some lines.
- Nimzowitsch Defense (1.e4 Nc6).
An offbeat, flexible reply that avoids mainline theory and fights for early control of the central squares. Creates imbalances and early asymmetry.
Typical plan. Pressure d4 and e5 squares with …Nc6 and …d5 at an opportune moment, develop normally and exploit White’s reaction to the unusual first move.
- Ruy Lopez — Berlin Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6).
Ultra-solid anti-Ruy weapon that often liquidates into a durable endgame; difficult for White to press for advantage.
Typical plan. Exchange down when favorable, centralize the king’s knight, prepare …d6 and …Be7, and aim for a reliable, technical middlegame where structure and piece play win the day.
- Ruy Lopez — Marshall Attack/Gambit (Black’s counter) (see 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5).
A sharp, well-studied tactical counterpunch — sacrifice a pawn to get active pieces and kingside pressure. Great for players who like calculated complications.
Typical plan. Sacrifice central pawns with …d5 to open lines, bombard White’s king with pieces and rooks, and convert initiative into concrete threats before returning material.
- Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6).
An active, tactical defense against the Italian setup that invites sharp play if White pushes aggressively.
Typical plan. Attack the center with …Nxe4 in some lines, develop rapidly, and be ready for tactical sequences around f2 and the center; otherwise aim for safe development and central counterplay.
- Schliemann (Jaenisch) Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5).
Aggressive and unbalancing — Black grabs immediate space and tactical chances at the cost of some weakening. Good as a surprise weapon.
Typical plan. Push …f5 to chase White’s center, develop quickly, castle if safe (often kingside), and exploit open lines and tactical motifs on the kingside.
- Sicilian Najdorf (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6).
One of the sharpest and most flexible Sicilian systems—aims to control b5, delay commitments and counterattack.
Typical plan. Keep pawn structure flexible with …e6 or …g6, play …b5 and …Bb7, seek queenside expansion (…b4) and counterplay against White’s kingside ambitions.
- Sicilian Dragon (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6).
Fierce fianchetto variation leading to opposite-side castling and wild attacks — requires preparation but offers good counterchances.
Typical plan. Fianchetto bishop on g7, castle kingside, push …d5 when ready, and chase White’s attacking attempts with tactical defense and counterblows like …b5 and …Rc8.
- Sicilian Sveshnikov (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5).
Dynamic and modern: accept a backwards d-pawn in return for active knights and piece play. Very popular at high levels.
Typical plan. Use knights on d4/b6 squares, play …Be7 and …O-O, and aim for …d5 breaks and queenside expansion to free the game and exploit piece activity.
- Sicilian Scheveningen (…e6 and …d6 setup).
A flexible Sicilian structure that balances solidity and counterplay—can transpose to many sharp systems.
Typical plan. Keep a compact center with …e6/…d6, develop pieces harmoniously, and strike with …d5 or queenside pawn storms depending on White’s setup.
- Sicilian Classical (…Nc6 and …d6 without a6 early).
Traditional Sicilian approach focused on sound development and counterplay down the c-file and central breaks.
Typical plan. Play …e6, …Be7, …O-O, and prepare …d5 or queenside expansion; adapt between quiet and tactical continuations depending on White’s choices.
- Accelerated Dragon (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6).
Aiming to play a Dragon setup without spending …d6 early, seeking faster central counterplay and the …d5 break.
Typical plan. Fianchetto bishop to g7, play …Nf6 and …d5 quickly to release the position, and use active piece play to neutralize White’s attacking setups.
- Grünfeld Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5).
Hypermodern counterpunch: let White build a big center and then attack it vigorously with piece pressure and timely pawn breaks.
Typical plan. Exchange in the center (…d5), pressure White’s center with …Bg7 and …Nc6, play …c5 or …e5 to undermine, and use open lines for piece activity.
- King’s Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7).
Aiming for rich, dynamic middlegames: concede center to strike back with pawn breaks and kingside storms. Great for attacking players.
Typical plan. Castle kingside and prepare …e5 or …c5; build pressure with …f5/…f4 or pawn storms on the kingside (…g5/h5) depending on White’s plan.
- Nimzo-Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4).
Mixes immediate piece pressure with structural damage (doubling c-pawns) and smooth development — extremely flexible and reliable.
Typical plan. Exchange on c3 when useful, play …c5 or …b6 and …Bb7, aim for piece activity and a stable central architecture while exploiting structural weaknesses in White’s camp.
- Queen’s Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6).
A solid, positionally-minded defense that prepares …Bb7 and fights for the long diagonal while avoiding heavy Nimzo theory.
Typical plan. Develop …Bb7, …Be7 and …O-O, challenge the center with …c5 or …d5 when ready, and use long-diagonal pressure on White’s queenside.
- Bogo-Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+).
A calm, flexible weapon that avoids heavy theoretical pitfalls while forcing White to decide on awkward piece placements.
Typical plan. Trade or interchange and aim for …d5/…c5 breaks, develop solidly with …b6 and …Bb7 if needed, and keep a compact, harmonious setup.
- Queen’s Gambit Declined (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6).
A classical, very solid reply: Black accepts a closed center and focuses on firm structure and exchange-borne counterplay.
Typical plan. Develop …Nf6, …Be7, …O-O, and strike with …c5 or …e5 when the timing is right; use piece coordination and minority/central play to equalize and fight for more.
- Queen’s Gambit Accepted (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4).
Temporarily scoop the c-pawn to free the position and aim to return it under favorable terms; suitable if you like fluid piece play.
Typical plan. Hold the pawn temporarily, develop rapidly with …Nf6 and …c5 or …e5, complete development, then return the pawn or use the c-file and central breaks to equalize.
- Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6).
Rock-solid and reliable — Black supports d5 and keeps pieces flexible. Often leads to rich middlegames with balanced chances.
Typical plan. Develop …Nf6 and …Bf5 (or …Bg4), castle, and prepare …e6/…c5 breaks to challenge White’s center while minimizing structural weaknesses.
- Semi-Slav Defense (…c6 then …e6 and …d5 tensions).
A hybrid between Slav and QGD that offers dynamic central tension and many tactical possibilities.
Typical plan. Bolster the center, complete development with …Nbd7 and …Be7 (or …Bd6), and choose the right moment for …e5 or …c5 to open lines advantageously.
- Tarrasch Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5).
An active, slightly freer reply that trades central symmetry for piece activity and dynamic majority play.
Typical plan. Push …c5 to challenge White’s center, develop swiftly, and use rooks on open files; accept an isolated or backward pawn in exchange for active piece play if necessary.
- Modern Benoni (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6).
Create an asymmetrical pawn structure that offers Black counterplay against White’s center, often with sharp middlegame chances.
Typical plan. Break with …exd5 and …b5/…c4 pushes, activate the queenside pawns, and use piece activity and tactical chances to compensate for structural weaknesses.
- Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5).
A long-term queenside gambit: give up a pawn for sustained pressure on dark squares and open files along the a- and b-files.
Typical plan. Accept structural concession and place rooks on open files, pressure queenside and the b2 square, and seek active piece play and positional compensation.
- Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5).
An aggressive attempt to grab kingside space and launch attacking chances; creates unbalanced play immediately.
Typical plan. Keep a solid pawn chain with …d6 and …e6, develop …Nf6 and …Be7, and prepare kingside expansion or break with …e5 when conditions are favorable.
- Leningrad Dutch (1.d4 f5 followed by …g6 and …Bg7).
A sharp Dutch variant combining f-pawn ambitions with a kingside fianchetto — great for dynamic counterplay.
Typical plan. Fianchetto the bishop, play …Nf6 and …d6, and launch kingside pressure with pawn advances …e5/…f4 when the time is right.
- Stonewall Dutch (…f5, …d5, …e6 pawn wedge).
Create a solid but aggressive “brick” of pawns giving Black stable central control and a launchpad for kingside attacks.
Typical plan. Place knights to e4 and f6 squares, use the dark-square bishop actively or via maneuvers, and prepare pawn storms on the kingside or central breaks if White loosens control.
- Albin Counter-Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5).
Aiming to seize initiative by offering a pawn; leads to sharp, original play that can surprise unprepared opponents.
Typical plan. Sacrifice temporarily to open lines and free your pieces, develop aggressively, and exploit White’s awkward recaptures to build attacking chances.
- Budapest Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5).
Another quick-gambit choice to destabilize White’s early plans — practical and effective at club level when opponents are unfamiliar.
Typical plan. Play …exd4 and …Bb4+ ideas to generate piece activity, target White’s center, and complete development quickly to exploit the open lines around White’s king.
- Chigorin Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6).
An offbeat but principled attempt to fight for the center with active knight play instead of immediate pawn tension.
Typical plan. Bring pieces to active squares, avoid passive pawn chains, and aim for piece-led counterplay and central pressure rather than slow maneuvering.
- Old Benoni (1.d4 c5).
A simpler Benoni-style approach that asks immediate questions in the center and can catch White out of book.
Typical plan. Play …c5 to contest d4, follow up with …e6 and …d6 or …Nf6, and aim to free the position via timely pawn breaks and piece activity.
- Hedgehog System (setup: …c6, …e6, …b6, …Bb7, …a6).
A flexible, resilient structure that surrenders space but keeps counterplay options; perfect for patient, technical players.
Typical plan. Keep a compact formation, wait for White overreach, then counter with …b5/…c4 or …d5 breaks and active piece play on open files.
- Old Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6).
A modest, less-theoretical system focused on simple development and a later …e5 or …c5 break.
Typical plan. Develop …Nbd7 and …Be7, castle, and prepare central breaks with …e5 or …c5 to equalize while keeping structure flexible.
- Czech Benoni (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5).
A closed, solid Benoni variant where Black establishes a strong pawn chain and seeks counterplay on the wings.
Typical plan. Keep the pawn wedge on e5, play …b5/…a6 to expand on the queenside, and maneuver pieces to challenge White’s central and kingside ambitions.
- Baltic Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5).
An offbeat but principled line: develop the bishop before committing pawns and aim for early piece activity.
Typical plan. Keep the bishop active on f5, complete development with …Nf6 and …e6, and be ready to challenge White’s center with …c6 and …Qb6 or trades.
- Symmetrical English (1.c4 c5).
Mirror White’s flank idea to neutralize typical English setups, often leading to balanced, strategic play.
Typical plan. Fight for central breaks with …d5 or …e5, develop pieces flexibly, and transpose to favorable standard structures or counterattack on the queenside.
- Hippopotamus Defense (deliberate setup: …g6, …b6, …a6, …d6, …e6).
A very flexible, somewhat eccentric system that keeps pieces ready and strikes only when the position warrants. Good to frustrate heavy theorists.
Typical plan. Keep the structure compact, develop behind the pawn curtain, then play for liberating breaks like …c5 or …e5 and use piece activity to create imbalances.
- French — Winawer Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4).
A combative French setup aiming to double White’s c-pawns and create lasting structural targets.
Typical plan. Trade on c3 to inflict pawn weaknesses, develop …c5 and …Nc6 pressure, and attack the center while exploiting White’s structural defects.
- French — Classical / Rubinstein (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6).
A sturdy classical response with robust development and chances for central play and counterattacks.
Typical plan. Exchange or pressure the center with …c5, keep the light-squared bishop inert but ready to free with …b6/…Ba6 or …Bd7, and play for timely …e5 breaks if possible.
- Caro–Kann — Advance Variation defense (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5).
Black meets White’s space grab with counterthrusts and piece play targeted at undermining the advanced pawn chain.
Typical plan. Attack the base with …c5 and …Bf5 or …Bg4, develop knights to f6/d7, and use tactical strikes (…f6 or …c5) to open lines and free your pieces.
- Caro–Kann — Classical / Karpov Lines (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5).
A time-tested Caro–Kann route emphasizing solid structure and smooth piece coordination, often ending in favorable endgames for Black.
Typical plan. Complete development with …Bf5 or …Bg4, play …Nd7 and …e6, exchange carefully to reach a balanced middlegame or favorable endgame, and strike with …c5 when possible.
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.
