Chessmate

Free chess opening trainer

Pick an opening and play through one of its lines with short explanations. Then play it again from memory and see which moves you still need to review.

Italian Game · White

Giuoco Pianissimo, Core Setup

You play White
  1. 1. Learn
  2. 2. Test

Play 1. e4

Claim central space and open lines for the bishop and queen. This is the starting point for the Italian setup.

Drag the piece on the board, or tap the button.

    How the opening trainer works

    Learn the line

    Play your moves on the board while short notes explain the idea behind them. Your opponent’s replies are played for you.

    Play it from memory

    Play the same line again without notes or arrows. After two wrong tries the piece to move is highlighted, and after three the move is shown.

    Review what you missed

    Your score counts the moves you found on the first try, and every move you missed is listed so you can go over it.

    Every opening you can practice

    The first line of every course is free to practice here. Open a course to see all of its lines.

    Alekhine's Defense

    Benko Gambit

    Benoni Defense

    Caro-Kann Defense

    Four Knights Game

    French Defense

    Italian Game

    King's Indian Defense

    London System

    Petroff Defense

    Queen's Gambit

    Queen's Indian Defense

    Ruy Lopez

    Scandinavian Defense

    Scotch Game

    Sicilian Defense

    Slav Defense

    Vienna Game

    Browse all openings →

    Questions about practicing chess openings

    What is a chess opening trainer?

    A chess opening trainer helps you remember opening moves by having you play them yourself instead of only reading them. This one walks you through a line with short explanations, then asks you to play it from memory and shows which moves you missed.

    What is the best way to learn chess openings?

    Learn the ideas first, then practice recalling the moves rather than rereading them. Play the line from memory, review the moves you missed, and test it again the next day and a few days later. Spaced review like this keeps a line in memory far longer than one long session.

    Is this chess opening trainer free?

    Yes. It runs in your browser, needs no account, and every line on this page is free to practice. Nothing is saved, so you can start over at any time.

    Which openings can I practice?

    66 lines from 18 opening families, including the Italian Game, Ruy Lopez, London System, Queen’s Gambit, Sicilian Defense, Caro-Kann Defense, French Defense, and King’s Indian Defense. Each one is the first line of a Chessmate course for White or for Black.

    How is the score calculated?

    Only your own moves count. A move you play correctly on the first try counts as recalled. A move after a wrong try, or one you asked to see, counts as missed and is listed for review.

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