Your rating sets the difficulty
Below 1200 you get openings with fewer forcing lines. Sharper defenses and the reply to 1.d4 open up from 1200.
Which chess opening should I play?
Answer five quick questions about your level and how you like to play. You get a starter repertoire: one opening for White, one reply to 1.e4, and a reply to 1.d4 once you are ready for it.
Question 1 of 5
What is your online rating?
Use your Chess.com or Lichess rapid rating. A rough guess is fine.
How the quiz picks your openings
Your style sets the character
Solid answers point to structured openings, and sharp answers point to active, unbalanced ones. Your view on gambits decides between the sharpest options.
Your weak spot decides where to start
Learn one opening at a time. The slot where your games go wrong most often is marked so you know where to begin.
Every opening the quiz can recommend
Each one is a Chessmate course with a free sample line you can study on the web.
As White
As Black vs 1.e4
Questions about choosing an opening
Which chess opening should a beginner play?
Most beginners do best with an opening that follows the basic principles: control the center, develop the knights and bishops, and castle early. The Italian Game or the London System for White, and the Caro-Kann or 1...e5 for Black, are common starting points. This quiz chooses between them based on your style.
How many openings do I need to learn?
Three cover a complete starter repertoire: one opening with White, one reply to 1.e4, and one reply to 1.d4. Most players start with White and a reply to 1.e4, then add the rest once those feel comfortable.
Should I learn the London System or the Italian Game?
Choose the London System if you want one setup you can repeat with little memorization. Choose the Italian Game if you want to learn open positions and classical attacking ideas. Both are sound choices at every level.
Should I play gambits?
Sound gambits teach development and initiative, but they reward precise play and can backfire if you only know the trap. The quiz suggests a gambit only when you are rated 1200 or higher and say you enjoy them.
Is this quiz free?
Yes. It runs in your browser, needs no account, and takes about a minute. You can bookmark or share your result with its link.