Chess openings by popularity

The 200 most-played openings in 3,000,000 rated Lichess games from September 2026.

Each opening counts every game that passed through its position, so a family such as the Sicilian Defense includes all of its variations. Open one for its moves, results, engine evaluation and the openings closest to it.

#	Opening	ECO	Moves	Share
1	King's Pawn Game	B00	`1. e4`	59%
2	Queen's Pawn Game	A40	`1. d4`	26%
3	King's Knight Opening	C40	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3`	15%
4	King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation	C44	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6`	10%
5	Sicilian Defense	B20	`1. e4 c5`	9.6%
6	French Defense	C00	`1. e4 e6`	6.4%
7	Scandinavian Defense	B01	`1. e4 d5`	6.1%
8	Caro-Kann Defense	B10	`1. e4 c6`	5.7%
9	Indian Defense	A45	`1. d4 Nf6`	5.1%
10	Italian Game	C50	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4`	4.6%
11	Queen's Gambit	D06	`1. d4 d5 2. c4`	4.5%
12	French Defense: Normal Variation	C00	`1. e4 e6 2. d4`	3.9%
13	Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation	B01	`1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5`	3.0%
14	English Opening	A10	`1. c4`	3.0%
15	Zukertort Opening	A04	`1. Nf3`	2.6%
16	Indian Defense: Normal Variation	A50	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4`	2.5%
17	Pirc Defense	B00	`1. e4 d6`	2.5%
18	Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation	D02	`1. d4 d5 2. Nf3`	2.3%
19	Modern Defense	B06	`1. e4 g6`	2.2%
20	Philidor Defense	C41	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6`	2.1%
21	Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian	B30	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6`	2.1%
22	Scotch Game	C44	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4`	2.0%
23	Englund Gambit	A40	`1. d4 e5`	1.9%
24	Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System	D00	`1. d4 d5 2. Bf4`	1.8%
25	Italian Game: Two Knights Defense	C55	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6`	1.8%
26	Van't Kruijs Opening	A00	`1. e3`	1.7%
27	Nimzo-Larsen Attack	A01	`1. b3`	1.7%
28	Ruy Lopez	C60	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5`	1.7%
29	Bishop's Opening	C23	`1. e4 e5 2. Bc4`	1.7%
30	Hungarian Opening	A00	`1. g3`	1.6%
31	Horwitz Defense	A40	`1. d4 e6`	1.6%
32	Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation	D00	`1. d4 d5 2. Nc3`	1.5%
33	Vienna Game	C25	`1. e4 e5 2. Nc3`	1.5%
34	Italian Game: Giuoco Piano	C50	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5`	1.4%
35	Three Knights Opening	C46	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3`	1.3%
36	Slav Defense	D10	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6`	1.3%
37	King's Gambit	C30	`1. e4 e5 2. f4`	1.3%
38	French Defense: Exchange Variation	C01	`1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5`	1.3%
39	Sicilian Defense: French Variation	B40	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6`	1.3%
40	Queen's Gambit Declined	D30	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6`	1.3%
41	Petrov's Defense	C42	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6`	1.3%
42	Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation	D02	`1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6`	1.2%
43	Owen Defense	B00	`1. e4 b6`	1.2%
44	Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations	B50	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6`	1.2%
45	Nimzowitsch Defense	B00	`1. e4 Nc6`	1.1%
46	Bird Opening	A02	`1. f4`	1.1%
47	Indian Defense: Knights Variation	A46	`1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3`	1.1%
48	Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation	B13	`1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5`	1.1%
49	French Defense: Knight Variation	C00	`1. e4 e6 2. Nf3`	1.0%
50	Center Game	C20	`1. e4 e5 2. d4`	1.00%
51	Benoni Defense: Old Benoni	A43	`1. d4 c5`	0.99%
52	Sicilian Defense: Closed	B23	`1. e4 c5 2. Nc3`	0.99%
53	Indian Defense: West Indian Defense	E60	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6`	0.98%
54	French Defense: Advance Variation	C02	`1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5`	0.95%
55	Sicilian Defense: Open	B32	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4`	0.94%
56	Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense	A40	`1. d4 g6`	0.93%
57	Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation	B12	`1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5`	0.93%
58	Alekhine Defense	B02	`1. e4 Nf6`	0.92%
59	Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation	B01	`1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8`	0.88%
60	English Opening: King's English Variation	A20	`1. c4 e5`	0.87%
61	Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation	B01	`1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6`	0.84%
62	Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack	B20	`1. e4 c5 2. Bc4`	0.82%
63	King's Indian Defense	E61	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3`	0.81%
64	Queen's Gambit Accepted	D20	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4`	0.80%
65	Mieses Opening	A00	`1. d3`	0.79%
66	Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation	D31	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3`	0.76%
67	Four Knights Game	C47	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6`	0.74%
68	King's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation	C20	`1. e4 e5 2. d3`	0.72%
69	Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit	B21	`1. e4 c5 2. d4`	0.72%
70	Center Game Accepted	C21	`1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4`	0.70%
71	Scandinavian Defense: Main Line	B01	`1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5`	0.70%
72	Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open	B40	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4`	0.68%
73	French Defense: Paulsen Variation	C10	`1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3`	0.65%
74	King's Gambit Accepted	C33	`1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4`	0.64%
75	Slav Defense: Modern Line	D11	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3`	0.62%
76	Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit	A06	`1. e4 d5 2. Nf3`	0.59%
77	Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation	B22	`1. e4 c5 2. c3`	0.59%
78	Dutch Defense	A80	`1. d4 f5`	0.58%
79	English Defense	A40	`1. d4 b6`	0.58%
80	King's Gambit Accepted: King's Knight's Gambit	C34	`1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3`	0.58%
81	English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian	A21	`1. c4 e5 2. Nc3`	0.57%
82	Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian	E10	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3`	0.56%
83	Indian Defense: Accelerated London System	A45	`1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4`	0.54%
84	East Indian Defense	A48	`1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6`	0.53%
85	Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line	B54	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6`	0.52%
86	Four Knights Game: Italian Variation	C47	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3`	0.51%
87	Bishop's Opening: Berlin Defense	C24	`1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6`	0.51%
88	Polish Opening	A00	`1. b4`	0.50%
89	Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening	C55	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3`	0.50%
90	Queen's Gambit Declined: Marshall Defense	D06	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6`	0.49%
91	Queen's Pawn Game: Colle System	D04	`1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3`	0.49%
92	Italian Game: Classical Variation	C53	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3`	0.48%
93	Blackmar-Diemer Gambit	D00	`1. d4 d5 2. e4`	0.48%
94	King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation	E70	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4`	0.48%
95	Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense	C50	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6`	0.47%
96	English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense	A15	`1. c4 Nf6`	0.46%
97	Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo	C50	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3`	0.45%
98	Vienna Game: Falkbeer Variation	C26	`1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6`	0.45%
99	King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack	C20	`1. e4 e5 2. Qh5`	0.45%
100	Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Modern Variation	A01	`1. b3 e5`	0.44%
101	Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Classical Variation	A01	`1. b3 d5`	0.44%
102	Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense	C70	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6`	0.44%
103	Rapport-Jobava System	D01	`1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4`	0.44%
104	Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack	B21	`1. e4 c5 2. f4`	0.44%
105	Vienna Game: Max Lange Defense	C25	`1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6`	0.44%
106	Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack	C57	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5`	0.43%
107	Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional	B23	`1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6`	0.42%
108	Bird Opening: Dutch Variation	A03	`1. f4 d5`	0.41%
109	Scotch Game: Lolli Variation	C44	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4`	0.40%
110	King's Pawn Game: Busch-Gass Gambit	C40	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5`	0.39%
111	Queen's Pawn Game: London System	D02	`1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4`	0.39%
112	Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit	C44	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4`	0.38%
113	Van Geet Opening	A00	`1. Nc3`	0.38%
114	English Opening: Agincourt Defense	A13	`1. c4 e6`	0.38%
115	Ponziani Opening	C44	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3`	0.37%
116	Italian Game: Paris Defense	C50	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6`	0.37%
117	Modern Defense: Standard Line	B06	`1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3`	0.37%
118	English Opening: Symmetrical Variation	A30	`1. c4 c5`	0.36%
119	Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation	D15	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3`	0.35%
120	Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation	D37	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3`	0.35%
121	Caro-Kann Defense: Hillbilly Attack	B10	`1. e4 c6 2. Bc4`	0.35%
122	Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense	C62	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6`	0.35%
123	Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation	B00	`1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5`	0.35%
124	Elephant Gambit	C40	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d5`	0.34%
125	Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation	C41	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4`	0.34%
126	Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game	C42	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3`	0.34%
127	Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation	B44	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6`	0.34%
128	Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense	C65	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6`	0.34%
129	Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation	B02	`1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5`	0.33%
130	Caro-Kann Defense: Modern Variation	B12	`1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2`	0.32%
131	King's Indian Attack	A07	`1. Nf3 d5 2. g3`	0.32%
132	Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation	C57	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5`	0.31%
133	Saragossa Opening	A00	`1. c3`	0.31%
134	Grob Opening	A00	`1. g4`	0.30%
135	Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6	D02	`1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4`	0.30%
136	Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line	B15	`1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4`	0.30%
137	Englund Gambit: Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit	A40	`1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 d6`	0.30%
138	Pirc Defense: Classical Variation	B08	`1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3`	0.30%
139	French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack	C02	`1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3`	0.30%
140	Center Game: Normal Variation	C22	`1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6`	0.29%
141	Old Indian Defense	A41	`1. d4 d6 2. c4`	0.29%
142	Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense	D35	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6`	0.28%
143	Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack	B10	`1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3`	0.28%
144	English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense	A10	`1. c4 d5`	0.28%
145	Danish Gambit	C21	`1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3`	0.28%
146	Petrov's Defense: Italian Variation	C42	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4`	0.27%
147	Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack	B30	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5`	0.27%
148	Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Botvinnik-Carls Defense	B12	`1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5`	0.27%
149	Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation	C48	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5`	0.27%
150	Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon	B32	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6`	0.26%
151	Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation	C47	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4`	0.26%
152	French Defense: Queen's Knight	C00	`1. e4 e6 2. Nc3`	0.26%
153	King's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Defense	C30	`1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nc6`	0.26%
154	English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation	A22	`1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6`	0.26%
155	Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation	B00	`1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5`	0.25%
156	King's Pawn Game: McConnell Defense	C40	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6`	0.25%
157	French Defense: Classical Variation	C11	`1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6`	0.25%
158	King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack	C20	`1. e4 e5 2. Qf3`	0.25%
159	Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed French	A40	`1. d4 e5 2. e3`	0.25%
160	Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation	B90	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6`	0.25%
161	French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation	C00	`1. e4 e6 2. f4`	0.25%
162	Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation	C50	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3`	0.25%
163	London System	A48	`1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4`	0.24%
164	Nimzo-Indian Defense	E20	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4`	0.24%
165	Nimzowitsch Defense: Declined Variation	B00	`1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3`	0.24%
166	Benoni Defense	A56	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5`	0.24%
167	Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense	D07	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6`	0.24%
168	Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal	C50	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5`	0.23%
169	Bishop's Opening: Boi Variation	C23	`1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5`	0.23%
170	French Defense: King's Indian Attack	C00	`1. e4 e6 2. d3`	0.23%
171	Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted	B21	`1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3`	0.23%
172	Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon	B27	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6`	0.23%
173	Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Linksspringer Variation	B00	`1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. d5`	0.22%
174	English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation	A16	`1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3`	0.21%
175	French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense	C00	`1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5`	0.21%
176	Rat Defense: Small Center Defense	C00	`1. d4 e6 2. e4 d6`	0.21%
177	Scotch Game: Classical Variation	C45	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5`	0.21%
178	Queen's Pawn Game: Levitsky Attack	D00	`1. d4 d5 2. Bg5`	0.21%
179	Modern Defense: Standard Defense	B06	`1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6`	0.21%
180	Queen's Gambit Accepted: Saduleto Variation	D20	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4`	0.21%
181	Zukertort Opening: Pirc Invitation	A04	`1. Nf3 d6`	0.21%
182	King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses	E90	`1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3`	0.20%
183	Mikenas Defense	A40	`1. d4 Nc6`	0.20%
184	Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation	C64	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5`	0.20%
185	Sicilian Defense: Löwenthal Variation	B32	`1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5`	0.20%
186	Ponziani Opening: Jaenisch Counterattack	C44	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6`	0.20%
187	Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation	A04	`1. Nf3 c5`	0.20%
188	Englund Gambit: Main Line	A40	`1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7`	0.19%
189	Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Short Variation	B12	`1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3`	0.19%
190	Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack	B13	`1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4`	0.19%
191	Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation Accepted	C47	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4`	0.19%
192	Danish Gambit Accepted	C21	`1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3`	0.19%
193	Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation	A04	`1. Nf3 e6`	0.18%
194	Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation	A01	`1. b3 Nf6`	0.18%
195	Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order	D31	`1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6`	0.18%
196	Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation	B02	`1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5`	0.18%
197	English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System	A11	`1. c4 c6`	0.18%
198	Vienna Game: Stanley Variation	C26	`1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4`	0.18%
199	Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo	C54	`1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3`	0.17%
200	Vienna Game: Vienna Gambit	C29	`1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4`	0.17%

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