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opening

opening

7 6.5
A set of moves at the start of a chess game
  • noun
  • /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
  • Jargon
translation icon : apertura
  • Players often study the opening moves to gain an advantage in chess.
  • opening move
  • play the opening
  • pawn opening

What is your favorite gambit opening in chess with a white B Black.

Examples

  • You're playing the Tarakoss opening.

    Knight Moves (1992)

  • The king's pawn opening, so simple, so workable, had always driven Taylor mad with frustration.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Search for anyone who used that opening against me.

    Knight Moves (1992)

  • I pick up my chess book and study famous opening moves.

    Blog text (9)

  • If you play this opening, you're saying, "I'm not interested in a draw.

    Son of a Gun (2014)

  • Valya messed up in the opening and had a lost position.

    Blog text (15)

  • We all can't quite believe it up here, Jim, but in this, the pivotal game of the match, Fischer has abandoned his trademark Sicilian opening.

    Pawn Sacrifice (2015)

  • The King's Indian opening is known for its complex strategies and counterplay.

  • Many people believe that mastering the basic opening strategies is essential for success in chess.

Synonyms

chess opening
vsopening
  • Jargon
1 3.8

A set of moves played at the start of a chess game with known plans

is the same early game move sequence but often referred to without a name

Compounds

opening night
60 3.4

The first public performance of a play or film

opening line
8 2.8

The first line of a book or article that grabs attention

opening move
2 3.9

The first action someone takes at the start of a game or negotiation

chess opening
  • Jargon
1 3.8

A set of moves played at the start of a chess game with known plans

opening line
  • Jargon
1 5.4

The first odds or point spread set by bookmakers before betting

neck opening
3.2

A hole in clothing like a shirt or dress where the neck goes

opening batsman
  • Jargon
7.9

A player who starts the team's turn to hit the ball and faces the first bowlers

present opening
1.4

Unwrapping gifts at a celebration with family or friends

star opening batsman
  • Jargon
7.4

A top cricket player who goes in first to hit the ball and give a strong start

How Final

endgame
  • Specialized
3 7.2
opening
  • Jargon
7 6.5

Surface Forms

opening singular
openings plural

Morphology

opening = open (semi-transparent) = open + ing

Built from 'open' + '-ing' meaning the beginning of play, but the chess-technical sense is a specialized extension of 'start'.

Etymology

Opening comes from the old English word open meaning 'not closed'. In chess, an opening is the first moves that 'open' the game and make space for the pieces, so it means the start of play.