A repertoire is a set of answers.
Not a collection of openings you like. A repertoire answers one question in advance for every game you will play: when my opponent does this, what do I do?
That means coverage first and depth second. A repertoire that is twelve moves deep in one line and has nothing against the other is worse than one that is six moves deep everywhere — because the hole will find you.
Three slots fill a whole repertoire.
As White
One first move, learned well. Every White game you play starts here.
Against 1.e4
Your answer to the most common first move. One defence, not a menu.
Against 1.d4
Your answer to the second most common. Choose one that suits the first.
The rare moves
1.c4, 1.Nf3 and the oddities. Note them when they appear and add one answer each.
Choose the skeleton.
Start with the three slots and fill each with one opening. The other first moves — 1.c4, 1.Nf3, the rare ones — you handle by aiming for the same structures, or by noting them when they actually appear.
One way to make the skeleton light is a system: a setup you play almost regardless of what the opponent does. The London is the classic example. Watch the same five White moves meet two different Black setups.
Against …d5
d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, Bd3, c3 — the pyramid holds the centre, the bishops point at the kingside.
Against a King's Indian setup
Same pawns, same bishop on f4, a modest Be2 and h3 to keep the bishop safe. The plan barely changes.
Systems trade opening richness for study time. Main lines teach you more about openings; systems leave more hours for tactics and endgames. Both are legitimate — choose deliberately.
One answer to every move. Not three.
Two options in the same position double the work and halve the depth.Map every branch your opponent can take.
Once the skeleton is set, draw the tree. For each opening, list the opponent's serious replies at every point and choose one answer to each. One. Having two options in the same position doubles the work and halves the depth.
Here is a starting Caro-Kann repertoire as a tree. Click any branch to see its position.
Notice how the tree is shaped: wide near the root, where every game passes, and thin at the leaves, where only a few games ever arrive. Spend your study time in the same proportion.
What most people haveA collection of openings
- ✕Whatever was in the last video
- ✕Two answers to the same move
- ✕Deep in one line, empty in another
- ✕Never reviewed
What you wantA repertoire
- ✓One opening per slot
- ✓One answer per position
- ✓Coverage first, depth second
- ✓Reviewed on a schedule
Go as deep as your rating needs — no deeper.
Below about 1600, opponents leave theory early and games are decided by tactics. Preparing fifteen moves deep means preparing for positions that almost never happen. Slide to your rating to see a sensible depth.
Whatever the depth, end every line on a position you understand: you know which pawn break you want, where your pieces belong and what your opponent is threatening. A line that stops on a position you can't evaluate isn't finished.
Let your games fill the gaps.
You can't predict every sideline, and you don't need to. Your opponents will show you which ones matter. The loop below is how a repertoire grows from three openings into something you can trust.
Keep it tidy
- One answer per position. If you add a second, retire the first.
- Write the idea next to the move. A one-line note like "…c5 hits the base" is worth more than three extra moves.
- Review on a schedule. A repertoire you built six months ago and haven't drilled since is half gone. See how to memorize chess openings.
Questions, answered.
What is a chess opening repertoire?
The set of openings and lines you have prepared: what you play as White, and how you answer each of your opponent's main first moves as Black. A complete beginner repertoire is three openings — one for White, one against 1.e4, one against 1.d4.
How deep should my opening repertoire be?
Roughly: 5–6 moves of main line below 1000, 8–10 around 1400–1600, and 12 or more past 2000. Depth matters less than knowing the plans that follow the last move you prepared.
Should my repertoire be aggressive or solid?
Whichever produces positions you enjoy and understand. A solid repertoire you play well beats an aggressive one you play badly. You can always add a sharper option later.
How do I deal with offbeat openings?
Don't prepare them in advance. Note them when they appear in your games, look up one sound answer afterwards, and add it. Over a few months the offbeat lines you actually meet will all be covered.
Should I play a system like the London or a main-line opening?
A system saves time and is ideal when you'd rather study tactics and endgames. Main lines teach more about the opening phase itself. Many players start with a system and switch as they improve.
