Who do you want to spar?

Three natural moves put a knight in the centre and a bishop on the one square Black's king has to defend alone.

The same eight moves against almost anything: bishop to f4, then e3, c3, Nbd2, Bd3, castle.

One bishop decides this opening: from b2 it stares down the long diagonal at e5 and g7.

A gambit in name only: c4 leans on d5 and you always get the pawn back with a lead in development.

Like the Italian, but the queen's knight comes out first — and that keeps f4 in your pocket.

Solid without being passive: ...c6 supports ...d5 so you challenge e4 at once and your light bishop still gets out.

The simplest answer to 1.e4: trade the centre pawn at once, take back with the queen, tuck her on a5, and play the same setup every game.

A pawn chain, not a pawn race: ...e6 and ...d5 build a wall, then you hit the base of White's chain with ...c5 while their attack is still forming.

Meet 1.e4 with 1...e5 and know exactly what to do next: defend e5 with the knight, develop the bishop to c5, castle.

The Queen's Gambit answered with ...c6 instead of ...e6: d5 is supported and your light bishop is still free to come out.

Let White build the big centre, then hit it.