Skip to content
Home » News » ECO Encyclopedia of Chess Openings

ECO Encyclopedia of Chess Openings

Encyclopedia of Chess Openings

Introduction: Understanding the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO)

In the realm of chess, the opening phase is critical, setting the stage for the middlegame and endgame. To navigate this phase effectively, players and theorists have developed extensive literature, among which the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) stands as a cornerstone.

The ECO is a comprehensive reference work that systematically categorises chess openings using a unique alphanumeric code system. This system divides openings into five main categories labeled A through E, each containing 100 subcategories, resulting in 500 distinct codes. For example, the Sicilian Defence is classified under codes B20–B99, while the Queen’s Gambit falls under D06–D69.

Published by the Serbian company Šahovski Informator, the ECO compiles analyses from millions of games played by masters and grandmasters, as well as contributions from leading chess analysts. The first volume was released in the 1970s, and the series has since become an essential resource for players seeking to deepen their understanding of opening theory.

The ECO’s significance lies not only in its exhaustive coverage of openings but also in its universal language. By employing a system of symbols and codes, it transcends linguistic barriers, allowing players worldwide to access and interpret its content without the need for translation.

Historical Development of the ECO

The genesis of the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings is rooted in the mid-20th century, a period marked by a surge in the systematic study of chess openings. The initiative was spearheaded by the Yugoslavian (now Serbian) publishing house Šahovski Informator, which began compiling and disseminating high-quality analyses of chess games in the 1960s.

The first volume of the ECO was published in the 1970s, building upon the foundation laid by the Chess Informant series. The editors aimed to create a comprehensive and standardised reference that would facilitate the study and classification of chess openings. By organising openings into a structured code system, the ECO provided a clear and accessible framework for players and researchers alike.

Over the years, the ECO has undergone numerous revisions and updates, reflecting the evolving landscape of chess theory. Contributions from leading grandmasters and analysts have ensured that the content remains current and authoritative. The ECO’s enduring relevance is a testament to its meticulous scholarship and its pivotal role in the advancement of chess knowledge.

Analysis of Top Four White Opening Moves by Win Rate

Understanding the efficacy of various opening moves is crucial for players aiming to optimise their performance. Statistical analyses from extensive game databases provide insights into which openings yield the highest success rates for White.

1. 1.e4 – King’s Pawn Opening

  • Win Rate: Approximately 54%
  • Description: This opening move is one of the most popular and aggressive choices for White. It leads to a variety of well-known openings, including the Ruy López, Italian Game, and Sicilian Defence. The move immediately controls the centre and allows for rapid development of pieces.
  • Notable Practitioners: Bobby Fischer famously advocated for 1.e4, stating, “1.e4, best by test.” Magnus Carlsen has also frequently employed this opening in his games.

2. 1.d4 – Queen’s Pawn Opening

  • Win Rate: Approximately 52%
  • Description: This move often leads to more positional and strategic games. It opens pathways to openings such as the Queen’s Gambit and the King’s Indian Defence. The move controls the centre and prepares for solid development.
  • Notable Practitioners: Garry Kasparov and José Raúl Capablanca have effectively utilised 1.d4 in their games, showcasing its potential for strategic depth.

3. 1.c4 – English Opening

  • Win Rate: Approximately 53%
  • Description: The English Opening is a hypermodern strategy where White focuses on controlling the centre from the flanks. It often leads to asymmetrical pawn structures and complex positions.
  • Notable Practitioners: Mikhail Botvinnik and Anatoly Karpov have employed the English Opening to great effect, demonstrating its versatility and strategic richness.

4. 1.Nf3 – Reti Opening

  • Win Rate: Approximately 52%
  • Description: This flexible opening move allows White to transpose into various other openings, including the King’s Indian Attack and the English Opening. It supports rapid development and control of the centre without committing to a specific pawn structure.
  • Notable Practitioners: Vladimir Kramnik and Hikaru Nakamura have utilised 1.Nf3 to navigate into favourable middlegame positions, showcasing its adaptability.

These statistics underscore the importance of opening choice in chess strategy. While 1.e4 and 1.d4 remain the most prevalent, the success rates of 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 highlight the viability of alternative approaches.

The Utility of the ECO for Chess Players

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings serves as an indispensable tool for players seeking to enhance their opening repertoire and deepen their theoretical understanding. Its systematic classification allows for efficient study and preparation, enabling players to navigate the complexities of opening theory with greater confidence.

Key Benefits of the ECO:

  • Comprehensive Coverage: The ECO encompasses a vast array of openings and variations, providing detailed analyses and evaluations.
  • Standardised Notation: The use of universal symbols and codes facilitates clear communication and understanding across language barriers.
  • Authoritative Content: Contributions from leading grandmasters and analysts ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information.
  • Strategic Insights: The ECO offers valuable perspectives on the strategic objectives and tactical motifs inherent in various openings.

By integrating the ECO into their study regimen, players can systematically explore and master the intricacies of opening play, laying a solid foundation for success in the middlegame and beyond.


Eco statistics my games

ECO Statistics.csv

CodeTotal gamesWhite WinWhite Win %White Win Avg MovesBlack WinBlack Win %Black Win Avg MovesDrawDraw %Draw Avg MovesWeight
C6548726513%805010%804757976%6700031
C5012383327%742218%781183956%6800089
C78969202%112000%N/A967998%5700021
B908511214%83202%94837984%6300118
A28815506%83709%91803985%66-00025
C53762912%71203%92751986%6700092
C67751608%71709%74738983%68-00013
D43545204%56306%63540991%60-00018
D45543407%91102%71538991%6600055
B12472715%85000%N/A465985%7100148
B0044156127%82307%168382866%9301202
D02428716%72205%86419979%6400117
D38349000%N/A000%N/A3491000%6300000
A00345000%N/A617%86339983%62-00174
B33328412%62412%79320976%6900000
C11326825%102000%N/A318975%6700245
C02280311%82000%N/A277989%6800107
C89231209%84104%94228987%6800043
B97204210%66210%76200980%6200000
C42191105%48000%N/A190995%6800052
D20183105%110000%N/A182995%7200055
B92175317%99000%N/A172983%6900171
B01166636%49000%N/A160964%8100361
C77149213%63000%N/A147987%6300134
E06139000%N/A000%N/A1391000%6200000
B03137966%95000%N/A128934%8900657
A20136751%62322%68126926%6400294
D35131000%N/A323%74128977%66-00229
A07128323%51000%N/A125977%6200234
D27119000%N/A000%N/A1191000%6200000
B48112545%78109%71106946%6700357
E00107219%81109%133104972%6400093
C5299220%96110%6896970%7500101
D4797221%51000%N/A95979%7000206
B3094000%N/A000%N/A941000%6700000
E8193443%71000%N/A89957%6200430
A409314151%76111%11578839%10201398
A4587000%N/A111%8786989%63-00115
A0186000%N/A000%N/A861000%5900000
C4585000%N/A224%7283976%61-00235
B0785224%83000%N/A83976%6000235
E1084112%100112%15582976%6600000
D0084112%49112%9482976%6000000
A0682000%N/A112%6581988%65-00122
D0379338%108000%N/A76962%7100380
A0376000%N/A226%5974974%61-00263
A4275227%91000%N/A73973%7700267
D0575000%N/A340%5572960%64-00400
C8869000%N/A114%5968986%70-00145
A0467230%64000%N/A65970%7800299
C9266691%87115%3459894%8200758
C1765000%N/A000%N/A651000%7400000
B4563463%85000%N/A59937%6400635
A2959117%54234%6456949%61-00169
C0059000%N/A000%N/A591000%7400000
C9458117%83000%N/A57983%6600172
C2453000%N/A000%N/A531000%6400000
C2052000%N/A000%N/A521000%5900000
B4352119%44000%N/A51981%7400192
A2250000%N/A240%4948960%59-00400
C1050360%69000%N/A47940%6700600
B2349000%N/A000%N/A491000%6100000
E0449000%N/A000%N/A491000%7100000
E0147121%67243%6144936%65-00213
A0845122%99000%N/A44978%5800222
D3444123%85000%N/A43977%6500227
D3043000%N/A123%6542977%63-00233
D1243123%108000%N/A42977%7000233
D7942000%N/A000%N/A421000%6400000
A4642000%N/A124%7841976%65-00238
C4337254%107000%N/A35946%6700541
D3136000%N/A128%6435972%69-00278
A4935000%N/A000%N/A351000%6200000
A3534000%N/A000%N/A341000%6100000
E3232000%N/A000%N/A321000%5900000
C4130000%N/A000%N/A301000%7500000
E60303100%58000%N/A27900%6501000
C4830000%N/A000%N/A301000%5700000
C4629000%N/A000%N/A291000%6600000
D1727000%N/A000%N/A271000%6100000
D53273111%74137%8123852%8300741
D5827000%N/A000%N/A271000%5400000
A8426138%85000%N/A25962%7600385
B3226138%80000%N/A25962%7600385
D8525000%N/A000%N/A251000%7900000
D3725140%59000%N/A24960%6300400
E5125000%N/A000%N/A251000%5900000
C8324000%N/A000%N/A241000%6700000
E9724000%N/A000%N/A241000%8000000
C19233130%64000%N/A20870%6701304
E9223287%108000%N/A21913%6500870
B2722145%130000%N/A21955%5800455
A0522000%N/A000%N/A221000%7500000
C8021000%N/A000%N/A211000%6500000
A0921148%101000%N/A20952%5900476
C4421148%60148%13419905%6500000
B4021295%49000%N/A19905%5800952
C2620000%N/A000%N/A201000%7100000
D0420150%81000%N/A19950%7000500
A8820000%N/A000%N/A201000%6700000
D36193158%68000%N/A16842%7001579
D7319000%N/A000%N/A191000%6400000
A1019000%N/A153%10518947%80-00526
B1519000%N/A000%N/A191000%7500000
E5319000%N/A000%N/A191000%7200000
C5518000%N/A000%N/A181000%6600000
C2117000%N/A000%N/A171000%6100000
B1016163%64000%N/A15938%7000625
C9516163%72000%N/A15938%7300625
D3915000%N/A000%N/A151000%7900000
B2815000%N/A000%N/A151000%8300000
A1515000%N/A000%N/A151000%6100000
E68152133%93000%N/A13867%7701333
B8414171%46000%N/A13929%7600714
D2614171%63000%N/A13929%5500714
E1514171%67000%N/A13929%5800714
B1114000%N/A000%N/A141000%6000000
B4214000%N/A000%N/A141000%6800000
B2213000%N/A000%N/A131000%5600000
B5412183%83000%N/A11917%7900833
D4112000%N/A000%N/A121000%7000000
C2212000%N/A000%N/A121000%4700000
C9712183%73000%N/A11917%7200833
D0112000%N/A183%8911917%90-00833
D7812000%N/A000%N/A121000%5600000
D5511000%N/A000%N/A111000%6200000
B0911000%N/A000%N/A111000%7200000
C3911000%N/A000%N/A111000%7300000
B5211000%N/A000%N/A111000%5700000
A21112182%115000%N/A9818%6801818
A1311000%N/A000%N/A111000%7000000
B3111000%N/A191%8710909%74-00909
E5211191%66000%N/A10909%6000909
B6611000%N/A000%N/A111000%7100000
B5010000%N/A000%N/A101000%8600000
B2010000%N/A000%N/A101000%8200000
D11101100%89000%N/A9900%6801000
E949000%N/A000%N/A91000%7500000
E2091111%99000%N/A8889%6201111
D329000%N/A000%N/A91000%7000000
B3691111%56000%N/A8889%6101111
B859000%N/A000%N/A91000%8300000
B0681125%104000%N/A7875%6301250
C708000%N/A000%N/A81000%6700000
C288000%N/A000%N/A81000%5600000
D158000%N/A000%N/A81000%7700000
C6371143%74000%N/A6857%6001429
A147000%N/A000%N/A71000%4600000
B6772286%87000%N/A5714%5902857
A367000%N/A000%N/A71000%4800000
C476000%N/A000%N/A61000%6100000
B4663500%56000%N/A3500%8005000
B256000%N/A1167%615833%61-01667
C906000%N/A000%N/A61000%5400000
E356000%N/A000%N/A61000%7600000
E7361167%53000%N/A5833%6701667
E1161167%75000%N/A5833%9101667
E486000%N/A000%N/A61000%5400000
C846000%N/A000%N/A61000%7900000
A306000%N/A000%N/A61000%6400000
E256000%N/A000%N/A61000%4200000
C076000%N/A000%N/A61000%7900000
B575000%N/A000%N/A51000%6600000
B625000%N/A000%N/A51000%7900000
D495000%N/A000%N/A51000%6400000
D215000%N/A000%N/A51000%11200000
E075000%N/A000%N/A51000%7300000
A5051200%82000%N/A4800%12402000
B765000%N/A000%N/A51000%6400000
B8153600%95000%N/A2400%6706000
E125000%N/A000%N/A51000%6200000
A8551200%90000%N/A4800%4902000
B495000%N/A000%N/A51000%6100000
B475000%N/A000%N/A51000%9800000
B965000%N/A000%N/A51000%6800000
A524000%N/A000%N/A41000%5700000
B084000%N/A000%N/A41000%7500000
E194000%N/A000%N/A41000%8900000
E9041250%46000%N/A3750%9402500
D444000%N/A000%N/A41000%6400000
A324000%N/A000%N/A41000%5800000
A6241250%80000%N/A3750%6102500
E214000%N/A000%N/A41000%6600000
B194000%N/A000%N/A41000%6700000
D073000%N/A000%N/A31000%9400000
D483000%N/A000%N/A31000%9000000
D883000%N/A000%N/A31000%6200000
D083000%N/A000%N/A31000%5800000
B513000%N/A000%N/A31000%10000000
C643000%N/A000%N/A31000%5600000
A373000%N/A000%N/A31000%4300000
E083000%N/A000%N/A31000%5900000
D103000%N/A000%N/A31000%5300000
D293000%N/A000%N/A31000%6000000
B892000%N/A000%N/A21000%7000000
B992000%N/A000%N/A21000%8700000
E832000%N/A000%N/A21000%6800000
E712000%N/A000%N/A21000%4200000
C8221500%65000%N/A1500%4705000
B942000%N/A000%N/A21000%6200000
B212000%N/A000%N/A21000%7100000
B182000%N/A000%N/A21000%8000000
E692000%N/A000%N/A21000%10700000
B612000%N/A000%N/A21000%5400000
A332000%N/A000%N/A21000%5100000
C872000%N/A000%N/A21000%5600000
D162000%N/A000%N/A21000%9100000
E362000%N/A000%N/A21000%10200000
B532000%N/A000%N/A21000%4000000
B442000%N/A000%N/A21000%9200000
E402000%N/A000%N/A21000%5500000
B132000%N/A000%N/A21000%4600000
E542000%N/A000%N/A21000%3400000
D502000%N/A000%N/A21000%6700000
A9221500%130000%N/A1500%7305000
C602000%N/A000%N/A21000%5900000
B692000%N/A000%N/A21000%5700000
C082000%N/A000%N/A21000%14200000
E472000%N/A000%N/A21000%8900000
C292000%N/A000%N/A21000%3300000
E622000%N/A000%N/A21000%12100000
C751000%N/A000%N/A11000%7700000
B631000%N/A000%N/A11000%5700000
A121000%N/A000%N/A11000%6300000
D061000%N/A000%N/A11000%6200000
E871000%N/A000%N/A11000%6400000
A481000%N/A000%N/A11000%3400000
A341000%N/A000%N/A11000%6100000
B02111000%79000%N/A000%N/A10000
D901000%N/A000%N/A11000%6900000
A171000%N/A000%N/A11000%6400000
B82111000%59000%N/A000%N/A10000
C72111000%121000%N/A000%N/A10000
C931000%N/A000%N/A11000%8400000
B411000%N/A000%N/A11000%4900000
D25111000%72000%N/A000%N/A10000
C581000%N/A000%N/A11000%3900000
D591000%N/A000%N/A11000%10600000
A021000%N/A000%N/A11000%9900000
D561000%N/A000%N/A11000%4600000
C091000%N/A000%N/A11000%4400000
D221000%N/A000%N/A11000%9200000
E171000%N/A000%N/A11000%12900000
E661000%N/A000%N/A11000%7800000
E141000%N/A000%N/A11000%7700000
A411000%N/A000%N/A11000%3100000
D86111000%34000%N/A000%N/A10000
A47111000%51000%N/A000%N/A10000
A951000%N/A000%N/A11000%3100000
B981000%N/A000%N/A11000%6300000
C371000%N/A11000%57000%N/A-10000
E701000%N/A000%N/A11000%5300000
D871000%N/A000%N/A11000%3400000
C181000%N/A000%N/A11000%14600000
D841000%N/A000%N/A11000%8200000
A901000%N/A000%N/A11000%6100000
C511000%N/A000%N/A11000%3700000
A181000%N/A000%N/A11000%5100000
D971000%N/A000%N/A11000%7100000
E161000%N/A000%N/A11000%11700000
A671000%N/A000%N/A11000%5500000
E051000%N/A000%N/A11000%10400000
E911000%N/A000%N/A11000%9100000
C541000%N/A11000%31000%N/A-10000
A581000%N/A000%N/A11000%6400000
A261000%N/A000%N/A11000%7000000
ECO Statistics.csv

Bibliography

Note: The statistical data presented is based on analyses from reputable chess databases and publications.

Jorge Ruiz

Jorge Ruiz Centelles

Filólogo y amante de la antropología social africana

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *