Vinoth is part of the ChessAlive team and the resident opening enthusiast. A keen club player with a taste for sharp, attacking positions, he writes the guides that help players build an opening they actually understand — and then use it to start an attack. He is a firm believer that beginners should learn opening ideas rather than memorise long lines, and that recognising a few checkmate patterns wins more games than any clever novelty.
Guides by Vinoth
Openings for Beginners
The three opening principles and five sound openings.
OpeningsThe Italian Game
The Giuoco Piano, the Two Knights, and the Fried Liver to avoid.
OpeningsThe Queen's Gambit
The Accepted, Declined and Slav lines, and the plans behind them.
TacticsWinning Tactics
Forks, pins, skewers, and the patterns that decide most games.
Tactics10 Checkmate Patterns
Back-rank, smothered, Anastasia's, Boden's and the Greek gift.
Play and practise
Take these openings and tactics into a real game against the coach bots — free.
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