As you learn about Chess openings, you know that there are openings that are played with the Black pieces and openings that are played with the White pieces, including Chess gambits. But what if you want to play an opening that’s traditionally played with the White pieces, with the Black pieces? This is what a reversed opening is.
What is a Reversed Opening?
A reversed opening is when a player with the White pieces decides to play an opening that is meant to be Played with the black pieces, and vice-versa.
Playing an opening that’s meant for Black with the White pieces will leave you with a tempo less. Inversely, if you play an opening with Black that is meant to be played with the black pieces, you will be left with a tempo more.
Playing a reversed opening is not the same as playing a random opening in reverse just because you want to, these are actual viable openings that can be played and have their own advantages and disadvantages just like playing a non-reversed opening would.
For example, playing the English opening actually becomes a reversed Sicilian defense with a tempo more for white and a temple less for black.
Why Play Reversed Openings
You might be wondering why would you play a reversed opening at all? The answer is simple. If you have played the King’s Indian Defense a lot and have become very good at it, why not play The King’s Indian defense when you have the Black pieces as well? You know the main lines, you know what moves you’re opponent is likely to play, you have a good idea of what’s going to happen throughout the position in general since you have a lot of experience with this opening.
The benefit to play a reversed opening is to simply have more control over the position since you know it better that your opponent may or may not know. What’s more you could even confuse your opponent at the same time while playing a position that you are very familiar with.
I hope this guide on what a Reversed Opening is in Chess helped you. If you want to read more Chess Terminology terms and definitions, these are important to know.