Lichess studies let you build an opening repertoire for free by giving each opening its own chapter, adding the main moves and your notes, and then drilling those lines with the site’s tools. Create a study, name it after your color, add one chapter per opening, and keep every chapter short enough to remember.
Plan the Structure First
Decide what you want before you type a single move. A small repertoire you actually know beats a huge one you forget. A common layout is one study for White and one for each main reply as Black.
- One study named “White repertoire” with a chapter per first move or system.
- One study named “Black vs 1.e4” and another named “Black vs 1.d4”.
- A separate study for odd tries, such as sidelines you meet occasionally.
Building a Chapter
- Create a new study and choose a clear name.
- Add a chapter and set the orientation to your color, so the board faces you.
- Play the moves of your chosen line on the board. Branches appear as variations in the move list.
- Add comments to key moves: a plan, a typical trap, or a pawn structure to aim for.
- Use the chapter’s analysis tools or opening explorer sparingly to see what opponents play most often at your level.
- Mark each chapter as practice material so it is easy to find later.
Drilling the Lines
Lichess includes a practice mode for studies, and some features turn a chapter into an interactive lesson where you must find the next move. Use it regularly rather than in one long session. Short daily visits help far more than a single cram.
| Tool | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Study chapters | Storing lines with your own comments |
| Opening explorer | Seeing common replies from real games |
| Practice or interactive mode | Testing your memory of a line |
| Your own game archive | Finding where you left your prepared lines |
Keeping It Alive
After each game in which an opponent leaves your prepared line, add the new position to the right chapter. Over a few months, your repertoire grows from your actual experience. Interface names and options on the site change from time to time, so check the current menus if something looks different.
FAQ
Is it really free?
The site has long described its core tools, including studies, as free to use. Check the current terms on the site itself if this matters to you.
How many openings should I include?
Pick one main system for each situation: one against the king pawn, one against the queen pawn as White, and a reply to each as Black. Add more only when these feel solid.
The Short Version
Plan a small structure, build one chapter per opening, add your own comments, and drill with the practice tools in short regular sessions. Update chapters after real games so the repertoire reflects how you play.
