About the channel
Chess Opening Model Games is a YouTube channel and this companion site. Each video takes one opening line and plays two complete master games from it, move by move, with an engine evaluation of every position. There is no commentary: just the games, the moves and the numbers.
The idea is old-fashioned. Strong players have always learned openings by playing through the best games in them. These videos make that quick to do.
How the games are chosen
Every pair comes from a database of millions of master games. Both games follow the video’s opening line move for move, and both are played by strong players, usually rated 2400 or more. Famous games are favoured, and so are pairs that show different plans or one win for each side. When a line has more good games than fit in one video, it gets further parts, each with a new pair.
The engine numbers
Every position is evaluated by a chess engine. Scores are in pawns from White’s side: +1.00 means White is about a pawn better, −1.00 the same for Black. A forced mate is shown as “mate in N”. The graphs cap the score at five pawns either way so the important swings stay readable.
Using this site with the videos
- Watch the video and use the move list as a remote control: click any move and the video jumps to it. As the video plays, the move list and the graph follow along.
- Replay on the board to step through a game at your own pace, then jump back into the video at the same moment.
- Explore the opening tree move by move to find every video that covers a position you play.
Questions
Are the games complete?
Yes. Every game is shown from the first move to the last, including the opening line the video is about.
Can I download the games?
Yes. Every video page has a PGN download with both games, ready for your own chess software.
Found a mistake?
Every video page has a “Report an error” link, or write to feedback@chessopeningmodelgames.com.