Building a solid opening repertoire used to mean spending hundreds of dollars on chess courses or subscription services. I spent years bouncing between expensive platforms before discovering that Lichess offers everything you need to build a professional-grade opening repertoire for free. The Lichess Study feature is one of the most powerful yet underutilized tools in online chess, and I am going to show you exactly how to use it.
In this guide, you will learn how to use Lichess Studies to build your own opening repertoire for free. I have refined this method over three years of tournament play, and it has helped me gain 200 rating points solely from better opening preparation. Whether you are a beginner looking to stop hanging pieces in the opening or an intermediate player aiming for master-level preparation, this workflow works.
Table of Contents
What Are Lichess Studies and Why Use Them for Opening Repertoires?
Lichess Studies are interactive chess lessons you create yourself. Think of them as digital notebooks where you can save complete games, add your own analysis, draw arrows and highlighted squares, and organize everything into chapters. Unlike the Lichess analysis board, studies persist permanently and can be structured exactly how you want.
The lichess study feature shines for opening work because it combines three essential tools in one place: the Opening Explorer for researching lines, the analysis board for testing ideas, and chapter organization for structuring your repertoire. You can access everything without spending a cent, and your studies sync across devices automatically.
Many players assume they need Chessable or similar paid platforms to build a serious repertoire. I used to believe this too. While paid platforms have nice features like spaced repetition, the lichess opening explorer combined with Studies gives you 90 percent of the functionality at zero cost. The remaining 10 percent can be filled with free tools I will mention later.
How to Use Lichess Studies to Build Your Own Opening Repertoire for Free
This is the core process that will take you from zero to a complete, organized opening repertoire. I recommend setting aside about two hours for your initial setup, then adding to it over time. The method follows four distinct phases that build on each other.
Step 1: Build a Variation Tree Using Opening Explorer
Your first task is creating a roadmap of all the lines you want to play. Open Lichess and navigate to the Opening Explorer from the main menu. This is where you will research every variation before adding it to your study.
Here is the critical tip most players miss: switch the database from Lichess games to the Master database. The Master database contains games from titled players only, which means the lines have been tested at the highest level. The regular Lichess database includes games from all rating levels, which can lead you into dubious lines that work against weak opponents but fail against serious competition.
Start with your main line, the primary response you want to play against each opponent move. Click through the moves in the Opening Explorer, watching the statistics on the right side. You want lines where White and Black have relatively equal results, or lines that suit your playing style. For example, if you prefer sharp tactical positions, look for lines with higher win rates for the attacking side.
Next, identify the key sidelines. These are the moves your opponents will actually play against you. For popular openings like the Sicilian or Ruy Lopez, there might be five or six common responses you need to prepare for. For each sideline, decide whether you want to play the main theoretical response or a simpler sideline that requires less memorization.
Once you have your variation tree mapped out, click the share button in the Opening Explorer and select the option to copy the PGN. This captures your entire line in a format you can import into a study chapter.
Step 2: Structure Your Study in Sections
Now create your actual study. Go to Lichess, click Learn, then Studies, then the plus button to create a new study. Make it private so opponents cannot see your preparation.
The first chapter of your study should be an overview chapter. This contains a diagram showing the first few moves of every variation in your repertoire. I create a simple visual tree: one diagram for 1.e4 e5 lines, another for 1.e4 c5 lines, and so on. This overview helps you quickly navigate to the right chapter when reviewing.
Organize your chapters by opening system. I recommend grouping them logically: White repertoire chapters first, then Black repertoire chapters. Within each color, organize by the move order. For example, against 1.e4 as Black, you might have chapters for the Sicilian, French Defense, Caro-Kann, and so on.
Keep chapter names clear and consistent. I use a format like White – Italian Game or Black – Sicilian Najdorf. This makes navigation instant when you are reviewing before a game.
Step 3: Build Individual Chapters for Each Variation
This is where your repertoire comes to life. Create a new chapter for each significant variation you identified in Step 1. Paste the PGN you copied from the Opening Explorer into the chapter.
Now add model games. Model games are complete games played by strong players that follow your chosen lines. They show you how the positions should be handled after the opening ends. Return to the Opening Explorer, find your variation again, and click on Top Games. Select three to five games where strong players won with your side.
For each model game, copy the PGN and paste it into your chapter after your main line. Add a comment explaining why this game matters. Something simple like Model game showing the thematic kingside attack or Game demonstrating proper piece placement in the middlegame.
Use the annotation tools. Draw arrows showing piece movements you should remember. Use the colored square highlighter for key squares like weak pawns or strong outposts. Add glyphs like the exclamation mark for strong moves and question mark for moves to avoid. These visual cues speed up your memorization dramatically.
Write explanations for critical positions. Do not just paste moves, understand them. After move 10, add a comment explaining the strategic plan for both sides. What is White trying to achieve? What should Black watch out for? This transforms your study from a move database into actual chess understanding.
Step 4: Perfect Your Chapters and Understand the Opening
With your chapters built, it is time to deepen your understanding. The critical phase happens around moves 9 through 13. This is where most amateur games diverge from theory, and where understanding matters more than memorization.
Use the engine, but sparingly. I learned this the hard way after trusting Stockfish too much and ending up in positions that were technically equal but practically miserable to play. Run the engine on critical positions to check for tactical blunders, but prioritize human understanding. Ask yourself: would I enjoy playing this position in a tournament game?
Focus on typical middlegame positions. Every opening leads to characteristic positions. In the Sicilian Najdorf, you need to know the typical pawn storms. In the London System, you need to understand the standard minority attack ideas. Add comments explaining these patterns.
Review and refine regularly. Your study is a living document. After tournament games, return to the relevant chapter and add notes about what actually happened. If your opponent played a move you had not prepared for, add it. If you were surprised by a tactical idea, document it.
Bonus: Free Tools to Supercharge Your Repertoire Learning
Once your Lichess study is built, you can enhance your learning with additional free tools. These fill the gaps that Lichess does not cover natively.
Listudy.org for Spaced Repetition
Listudy.org is a free website that creates spaced repetition drills from your Lichess studies. Connect your Lichess account, select your study, and Listudy generates flashcard-style exercises where you must play the correct moves. This solves the memorization problem better than manual review.
I use Listudy for 15 minutes daily to drill my most important lines. The spaced repetition algorithm ensures I review lines at optimal intervals for long-term retention.
Chesstempo Opening Training
Export your study PGN and import it into Chesstempo. Their opening training mode lets you practice against a computer opponent that plays your lines. This adds realism to your preparation since you must respond to unexpected moves.
Backup and Export Strategy
Your opening repertoire is valuable. Export your complete study as PGN regularly and save it to cloud storage. If Lichess ever has issues or if you want to migrate to another platform, you will have everything preserved. I export monthly and keep versions labeled with the date.
To export, open your study, click the share button, and select Download PGN. This creates a file you can store anywhere and import into other chess software.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to study openings with Lichess?
The best way to study openings with Lichess is using the Study feature combined with the Opening Explorer. First, use the Opening Explorer to research master-level games and identify your preferred lines. Then create a private study with separate chapters for each variation. Import model games, add annotations with arrows and highlights, and write explanations for key positions. Review regularly and export your PGN for backup.
How deep should I go in my opening lines?
For most players, going 8 to 12 moves deep is sufficient. Focus on reaching positions you understand rather than memorizing endless theory. Move 9 to 13 is the critical phase where games transition from opening to middlegame. Study these positions thoroughly with model games to understand the typical plans and patterns.
Is Lichess engine analysis reliable for opening study?
Lichess engine analysis is reliable for spotting tactics and blunders, but should not be your primary guide for opening selection. Engines evaluate positions objectively without considering human playability. A position might be technically equal but require superhuman precision to defend. Use the engine to check for disasters, but prioritize positions you enjoy playing and understand strategically.
Can I export my Lichess study to other apps?
Yes, you can export any Lichess study as a PGN file. Open your study, click the share button, and select Download PGN. This file can be imported into ChessBase, Chess.com, Chesstempo, and most other chess software. I recommend exporting monthly as a backup strategy.
Conclusion
You now have a complete system for how to use Lichess Studies to build your own opening repertoire for free. The four-step process, build your variation tree, structure your study, create individual chapters, and perfect your understanding, gives you everything needed for tournament-level preparation.
Start today by choosing one opening you want to improve. Spend one hour following Step 1 and 2 to create the framework. Over the following week, add chapters during your normal study time. Within a month, you will have a personalized opening repertoire that rivals anything available from paid platforms.
The best part? As your repertoire grows, so does your understanding. Unlike memorizing moves from a course, building your own study forces you to engage with the positions deeply. That engagement is what separates players who know openings from players who understand chess.