Openings
What is a sound in chess?
- Opening
- Plans
- Move Order
Sound is an opening term: a correct move or plan. A sound sacrifice has sufficient compensation, a sound opening or variation has no known refutation, and a sound puzzle or composition has no known cooks. Opposite: unsound. Learn the plan, pawn structure, and typical piece placement behind the term, not just the name.
What to look for on the board
- Development, center control, and king safety.
- The pawn break each side wants.
- Whether a move creates a familiar structure.
Related terms
Free game review
See where sound decides your games
Chessiro reviews your games with an AI coach that names the concept behind every mistake, then drills you on the exact positions where it happened until you stop repeating them.