Zerg Overview/Opening

Zerg Overview:
-Very Macro-heavy race
-Used by players such as EGIdrA, LiquidTLO and more.
-Relies on Queen to produce more larvae
-Vulnerable to timing attacks due to drone/attack unit cycle on the Hatcheries.
-Uses Overlord/Overseers for scout
-Various harass units with relatively low cost

Zerg Openers:
There are three types of opens for Zerg; Early Pool, Pool+Hatch and Hatch first.

Early Pool:
-Early Pool considered "cheese" by the most SC2 players but it's still a reliable build considering the fact Zerg can usually follow it up with expansion with 3-4 spine crawlers.
-Goal of this build is to usually deal enough economic damage to make your economy "superior" for a minute or two. So it is very important to run them into the mineral line, deny expansion, or at least get the scouting down to make sure that zerglings are cost effective.
-At the end of this build, you should definitely build a Queen so she can start vomiting/pumping larvae on the Hatchery.
-I am not going to do 9 or 10 pool because even though it works sometimes, most players have learn how to counter/prepare themselves for 9 and 10 pool (wall-ins), so I am not gonna cover those two openings here

6 Pool
6-Spawning Pool
5-Drone
6-Drone
7-3 pairs of Zerglings
10-Overlord

7 Pool
7-Spawning Pool
6-Drone
7-Drone
8-Overlord
When Spawning Pool finishes, build 3 pairs of Zerglings

8 Pool
8-Spawning Pool
7-Drone
8-Drone
9-Overlord
When Spawning Pool finishes, build 3 pairs of Zerglings

Pool+Hatch
-This build by far is considered the safest and standard by most Zerg players.
-This build allows you to get a queen for defense/larvae vomiting and 2 sets of zerglings for scouting and little bit of harass (If you can micro).
-Also, you may get your Spawning Pool somewhere between 9-15 supply, but I decided to say 11 on this one because it's the best timing (in my opinion)
-After this opening, get a queen when you 150 minerals.
-Metabolism Boost upgrade (at Spawning Pool) when you get 100 gas.
-After you scout out your opponents base, you should place your zerglings on the Xel'naga watchtower to scout for aggression/expansions.

9-Overlord
11-Spawning Pool
16-Overlord
16-Extractor
18- 2 sets of Zerglings


Hatchery first
-This build is a economic focused build that is risky, but it's definitely worth it if you can hold off early pressure.
-You should try to scout with your drone to see if your opponent is going to put some early pressure. If you don't see the threat, you should go ahead with this build.
-You should utilize spine crawlers upon the completion of the spawning pool, I personally like throw down 2-3 crawlers per base to hold off initial pressure.
-Also, at the end of this opening, you should get a metabolic boost when you have 100 gas and queen when you have 150 mineral.

9-Overlord
15-Hatchery
16-Spawning Pool
15-Extractor
17-Overlords






*Some/All content from Liquipedia