|
|
Control of the Center
In the opening and for most of the game, players should attempt to control the four center squares, as well as the 12 squares around them. On an empty board, bishops, knights, and queens attack more squares when on a center square than when they are near the edge. It's equally important to get your own pieces to these good squares and to keep the opponent from doing the same. In most openings, each player will initially take control of the two center squares of one color. For example, after 1.d2-d4, d7-d5, White temporarily has control of the dark squares, while Black has control of the light squares. The move 2.c2-c4 then challenges Black's light-square grip. Whether Black now takes the pawn or defends with e7-e6 (either move is good), Black must give a high priority to advancing a pawn to either c5 or e5. Other things being equal, if White is able to prevent Black from playing either of these moves, White will have a strategically won game.
The most common opening moves for White are 1.e2-e4 (king's pawn opening) and 1.d2-d4 (queen's pawn opening). Also popular are 1.c2-c4 (English opening) and 1.Ng1-f3 (which most often transposes into positions similar to queen's pawn or English openings).
 Back to Top
In all openings, players aim to develop their pieces quickly and efficiently, on squares where they control the center or disrupt opposing control of the center. Usually both players will castle at an early stage, connecting their rooks, and then bring their rooks to bear on open or half-open files.
Generally it's best to move least valuable pieces out first, most valuable pieces last. The queen should not be moved out early, as it presents a target for the opponent to attack. If you are forced to move your queen repeatedly while your opponent develops several pieces, you will be in trouble.
Noncommittal moves should be made before committal moves. For this reason, the first nonpawn move should usually be with a knight, for which the best square is the easiest to determine. For example, when it's clear that your king's knight's best development will be to f3 (or occasionally e2), chances are you'll still be considering several possibilities for your king's bishop. By first making the move you know you are going to make, you can then take your opponent's next move into account when you move your bishop.
Back to Top
Don't move the same piece more than once without a good reason. Move one pawn to open a line for each bishop, but don't move many other pawns until your pieces are developed. Above all, fight for control of the center, as discussed above. If the opponent has advanced pawns to the fourth rank in two of the four central files, you must do the same to keep your share of center control.
Here are just a few samples of frequently played openings. Analyses of thousands of different opening variations can be found in numerous chess books, periodicals, and software.
| White |
|
Black |
1. e2-e4
2. Ng1-f3
3. Bf1-b5
4. Bb5-a4
5. 0-0
6. Rf1-e1
7. Ba4-b3
8. c2-c3
9. h2-h3
10. Bb3-c2
11. d2-d4 |
e7-e5
Nb8-c6
a7-a6
Ng8-f6
Bf8-e7
b7-b5
d7-d6
0-0
Nc6-a5
c7-c5 |
Back to Top
|
Sicilian Defense (Dragon Variation) |
| White |
|
Black |
1. e2-e4
2. Ng1-f3
3. d2-d4
4. Nf3xd4
5. Nb1-c3
6. Bc1-e3
7. f2-f3
8. Qd1-d2
9. Bf1-c4
10. 0-0-0 |
c7-c5
d7-d6
c5xd4
Ng8-f6
g7-g6
Bf8-g7
Nb8-c6
0-0
Bc8-d7
|
Back to Top
| White |
|
Black |
1. d2-d4
2. c2-c4
3. Nb1-c3
4. Bc1-g5
5. e2-e3
6. Ng1-f3
7. Qd1-c2
8. c4xd5
9. Bg5xe7
10. Nc3xd5
11. Bf1-d3 |
d7-d5
e7-e6
Ng8-f6
Bf8-e7
0-0
Nb8-d7
c7-c5
Nf6xd5
Qd8xe7
e6xd5
|
Back to Top
| White |
|
Black |
1. d2-d4
2. c2-c4
3. Nb1-c3
4. e2-e4
5. Ng1-f3
6. Bf1-e2
7. 0-0
8. Bc1-e3
9. Be3-g5
10.Bg5-d2
|
Ng8-f6
g7-g6
Bf8-g7
d7-d6
0-0
e7-e5
Nb8-d7
Nf6-g4
f7-f6
Ng5-h6
|
Back to Top
|
|
