The opening is the first phase of a chess game, the other phases being the middlegame and the endgame. Consider the opening as the part of the game where each player "readies their troops" for battle. If a player fails to prepare properly during this important phase of the game, the results could be disastrous in the long run. Below are 9 opening principles that each player should give attention to as they begin to bring their pieces out early in the game.
| 1. Mobility - Position your pieces in way that allows them & other pieces to move freely. |
| 2. Development - Position your pieces in a way that makes them ready for battle. |
| 3. Control Center - Position your pieces towards the center area of the board. |
| 4. Attack and Defend With Purpose - Never attack or defend without benefiting from it. |
| 5. Avoid Exploiting Your Queen - Avoid moving your queen out to attack early. |
| 7. Connect Rooks - Allow both rooks to protect each other. |
9. Pawn Structure
- Position your pawns in a way that allows them to be effective attackers, defenders, and or blockers. |
And if I was to add a 10th principle to this list it would be: 10. Deviate When Absolutely Necessary. Yes chess is so dynamic and there are so many variations of openings that a player may find himself slightly deviating from some of the above opening principles. I've seen players move a pawn twice and use that seemingly bad developmental play as a tough barrier for their opponent. So at times you will want to decide which of the above principles need applied first. But at other times you may purposely have to neglect some to gain a position or prevent your king from being checked. The key to mastering chess is to understand that there are many moves that you can make, fewer good moves, and often only 1 great move. Please experiment with the above advice and let me know what you think. I appreciate any feedback.
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