1. Chess Opening Principles
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Chess Opening Principles
by Joseph L. Bell
© 2011

2. Chess Openings What Are Chess Openings? Opening Principles
Some Chess Openings
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3. Chess Openings
The opening refers to the first several moves by both players.
In most games the opening is the first four to ten moves.
Openings are often named after the first famous player who used them
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4. What Opening to Use? It Depends: Try lots of them as a beginner
Read about openings you are comfortable with
Consider your playing style and preferences (closed/open, wild/cautious)
How much theory do you have to memorize to be effective is different for various openings
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5. Opening Principles Development Control the Center Castling
Pawn Structure
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6. Development
Do develop minor pieces before major pieces (B & N, before Q & R)
Make the first Knight move toward the center (c3, f3, c6, f6)
The first Bishop move should attack something or defend important square
Learn from your mistakes
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7. Development Do NOT develop your Queen early
Do NOT open with Rook pawns (a, h)
Do NOT move the same piece many times
Do NOT put Knights on the edge, unless required for defense
Avoid blocking Pawns with Bishops
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8. Control the Center
If you control more of the center squares, it is easier to defend and harder for your opponent to attack
The “Sweet Center” (d4, d5, e4, e5) squares are the most important
“Once we have chosen the right formation in the centre we have created opportunities for our pieces and laid the foundation of subsequent victory.”
- Alexander Kotov, Grandmaster
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9. Castling
Castling makes the King safer by moving him away from the center.
Castling is efficient: 2 King moves in 1, and it develops a Rook
The option to castle to BOTH sides can make your opponent commit to an attack before you change the subject
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10. Pawn Structure
Pawns do not move backward, so carefully choose pawn moves
Avoid moving pawns in front of a castled King without a reason
Pawn chains are stronger than isolated pawns
Attack the base of a pawn chain, where it is weakest
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11. Pawn Structure (cont’d)
Capablanca’s Rule: To create a pawn majority, advance the unopposed pawn (before the rest of the pawn majority)
Recognize types of Pawn Centers: Open, Closed, Blocked, Fixed, Mobile, Dynamic
Accumulate small advantages in pawn control
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12. Some Chess Openings Ruy Lopez 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Caro-Kann 1. e4 c6
Scandinavian Defense (center-counter) 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6
King’s Indian 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Queen’s Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4
Colle System 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3
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13. Books on Chess Openings
Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps (Pandolfini)
Batsford Chess Openings (Kasparov & Keene)
“In the opening a master should play like a book, in the mid-game he should play like a magician, in the ending he should play like a machine.
– Rudolph Spielmann, Grandmaster
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14. Opening Principles Development Control the Center Castling
Pawn Structure
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15. Questions ?
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