Opening Rules of Chess For Beginners: - chessbytushar.com

Opening Rules of Chess For Beginners:

1. Control the Center

  • The central squares ( e4, d4, e5, d5 ) are the most important on the board.
  • Controlling them gives your pieces more mobility and influence.
    ✅ Good moves: 1. e4, 1. d4, 1... e5, 1... d5

Example:

  • After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6, both players are fighting for control of the center.

2. Develop Your Pieces Early

  • Get your knights and bishops out as soon as possible.
  • Don’t move the same piece twice unless necessary (you lose time).
    ✅ Develop in this order:
    1. Knights before bishops (usually).
    2. Then castle.

Example:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 — You’ve already developed two pieces toward the center!

3. Don’t Bring Your Queen Out Too Early

  • The queen is powerful but also a target.
  • If you bring her out early, your opponent’s smaller pieces can attack her and gain time.
    🚫 Avoid: 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5? — beginner trap, but risky.
    ✅ Wait until most of your minor pieces (knights and bishops) are developed.

4. Castle Early

  • Castling protects your king and connects your rooks.
  • Usually, castle kingside (short castle) for safety and speed.
    ✅ Try to castle by move 8–10 in most games.
  • 5. Connect Your Rooks
  • Once your knights and bishops move, your rooks can see each other across the back rank.
  • Connected rooks help control open files and defend each other.
    ✅ Aim to have connected rooks by move 10–12.

♟️ 6. Don’t Move Too Many Pawns

  • Every pawn move weakens something.
  • Use pawns mainly to support your piece development, not to attack too soon.
    ✅ Good: e4, d4, maybe c3 or d3.
    🚫 Bad: pushing several flank pawns early (like a4, h4, b3, etc.).

7. Finish Development Before Attacking

  • Beginners often attack too soon.
  • A successful attack usually works after all your pieces are active.
    ✅ Develop all your minor pieces → castle → bring your rooks to open files → then look for tactics.

8. Always Have a Plan

  • Ask yourself: “What does this move do?”
    • Does it control the center?
    • Does it develop a piece?
    • Does it protect my king?

If it doesn’t do one of those, it’s probably not a good move early on.

✅ Summary Checklist

Before move 10, you should have:

  • Center controlled
  • Knights and bishops developed
  • King castled
  • No unnecessary pawn or queen moves
  • Rooks ready to be connected