Opening Rules
The opening of the game is the beginning phase. It is when you are trying to control the centre of the board and get your chess pieces out from their starting positions to more aggressive posts. In his excellent book, The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings, Ruben Fine gives ten rules to bear in mind when starting a game of chess:
1. Open with either the e or d pawn - it is these pawns which stake a claim in the centre.
2. If possible try to develop your pieces so that they threaten something or make it difficult for your opponent to develop.
3. It is generally a good idea to develop knights before bishops. This is because it is generally easier to see where your
knights should go as they have less choice of good squares than bishops.
4. When you develop your pieces do not move them to a square which can easily be attacked by your opponent and
consequently drive your chessman to another square. Try to move each piece only once in the opening.
5. In the opening make only one or two pawn moves, no more.
6. Do not bring your Queen out too early as it can be chased around the board by enemy pieces and you will lose valuable
time and fall behind in development.
7. Bring your King to safety by castling as soon as possible and preferably on the king's side.
8. Play to get control of the centre of the chessboard. The centre consists of the squares d4, d5, e4 and e5.
9. Always try to keep at least one pawn in the centre of the chessboard.
10. Do not sacrifice (give away your pieces) without a good reason. For example, a good reason to sacrifice a pawn might be
to get ahead on development, to prevent your opponent from castling, to build up a strong attack or to deflect your
opponent's Queen.
1. Open with either the e or d pawn - it is these pawns which stake a claim in the centre.
2. If possible try to develop your pieces so that they threaten something or make it difficult for your opponent to develop.
3. It is generally a good idea to develop knights before bishops. This is because it is generally easier to see where your
knights should go as they have less choice of good squares than bishops.
4. When you develop your pieces do not move them to a square which can easily be attacked by your opponent and
consequently drive your chessman to another square. Try to move each piece only once in the opening.
5. In the opening make only one or two pawn moves, no more.
6. Do not bring your Queen out too early as it can be chased around the board by enemy pieces and you will lose valuable
time and fall behind in development.
7. Bring your King to safety by castling as soon as possible and preferably on the king's side.
8. Play to get control of the centre of the chessboard. The centre consists of the squares d4, d5, e4 and e5.
9. Always try to keep at least one pawn in the centre of the chessboard.
10. Do not sacrifice (give away your pieces) without a good reason. For example, a good reason to sacrifice a pawn might be
to get ahead on development, to prevent your opponent from castling, to build up a strong attack or to deflect your
opponent's Queen.
