Once you have learned the basics of chess, how to move your pieces and engage your opponent to move theirs, it is time to learn those rules that could set your opening game straight. A good opening ensures better protection of the King, control over an area of the board, like the center, greater mobility for pieces, and better opportunities to capture opposing pawns and pieces. To be adept at this there are a few principles that one must follow as beginners. Let’s take a look at the following:
The Game Plan - Plan before moving your pieces- You might feel developing pieces and attacking your opponent at once is a good move, but that need not be true. You develop your pieces only if you have a plan in your mind. You are just starting the game, so playing defensive is okay. Even if you are trying to plan defensive, you need to have a strategy, which can of course change as you advance in the game.
Have a Strategy - Chess as a game requires the concept ‘strategize and adapt’. Strategize before any action and adapt to the progress in the game. Moving a piece more than once could reflect your lack of planning and confidence in your own design strategy .You are confused and your opponent can sabotage your game, starting immediately. That is the reason this principle comes after planning.
Castling - Castling is important- Castle as early as possible. Probably before you make your 10th move. This is important as once all your pieces move out of their squares, the king can feel threatened in the state. Also, an early checkmate is possible. To avoid this, bring your rook to the middle of the board. This way your king is guarded and you can also challenge the enemy king directly.
Fortify the Center - Move your gameplay to reach the centre- Squares D4, D5, E4 and E5 are the best squares to direct the gameplay. So, it is better to move your pieces to the mid-field. This also allows you to control the developed pieces gradually and also keep a check on your opponent’s movement across the board.
Knights before Bishop- It is always advised to move your knights before you develop your bishops. The reason behind it is simple: knights are short-range pieces and they control the few nearby squares, However, bishops are long-range pieces and can change the entire game with their development. Losing a bishop can cost you a fortune in the game. So keep your bishops safe before you send your knights to run the show.
Save the queen till the end- A queen is a valuable piece and you don’t want to lose it in the opening game. There are severe chances that if you move your queen, the opponent would try to attack your queen. If Lose the queen, and you lose the game! Also even if they try to attack your queen, you would have to invest your time and also waste a move to secure your queen. That is definitely an effective solution in chess.
These are the principles one should work on if one wants to polish one’s opening game. However, if you want to develop these you will need expert guidance under experienced instructors who can take you through the pros and cons of the rules effectively. Referring good books or videos on chess could help, if you are too tight with time. But to begin with, and to make sure you learn it right, it is always advisable to approach a good chess club, Clubs Like Mind Mentorz with their deep wisdom about the game and experience in training a diverse range of students,would enhance your skills and mentor your flaws efficiently.