7 Most Important Opening Principles

Opening Principles: Many chess players get in trouble in the openings because they are not familiar with general opening principles. These players may know the opening lines that they usually play, but if something goes differently they get confused and in danger to get an inferior position and even losing the game. The goal of this article is to remind you of these seven very important opening principles that every chess player must know.

1. Opening Principles: Develop pieces rapidly

It is not a secret that the main objective of opening is development. Even though it sounds like common sense it is not the case for many amateur players. Some players use this phase of the game for quick queen checks, pawn hunts, and the launch of the unprepared attacks.

Needless to say, after their cheap shots fail (and that happens in 99% of the games) they end up in deep trouble. Imaging being way behind in development, with an exposed king stuck at the center, under the attack of the opponent’s rooks and the queen. Not a very pleasant position to be in. Focus on rapid development and you won’t be one of these “unlucky” players that lose in 15 moves.

In the position below Black is 2 pawns up but he is so much behind in development that the game is already lost.

Black to move

2. Don’t move the same piece twice

This is a general rule to remember. Typically you want to move each piece just once during the opening phase. Unless there is a very good reason (serious material gain, checkmate, etc.) to move the piece twice, it should be avoided. Give a chance to other pieces to get developed before you start repositioning already developed pieces.

It seems like white found a nice attacking move Nb5, threatening a vulnerable c7 square. But this move was an inaccuracy because it violates one of the basic opening principles of not moving the same piece twice. Black can easily defend with Qf7, simultaneously opening the diagonal for the light-squared bishop. White just lost a tempo. It would’ve been better for white just to play O-O.

Black to move

Tip:

In order to understand how to play openings, it is important to have a deep positional understanding. Only then you will be able to develop the pieces correctly and understand the fundamental opening ideas. Opening and middlegame are very much connected. In order to improve your positional understanding, we suggest you sign up for our comprehensive training course.

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3. Opening Principles: Don’t make unneeded pawn moves

Don’t spend valuable time in the opening making unnecessary pawn moves. Generally speaking, you should only make pawn moves when they are needed to develop the pieces (central pawns, fianchetto, etc.) Especially avoid prophylactic pawn pushes; they don’t do any good in the opening.

White just played an unforced pawn move h3. This is not a very good move because it loses time. Better is just Qe2+ or Nxd5.

Black to move

4. Develop knights before bishops

There are many reasons to develop knights before bishops. First of all, the knight is a short-range piece, meaning that it only can control the nearby squares. If a knight is not developed its effectiveness is close to zero. At the same time, a bishop is a long-range piece and can control many squares even from the back rank. Also, by developing the bishop before the knight you are leaving a knight’s pawn unprotected.

5. Opening Principles: Avoid exchanging a developed piece for an undeveloped counterpart

In order to develop a piece, you invest a valuable chess resource: time. If you exchanged a well-positioned piece for an undeveloped counterpart you are losing tempos, and that’s something you definitely want to avoid in the opening. Use these tempos to develop more pieces instead!

In the position below it is not a good idea for white to play Bxb8 because it will lose a tempo.

White to move

6. Castle early

Putting the King to safety is one of the priorities of the opening. Keep in mind that contrary to a popular belief it is much harder to attack the castled king. At the same time, castling connects the rooks, allowing them to work more efficiently. Always castle early in the game! Following these simple rules will save you a handful of games.

White to move

7. Opening Principles: Control more space

The spatial advantage is a very important aspect of chess. Generally speaking, a player that possesses a spatial advantage has control of the game. Space allows you to much more efficiently coordinate the pieces for both attack and defense, at the same time preventing your opponent from doing the same. In our training course, we have excellent examples and a much deeper explanation of how spatial advantage can be effectively used and converted into a win.

Notice how white advanced his pawns to occupy more space.

White to move

If you want to improve your chess level, you need to have a clear study plan. If you aim for a dramatic improvement at chess you need to work on all of the elements of the game in a systematic way:

• tactics
• positional play
• attacking skills
• endgame technique
• classical games analysis
• psychological preparation
• and much more

That seems to be like a lot of things, and that is. But no worries, we have made it easy for you. Our comprehensive training course covers it all and much more. Sign up for 21-Day Training right now!

Ready to apply Chess Opening Principles? Check out our store and articles:

• A French Repertoire in the Tarrasch and Advance Variations – IM Andrew Martin

• What Dr. Tarrasch thinks you Must Read about Them

• 6 Most Important Ones

• 10 Fundamental Ones According to Steinitz

We also recommend Principles of Chess Strategy with GM Marian Petrov [TCW Academy].