Openings

The opening was developed by Russian master Alexander Petrov.
The main idea of Petrov’s Defense (or so called Russian game) is not to defend e5 pawn, but to symmetrically attack white’s e4 pawn. This is strategically rich opening and it’s being used by top player around the globe even these days.

The two knight defense usually leads to a sharp game. Sacrifices are very common here for black as well as for white. This opening is played at the very top level even today.

This opening is the one played very often. Black avoids drawish 4 knights game playing 3…Be7.
This opening is not very well known and analyzed, so it may be a good idea to play it, if you want to surprise your opponent. Psychology is big part of chess.

The four knights opening is also very old and well known. Knights can be developed in any order, but the given one is the most common. This opening is more often played by beginners, who avoid complex pawn exchanges. This is a solid opening, but since it’s too symmetrical, white do not get as much advantage, as some openings may promise. But, white keeps its right of the first move which means they are somewhat better.

Spanish game is one of the oldest and well analyzed openings. The opening was first played and studied by the greatest chess players of XV and XVI century Luzena and Lopez from Spain. This is probably single the most popular opening which is being played today at all levels: from beginners to the elite grandmasters.

Lasker’s Trap can be very powerful weapon for Black in Albin Counter gambit variation. The unusual though very powerful feature of Lasker Trap is underpromotion on seventh move. It is a good idea to use this opening in quick games since it is not very often played and your opponent most likely would be unprepared for it. Let’s take a closer look:

Legal’s Trap also known as Legal’s Mate often arises in shown or similar positions. In this example it works like an opening trap for Philidor’s Defense. White pseudo-sacrifices the queen and mates by 3 minor pieces.
The trap is named after Sire de Légal (1702-1792) who was a French player, or Joseph Henry Blackburne (1841-1924), who was a British master and one of the world’s strongest players in the latter part of the 19th century. Main Line:

Unlike Fool’s mate, Scholar’s mate often occurs in games of beginners. The main idea of Scholar’s mate
is that “f7” square is weak since it’s being protected by the king alone. Remember, I told you that it is unwise to rely on traps in serious games? Scholar’s mate is a perfect example to show that. After 1.e4 e5 2. Qh5
Black does not have to reply with 2…Nc6. Instead Black can play 2…Nf6 driving the White’s Queen back and developing king’s knight at the same time. After white queen retreats to the safe square, say 3.Qh4, Black develops another piece: 3…Nc6, 3…Bc5 or 3…Be7 with discovered attack on white’s queen.

Fool’s mate is the quickest mate in the game of chess possible: in just 2 moves. Even in the games of beginners it rarely occurs. Now you know why it isn’t wise to start the game with 1.f3. It weakens White’s kingside in major way. Fool’s Mate just exploits this weakness right away.

Q. Which of the central squares are more important – d4, d5, e4 or e5?  As a point of reference, let’s say the player is playing White. Can you explain why?

A. That depends if you playing so-called light squared game or dark squared game – which basically means what squares you are trying to dominate. So, if you place pawns on d4 & e5 – light squares (increasing the value for light squred bishop) become more important since black squares are being occupied by pawns.