Every chess player that is familiar with the game will tell you that your chess opening moves can determine who takes control of the game. And having control of the game right from the start is certainly a boost to the smell of victory. If you are new to the game of chess you need to understand the importance of your chess openings.
Chess is not unlike any other game; in order to succeed and be victorious over your opponent you need to have a good opening strategy. Professional as well as amateur chess players all over the world spend years trying to perfect their chess openings. They truly understand that the beginning of the game can be vital to a win. Chess is one of the most strategic games on earth, so if you want to become a great chess player you need to put some thought into your opening moves.
Generally the opening chess moves consist of about the first ten to twenty moves that are made by each player separately. During these initial opening moves you are trying to do four things:
Control the center board
Develop your pieces effectively
Safeguard your king
Structure your pawns
As you learn and study different strategies, these four goals should always be at the forefront of your mind. Let’s take a closer look
Controlling the center board
A goal that every player (beginner and advanced) should have is trying to take control of the center of the board. Why? Because this is where all the action happens. Look at where your pieces are and ask yourself why they’re there. Have you moved your knights or your bishops yet? Or are they just sitting in their original squares doing nothing. Chess is a game of strategy, rules, and action. The only function a piece serves by sitting on the back row is guarding the pawns. While at times this may be important as they are protecting the king, it’s not important all the time. Get your knights and your bishops into the center board where they can be useful. Opening up pieces and getting them into the center of the board has many advantages.
Developing your Pieces
Yet another critical component to the opening in a chess game is developing pieces. This doesn’t just mean taking time to set up the more important pieces; you need to develop all of them. Each piece plays a different role in the game and will have different sequential movements for every game you play. But you need to develop them so that they are placed on the board effectively; in places where they will do the most good to your game. After all what good are the pieces if they don’t help you win right?
Safeguarding your king and structuring your pawns.
These two important chess goals for a good opening are often placed together because one compliments the other. In order to safeguard your king you have to structure your pawns to do so. Of course there are other key chess pieces that play a role in keeping your king safe, but you’ve heard the saying “there is strength in numbers ” right? Well in this case it can be very true and with well structured pawns you can keep your king from being threatened and even checkmated.
Every chess player needs to know the importance of your chess openings. It can determine which way the game moves, how it moves, and sometimes who will win. So study your openings carefully, make thoughtful first moves, and take control of the game.
Leave a Reply