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Opening Principles PDF

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Keyur Gada
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1K views1 page

Opening Principles PDF

Uploaded by

Keyur Gada
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Opening Mini-

Lesson
Principles Level: Novice

Consider chess as a battle between two mighty armies with the board as the battlefield. Since both
sides start off as equals, your goal in the opening moves is to increase the effectiveness of your
army thus making it more powerful and dangerous. Develop your pieces by taking control of key
territories, building defenses, and positioning for attack.

1) Control the center 7888888889 2) Improve mobility -


4 0 0 0 06
squares - The center squares 8 At the beginning of the game,
are the four squares at d4, d5, 40 0 0 0 6
7 many of your pieces cannot move
e4, and e5, and, to a lesser 4 0 0 0 06
6 because other pieces are in the way.
degree, the squares that 40 0 0 0 6
5 One of your opening objectives is to
immediately surround those four. 4 0 0 0 06
4 open up lines of attack. Develop your
The center squares represent 40 0 0 0 6
3 pieces to improve their mobility.
valued "high ground" from which 4 0 0 0 06
2

attacks can originate. Therefore 40 0 0 0 6


1
1222222223
a b c d e f g h 3) Extend and defend -
an important opening principle is
to control the center squares. As pieces reach out to control territory,
use them to defend each other.
Develop your pieces to occupy and/or attack the Develop your pieces to create a
center. wall of defense.

Co 4) Minor pieces first -


Wn  5) Other points:
Minor pieces refer to the knights and
n Develop quickly; don't waste moves.
bishops. Major pieces refer to the rooks and
n Know your opponents plan. Ask yourself:
queen. Extended major pieces become
prime targets. You can lose precious moves Why did he/she move there?
fleeing the attacks from minor pieces. n Castle early.
n Watch the pawn on the “f” rank! Only the king
Therefore, develop your minor pieces first, protects it. Be wary of Scholar's mate.
leave the major ones for last.

 6) Common beginner mistakes:



q
7) A basic opening strategy:

Open with a pawn on center


p Opening with rook pawn q Let loose the horses
p Knight on edge square (lacks mobility) q Free the bishops
p Bringing queen out too early q Push defended battle lines
p Wasting moves on easily defended attacks q Castle early.

Remember! These are just guidelines for good chess openings. There will be exceptions.
Think about each and every move you make.

V2.1 © 2008 Sand castle Productions (C.R. Beach)

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