Practical Rules for Chess Openings

We'll present some practical rules that will be helpful during the opening in a chess game. Players will find that they are worth sticking to during the early stage of a game. As always, these rules are based on sound principles for the many chess openings.

Do take note that more experienced players will find that there will be and there are exceptions to these rules. Our advice for beginners will always be to stick with these rules until they gain further experience to see the exceptions to these rules and apply such exceptions.

Here are the said practical rules during the opening:

1. Whenever you open using a pawn move, either play the King's pawn or that from the Queen. 2. When selecting a move that develops your pieces, choose one that not only develops your pieces but also threatens your opponent's pieces at the same time. 3. Remember to bring your Knights before your bishops (experienced players will usually find exceptions for this rule). 4. Look for a position for a piece that is most suitable for it to be effective and then develop it on that square. 5. As a rule, limit your pawn moves from one to two in the opening of a chess game (this of course doesn't include if you are opening with a gambit). 6. For safety purposes, and other strategic purposes as well, never bring out your Queen too early in the opening. 7. To tighten up your defense and to clear up the path for the rest of your pieces, you should castle as soon as it is feasible, most players prefer to do this on the King's side. 8. Make it a goal to control the center during the opening of a chess game. 9. To further secure your center, make it a habit to establish one Pawn, at least, right on the center. 10. When playing a gambit as an opening, or during other situations in the opening, make sure you are sacrificing a piece for a justifiable reason.

As an additional note on gambits, when you sacrifice a Pawn, you should do so to take really sizable advantage in development, to divert your opponent's Queen, forestall your opponent from castling, or mount to mount an attack.

The principles behind these rules can be approximated by answering the following questions: first, does your move affect the center during the opening, second, does your move assist in the development of your other pieces.

These practical rules for chess openings will guide you into an effective game. When you have to make a decision about any move in the opening, remember to base it on sound principles.