The Principles Behind Queen Pawn Openings

We can classify Queen Pawn openings as the chess openings that begin with 1 P - Q4, P - Q4, though not all Queen Pawn openings have Black replying with ... P - Q4. One may immediately observe that Queen Pawn openings mirror king pawn openings. In a manner of speaking, that may as well be the case, but, of course, there are certain exclusions to this classification.

One of the goals of White in many Queen Pawn openings is to get a Pawn (specifically the King Pawn) to the K4 position. Like that of King Pawn openings, one worthy goal for Queen Pawn openings is to have Pawns stationed on both the Q4 and the K4 positions on the center. As always, since these types of openings do mirror King Pawn openings, Black can mainly defend along the lines of a strong point method or a counter attack. That does not go on to show that these two options are the only ones viable for Black.

Both Queen Pawn openings and King Pawn openings mirror each other's apparent weakness. King Pawn openings are often vexed by the question of how to properly develop the King Bishop. On the other hand, conversely, the Queen Pawn openings are given the same developmental issue this time with regard to the Queen Bishop.

Early in the game, Black can already delay or even utterly prevent White from playing P - K4, thus not letting White make use of such an advantage in a chess game. By replying ... P - Q4, for instance, Black has already made an advance to threaten a development of White's King Pawn. Another defensive move that Black can espouse is to do ... Kt - KB3. If ever Black would rather go for a counter attack method to secure the center and establish equilibrium then one good move to suggest would have to be a ... P - QB4.

The classic reply to Queen Pawn openings for black will have to be the one mentioned earlier, and that is to do a ... PQ4, which is really comparable to playing ... P - K4. As with King Pawn openings, White hopes to take advantage over the opponent by devising attacks on Black's center in Queen Pawn openings. One difference, given the situation of Queen Pawn openings, is that the Pawn on the Q4 position is already defended by none other than the Queen, which makes it a slightly different situation for White.

Threats for Black's Pawn on the Q4 usually will come from another Pawn. A good example of that is 2 P - QB4... that we'll encounter every so often. Queen Pawn chess openings may have echoes from King Pawn openings but these also add a different flavor to the game of chess.