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Lesson 1: Common openings.

Lesson 1: Common openings.

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Ikorac
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For people who haven't played Atomic chess before, I'm including these lessons to help you along. I would recomend getting a little used to the moves and mates that can happen before playing. If you don't, just remember: the best way to win is to capture a piece next the King and blow him up, like this

The black f Pawn will be captured by the Knight and the King will blow up. To help you, when you play Atomic chess, there will be a little 🔥 sign next to any pieces that will blow up. Remember that your piece that makes the capture will be blown up too. 
Lesson 1 a.

So, in regular chess, one of the best openings is e4.

In atomic chess though, e4 isn't really that good. e3 might actually be better because then you can take you queen out and have better mobility, like this
This right here would be the game. The king only has one move, and the queen just has to capture the pawn right next to him. But if the e pawn had scooted up a little more, those moves might not be possible.
Lesson 1 b.
Taking your horses out is generally the best idea. Knights can make big jumps and, well, they are just good. 
Bringing out your b Knight is okay, but not best. Nf3 is probably the best opening, because your opponent can only make 6 moves to block it, which is 
Those are the only moves you can make against it because, if not
Both pawns next to the king can be blown up in the next move.
The best move to play agianst this tatic is 
because if your Knight moves to e5, a pawn can capture him, like this:
This is another thing you could do but
Nc6 is not the best move because you have to sacrifice your Knight to stop him 
because, remember, the attackee also explodes too.

d6 is probably the best counter to Nf3 becuase it lets your bishop and queen into the game.

Lesson 1 c. 

Generally, getting your queen out is good advice. If you play it good, you might be able to get her into the defenses like this

Notice how nobody can capture that queen, because if they do, their king will blow up. This is basically a no-way-out for the king.

Make sure not to put the queen above the 5 file for white or the 4 file for black because the pawns can easily kick her away.

And so your queen is just running around while your opponent is building a pawn wall. So keep her closer.

Make sure to also give her plenty of room to work, so, depending on your strategy, 

or

is good.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson and it taught you something. Let me know in the comments if you have any ideas for revisions and/or lessons. Play Atomic chess online here https://www.chess.com/variants/atomic and stick around till next Wednesday, where I will be posting Lesson 2: Uncommon Openings. Have fun, play chess, and see you next week!

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