Why Rushing Your First Few Moves Can Ruin the Whole Game

You sit down to play. You know the opening. You're excited, this is going to be your game! Pawn to e4, knight out, bishop there, and then suddenly... you're out of book. And already, your position is worse. Wait, what just happened?

You experienced the chess equivalent of a false start, rushing the opening without really settling into the game.

It’s a habit that holds back thousands of casual players. And to fix it, we can learn a thing or two from the explosive, but disciplined world of sprinting.

What Sprinters Know About the Start
In 100m sprinting, the start is everything. It’s not just about exploding out of the blocks, it’s about doing it with laser-sharp focus. One flinch, one misfire, one tiny early twitch, and you're disqualified.

So how do elite sprinters stay composed with that much pressure?

• They develop rituals to lock in their concentration.
• They spend months drilling their start position.
• And crucially, they don’t let adrenaline control their rhythm, they own the tempo.

In other words, sprinters know: Going fast isn’t about rushing, it’s about being ready.

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The Chessboard Version of a False Start
In chess, especially at the club level, the first 5–10 moves often fly by. Why?

• “I’ve seen this before.”
• “I know this line.”
• “Let’s just get to the real game.”

But here’s the trap: even when we think we know an opening, there are subtle differences in move order or timing that require real attention.

And when we breeze past them, we:

• Miss small inaccuracies that snowball.
• Fail to adjust when our opponent plays something slightly off-book.
• Arrive in the middlegame without a plan, or worse, already losing.

The result? We feel like we’re playing well… until we’re not. Just like sprinters train their start to be both fast and controlled, chess players need to learn how to handle the opening with intentional focus, even when it feels familiar.

Here’s the mindset shift:

Don’t play your opening moves fast because you know them. Play them slow enough to check that they still make sense.

It’s the difference between being on autopilot and being in flow. One is lazy. The other is sharp.

How to Break the Habit
If you find yourself losing good positions straight out of the opening, try this:

1. Add a 3-second pause, even when you're sure.

Before playing any early move, take a quick breath and ask: “Has anything unexpected changed?” This tiny delay can catch you before a mistake slips in.

2. Constantly zoom out

Even if you know the line, double-check:

• What’s your opponent’s plan?
• What’s the pawn structure shaping into?
• Is this definitely in my preparation or is this a new move?

Treat the opening as the beginning of your middlegame strategy, not just a scripted sequence.

3. Practice new positions, not just lines.

Study openings in a way that teaches ideas, not just memorised moves. That way, when you’re out of book, you’re still in control.

Final Thought: Set the Tone, Don’t Rush the Start
Strong chess players don’t sprint through the opening. They use it to set the tone, take control of the board, and prepare for the fight ahead.

It might feel satisfying to blitz out the first few moves and feel “in the zone”, but if you're not careful, you're giving away your edge before the game even begins.

So next time you sit down, channel your inner sprinter. Because in chess, like in sport, rushing the start is the fastest way to fall behind.

AUTHOR - KELVIN FINKE

Hi! My name is Kelvin. If you like this blog, consider following along. I am an active chess coach with professional background in strength & conditioning coaching and sports science. I'm passionate about bridging the gap between chess and health & fitness, and showing that chess is a great toolkit for cognitive longevity.

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