Commander Boargog,
I would like to thank you for this post. I must admit that it has offered me much food for thought and hours of joyful reflection. I agree wholeheartedly and this knowledge has made me a better chess player. Paying attention to defense and each move but also implementing your plan of attack.
Paladon
This topic is an open discussion. Please jump in and add your wisdom. Use the tactical trainer and other resources for specifics; I'm about battle-field psychology.
An OPENING isn't really just about development. It is the execution of your plan so, execute it with hulk-like force. Find the best opening that you can employ to take control of the board's center. (the center is the closest place to the rest of the board so, you want to own it.)
If you can't get the center then realize what side of the board you need to play on. If your opponent has heavily defensed the king's side, begin battling for space and position on the queen side. It does no good, no matter how much you'd like to do it, to try and overtake a strongly defensed side of the board. Usually it takes more pieces to break through a defense than to protect.
Let's hear what you think.