The importance of the center

The center are the d4, d5, e4, e5 squares if you have been wondering why the center is too important keep reading.

The center

The center affects the game on long terms and the player with a good center has better chances or wining games -not always- and can get a more comfortable game. Lets see an example of center ocupying:

But why the center means so much? Why the people worries about having a weak center or no center at all?.

The importance of the center in chess

One of the first things the people teaches to you is to control the center and they are right, if you lose the center you hardly manage to get a better game after:

A controlled center gives the great advantage of great piece maneuvering and piece activity is the key for strong attacks and defense:

Fight for the center

Fighting for the center is common and must be done with perfection, with pawns or any other pieces, everyone wants to get them on the center:

Recommendations on the center

• Center pawns: Usually the "c" "d" and "e" pawns are the strongest ones to fight for the center. Example: King's pawn opening, Queen's pawn opening, English opening.
• Center pieces: The minor and major pieces can ocupy the center by a way or another, the knight is by far a stronger piece than a rook on the middlegame if it is placed on the center (prophylaxis). Never trade your center pieces so easy.

1. Knight: Search for a place on the center without risks of a pawn-push:
   
   
2. Bishop: Can control the center by fianchetto. Not so good on the middlegame but a center bishop on endgame can get a good advantage:
   
   
3. Rook: The rook controls the center by far away distance and can support the center pawns:
   
   
4. Queen: The strongest piece! Think about the queen like a versatile weapon because it can work as a rook or a bishop depending on the situation and can control by far more squares!.

King: On the endgame the king becomes a strong piece and using it to control the center is vital:

• No over-extension: Extending too much the central pawns is not good at long terms:
• Far away control: This theme requires it's own article! Wait for it.

Well i did not cover all but these are the most basic examples and remeber to suggest what to write about by commenting! See you later.