It is a preference. In the opening it is all about developing your pieces, influencing the centre and ensuring King safety. Moving pawns and Knights can both do that, and the order is often not critical.
Is it best to move a knight first or a pawn?
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27 days ago
0
#3
Opening principles. Control the center. Which is why you move the d-e pawns. Develop minor pieces toward the center. Again this is why you push the d-e pawns. Castle=king safety.
Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond…
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
in the following see the section on Openings...
Improving Your Chess - Resources for Beginners and Beyond…
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/improving-your-chess-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
Thats not even relevant for grandmasters. Or Stockfish.
1. e4, 1. d4, 1. c4 and 1. Nf3 are all great first moves.
25 days ago
0
#8
I’m surprised no one has said it.
Moving pawns first gives you presence in the center, can help you keep it if you get a good pawn structure, and lets your bishops move free.
I personally would say that it takes priority over developing a knight.
Moving pawns first gives you presence in the center, can help you keep it if you get a good pawn structure, and lets your bishops move free.
I personally would say that it takes priority over developing a knight.
25 days ago
0
#9
SacrifycedStoat skrev:
I’m surprised no one has said it.
Moving pawns first gives you presence in the center, can help you keep it if you get a good pawn structure, and lets your bishops move free.
I personally would say that it takes priority over developing a knight.
Moving pawns first gives you presence in the center, can help you keep it if you get a good pawn structure, and lets your bishops move free.
I personally would say that it takes priority over developing a knight.
It is not about being precent in the centre, but about controlling squares in the centre. A Knight at f3/f6 or c3/c6 control central squares.
Thank you RussBell!
25 days ago
0
#11
Depends on the opening. For instance in the grunfeld your opponent plays d4 and you respond with Nf6. If your opponent plays into it with c4, you can continue by playing g6, then after Nc3, by playing d5. If black plays the moves in a different order, they might not get the opening they hoped for.
Anyway. Yes, knight first can be valid. Move orders matter. But as a beginner I'd probably stick to moving a pawn into the center as your first move.
I'm like entirely new to chess (apart from playing with my dad when I was young and always lost tremendously) and i've just seen a lot of people move the knight first, so I'm curious if there's like an actual strategy behind it or if its just like a personal preference kinda thing??? thanks! :]