Opening Principles (Development Rules)

Opening Principles (Development Rules)

1. Limit yourself to two or three Pawn moves at the start; focus on developing your central Pawns first.
2. Prioritize the development of your Bishops and Knights as soon as possible.
3. Aim to have your pieces occupy or control the central squares.
4. Avoid moving the same piece multiple times unless it provides a direct advantage.
5. Refrain from capturing your opponent's Pawns if it does not assist in the development of your own pieces.
6. Don’t rush to bring out your Queen until your King has castled.
7. Develop your pieces in a way that hinders your opponent's development.

While these rules are somewhat flexible (for instance, there are many openings where central Pawns remain unmoved at the start), they can help you avoid common mistakes in the opening phase and effectively prepare for the middlegame. By mastering these principles, you will also gain a better understanding of when exceptions apply.

The example game

Follow this game and you will understand better what to do in the opening 

https://www.chess.com/blog/Reshevskys_Revenge/paul-morphy-vs-the-duke-and-the-count

Fide trainer Darko Polimac