what are the principles of chess
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First control the center
Oct 19, 2025
0
#2
| Principle | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Control the Center | Dominate the 4 central squares (e4, d4, e5, d5). Control = mobility. | Push e4 or d4 (for White). |
| 2. Develop Minor Pieces Early | Bring out knights before bishops (they help defend and attack). | Nf3, Nc3, Bc4, etc. |
| 3. Don’t Move the Same Piece Twice (unless necessary) | Every tempo counts — develop new pieces first. | Avoid chasing ghosts. |
| 4. Castle Early | Get your king safe and connect your rooks. | Usually by move 10. |
| 5. Don’t Bring Out Your Queen Too Early | She’ll be attacked and lose time. | Wait till your minor pieces are active. |
| 6. Don’t Move Too Many Pawns | Pawns can’t move back — overextending weakens your structure. | 1–2 central pawns are enough early on. |
| 7. Develop Towards the Center | Pieces aimed inward have more influence. | A knight on f3 is better than one on h3. |
Oct 19, 2025
0
#3
Another important aspect of opening principles is to knowing when to defy them. For example, there are some openings and opening traps where moving the queen into the game quickly is perfectly normal, such as the Scandinavian Defense (for Black) and the well-known refutation for the Damiano Defense (for White).
Additionally, there are times in the middlegame where an uncastled king may not be in a lot of danger (especially if the center is closed), so castling may be optional. Also, situations where castling is actually a blunder do exist, and they're more common than you think.