A protected knight can't ignore a pawn's attack.
A protected pawn can ignore a knight's attack.
Use pawns knights, and anything else, but there is this difference.
Controlling Center
Sort:
As far as I understand there are broadly three types of approach.
Orthodox approach of direct control through pawns at e4, d4 and e5, d5. Here the approach is positive. This approach was popularized by Tarrasch. Consider two pawns at e4 and d4. Between them they control FOUR squares - c5,d5,e5,f5. Such solidity!
However, there are indirect approaches to look at too
1) Through c4 (english) c5 (sicilian) and f4 (king's gambit etc.). Here the approach is negative. How? My c5 will deny your d4 and thus indirectly control centre. My f4 takes away your e5 pawn and thus my centre control is significantly stronger after my own d4 later. I would say that the Queen's Gambit also falls in this category. How? Consider 1.d4 d5 2.c4 d5xc4 and 3.e4 Now e4 and d4 pawns control the centre completely and the c pawn that was sacrificed denied black centre control.
2) The hypermodern approach controls centre indirectly. Consider the Reti's opening or King's Indian Defense. You shoot at the centre from a range.
How to control centre? You can use all three approaches depending on how much your opponent is permitting you. The sicilian dragon for example exercises all three kinds of control.
After
See the knight, d6 and the bishop that will be fianchettoed all trying to control centre.
In the opening, how should i control the center? Directly, as in e4 or d4 as the first move, (if i were to play as white) or in-directly, as in Nc3 or Nf3?