The Sacred Ten Essentials of Chess

1. Thou shalt always play to assert control of the center.

2. Thou shalt develop all ye pieces fast.

3. Thou shalt castle quickly and early.

4. Thou shalt not sacrifice material unless seeing a combination.

5. Thou shalt not move the same piece twice.

6. Thou shalt make only as few pawn moves as necessary.

7. Thou shalt always develop knights before bishops.

8. Thou shalt develop minor pieces before major pieces.

9. Thou shalt not give checks with no use.

10. Thou shalt assume that thy opponent will always find the best moves.

THIS I SAY, AND ALL SHALL HEED BY MY WORDS, FOR THESE ARE THE ESSENTIALS OF CHESS

Basic Chess Strategy: Larry Evans, United States

These are mainly opening principles. 5. should be followed by "in the opening" in brackets.

Well, at least for me, the opening is the most important part of the game

I have problems with #9. I just can't pass up a check if there is no good reason not too.

IMO these are important to know, but there are exceptions in different circumstances. Except for #10 which is the most important rule on the list I believe.

Yes, I really like number 10. Assuming that your opponent is the best possible player is the easiest way to beat him. Never underestimate your opponent. By the way, can you believe these rules came from a book made in 1974!!! It was my father's. Wow

Well, since I was born in 1975 that doesn't seem that odd to me

I take it to mean that you shouldn't play moves that will weaken your position unnecessarily.

Example: You see a move that looks beautiful and gives you a great position if your opponent tries to refute it with moves A, B, or C. But move D secures your opponents position and creates weakness in your own.

Some beginners might "cross their fingers" and play the move hoping their opponent wouldn't see and play move D.

This would be a "rookie mistake".

Yea, I agree. If you can possibly create an opportunity for your opponent, never move to that position.

almost right with slight difference, in Bishop's opening , bishop develops 1st, in Caro Kann Exchange variation, bishop moves first etc. as a general rule knights should be developed first. Castling: I have played so many games on different sites where i didnt bother to castle early even dint castle or late castle or castle by travelling the king. And I also have seen even at GM level where this general rule violated  and player wins. This is a separate topic based on my experinces once violate proven chess rules and win. I intend to write an artile on this untouched (i think) and advance topic. Good Day.

Castling is not necassary, but it is wise to put your king in safety. Unless you are threatening mate, and cannot afford to take the time to castle, it would suggest that you castle early almost every game.

These are quite good rules to follow

But I do not agree with the third rule, as sometime is good to keep the castle as an escape on one side of the board, if you become overpowered on the other side.

I kinda agree with you. I rather take time to move out my pieces that take time castling. However, many a game is lost because one did not bring his king to safety.

By castling you are not only moving your king to safety but developing one of your rooks towards the centre and moving one step closer to connecting up your rooks (if it doesn't do so immediately). Therefore saying you'd rather take time to develop your pieces is silly, because castling is a developing move too.

So many top level master games are lost because castling came a little too late... just the fact that you can eventually force your opponent to 'waste a move' castling, is reason to attack the center with even more ferocity.  Perhaps the biggest thing (because lets face it, at some point people get good enough to tell when their king is in any real danger) is that it gets your rooks working.  That can be absolutely crucial.

If you must know, I came up with the idea of ye Olde English. I slightly modified the original version. However, I think this set of rules is essential to chess, no matter how it is written.

None of those are essential or even useful in all situations. Except of course 10.

Bad post.

Kupov, I totally disagree with you. Most people WANT to win, so these rules would apply to them. I'm not so sure about you though......

They aren't rules sorry. There are no rules like that in chess.

Grandmasters have won after; 

- Playing on a wing and allowing his opponent to control the center.

- Developing slowly (hell look at openings like the najdorf for this).

- Castling late, or never castling at all.

- Sacrificing material without seeing a combination to force a mate or win it back (cough Tal).

- Moving the same piece twice (and in the opening which I assume is that you meant).

- Making plenty of pawn moves.

- Developing bishops before knights.

- Developing rooks before something else.

etc

I'm talking about the majority of most people. These general rules will usually help one win a chess. Sure, there are those rare occations(sorry, not done training), where one wins without following these SUGGESTIONS, but hey, that's just me!