Chess Visual Tutorial: Opening Strategy

What is Opening Strategy?

If you want to be a Winner, then learning these simple fundamentals will give you large advantages: automatically. A chess game can be methodically broken down into three phases: The Opening, The Middlegame, and The Endgame. In other words: The Preparation, The Conflict, and The Resolution. To win a Conflict, you must first deploy your soldiers to advantageous positions to Prepare for it. In this visual tutorial, that's exactly what you'll learn to do. The best part is: it's simple.

If you're new to Chess or need to refresh your memory on the basic rules, then click here to Learn to Play Chess: Visual Guide, Basics, Rules & Tips.

Let's get started.

THE CENTER

• Play to establish early control of the center.
• The center (d4, d5, e4, e5) is the most useful part of the board. Centralized pieces obtain greater mobility to generate tactics.
• Therefore you should aim your pieces towards the center. This restricts your opponent's mobility while simultaneously improving your own.

The knight demonstrates the power of centralization. From the center it controls 8 squares. On the edge it controls 4.

~ THE SECRET BLUEPRINT ~

The following "blueprint" is a guideline for piece development. The word "develop" means to bring a piece out from its starting position. This blueprint is not to be followed strictly and is meant only to provide a general concept. Use the blueprint's "force" to guide your development.

The "Central Pawn Duo"

• Play to push your pawns to d4 and e4 as white & your pawns to d5 and e5 as black.
• The point is to release your bishops while simultaneously using your pawns to control the center.
• The aim to establish, to prevent, or to break a central pawn duo is the underlying concept behind most chess openings. Use this knowledge to guide your play.

TIP: Try not to make more than 2 or 3 pawn moves in the opening. Instead, play to develop each minor piece and to castle your king first.

Knight Development (Minor Piece)

• Play to develop your knights towards the center.
• Developing a knight towards the center improves its mobility and control of the central squares.
• "Knights before Bishops" is a useful guideline to consider. If a bishop can be developed to more than one useful square, then it's often better to develop a knight first.

WARNING: Try not to move the same piece twice in the opening, unless you have a good reason to do so. Instead, play to develop each piece one-by-one.

Bishop Development (Minor Piece)

• Play to develop your bishops aimed towards the center or to open diagonals unobstructed by your own pawns.
• "Watch out for Knights!" Bishops are often more useful than knights in the long run despite their similar value. Don't be too quick to exchange your bishop for a knight without a good reason to do so. When choosing a square for your bishop, check to see if it can be attacked by a knight.

Castle & King Safety

• Play to castle your king to safety.
• Kingside castling (0-0) is generally safest. Queenside castling (0-0-0) is generally safe but more aggressive & double-edged. Castling also clears room for the rook to come out.
• "Castle As Soon As Possible" to avoid any early tricks & disasters. The center is a dangerous place for a king to linger, especially if pawns in the center have been (or will be) exchanged open.

Pawn Shield

• Play to keep your "pawn shield" on their original squares.
• "Don't Open Your Shield" Moving or exchanging these pawns can create undefended squares around your king. The pawns themselves could also become targets. Move these pawns only if you've determined it's necessary or useful to do so. Otherwise, it could weaken your king's protection.

Rook & Queen Development (Major Pieces)

Rook

• Play to develop your rooks to open or semi-open files, or behind pawns that have potential to be exchanged open.
• "Rooks are Snipers" Rooks don't need to occupy squares towards the center. Rooks usually prefer to control squares from distant edges of the board where they can't be attacked by minor pieces.

An open file is a vertical unobstructed by pawns. A semi-open file is a vertical unobstructed by your pawns but obstructed by an opponent's pawns.

Queen

• Play to develop your queen to a safe & active square after you've developed your minor pieces.
• "Don't Move Your Queen Too Early"---unless it's to win or save material (pieces are material).
• Moving your queen out too early could expose itself as a target to rooks and minor pieces. Your minor pieces should be developed first to restrict your opponent's development.

Development is complete. Your primary objective is to develop each minor piece (knights and bishops) and to castle your king to safety. Your secondary objective is to develop your major pieces (rooks and queen). In general, this should be accomplished before you make further pawn moves or attempts to break your opponent's position. The first step is development; you need to maximize your piece mobility first before your other plans can be successful.

USING THE "SECRET" BLUEPRINT

Now let's examine how the blueprint can be used successfully to achieve good positions --- in actual games against a resisting opponent.

1.e4

Play to establish early control of the center.

Thus, white immediately plays to establish a "central pawn duo". This move releases the light-squared bishop while simultaneously using the pawn to control the center. It also releases the queen as a bonus.

Popular alternatives: 1.d4, 1.Nf3, 1.c4.

1...e5

The aim to establish, to prevent, or to break a central pawn duo is the underlying concept behind most chess openings. This move aims to prevent white from completing the central pawn duo while simultaneously releasing the dark-squared bishop.

Your primary objective is to develop each minor piece (knights and bishops) and to castle your king to safety. The upcoming moves are guided solely by this primary objective.

2.Nf3

Aim your pieces towards the center.

Developmental moves that simultaneously attack the enemy pieces are often good. This move plays to develop a knight towards the center while simultaneously attacking the e5-pawn. It also clears room for the king to castle.

2...Nc6

Moves that accomplish two or more useful functions simultaneously are often the best.

This move defends the e5-pawn while simultaneously developing a knight towards the center.

3.d4

White completes the central pawn duo.

Remember; try not to make more than 2 or 3 pawn moves in the opening. Instead, play to develop each minor piece and to castle your king first.

This move releases the dark-squared bishop while simultaneously using the pawn to challenge the center.

Good alternatives: 3.Bb5, 3.Bc4, 3.Nc3.

3...exd4

Black breaks the central pawn duo.

Playing the dark-squared bishop to d6 would defend the e5-pawn while simultaneously developing a bishop, but that bishop would obstruct the d7-pawn from moving forward, which in turn would obstruct the light-squared bishop from being released on that diagonal.

4.Nxd4

Try not to move the same piece twice in the opening, unless you have a good reason to do so.

The knight moved twice but to capture the d4-pawn; restoring material equality.

Otherwise, play to develop each piece one-by-one.

4...Nf6

For now we'll stick to the basics and play "Knights before Bishops".

This move plays to develop a knight towards the center while simultaneously attacking the e4-pawn.

A good alternative was to play the dark-squared bishop to c5. This would develop a bishop while simultaneously attacking the d4-knight.

5.Nc3

This move defends the e4-pawn while simultaneously developing a knight towards the center.

The primary objective of developing the knights is completed successfully for both sides. Now all that remains is the primary objective of developing the bishops and to castle the king.

Play to complete the primary objective before doing anything else.

5...Bb4

This move develops the dark-squared bishop while simultaneously attacking the c3-knight, which is the defender of the e4-pawn. It also clears room for the king to castle.

The dark-squared bishop is now "pinning" the knight. The knight can't move because the king would be lost.

6.Nxc6

White should "Castle As Soon As Possible" to avoid any early tricks & disasters. Thus, playing the light-squared bishop to d3 looks desirable; it clears room for the king to castle and defends the e4-pawn. But playing the bishop to d3 immediately would obstruct the queen's defense of the d4-knight, which would then be captured by the c6-knight. Hence 6.Nxc6 first to safely prepare 7.Bd3.

6...bxc6

Recapturing with the d7-pawn would release the light-squared bishop, but also opens the d-file, which would allow the queens to be exchanged. After black recaptures on d8 with his king, it would remove his ability to castle and leave the king stranded awkwardly in the center; obstructing his own rooks. Thus, black recaptures with the b7-pawn. This opens the b-file, which black's rook can later use, and brings a pawn closer to the center.

7.Bd3

As planned. This move clears room for the king to castle while simultaneously defending the e4-pawn.

Black's going push his pawn to d5 eventually, which could break the center open; white shouldn't linger around in the center with his king. This would allow major pieces to strike it; putting the king in great danger. "Castle As Soon As Possible" especially if pawns in the center have been (or will be) exchanged open.

7...0-0

Castling the king away from the center, this also clears room for the h8-rook to come out.

Exchanging the b4-bishop for the c3-knight would give up the "bishop pair" too easily; despite crippling the white pawn structure (the white pawns on c2 and c3 would be unable to defend each other). Bishops are often more useful than knights in the long run. Don't be too quick to exchange your bishop for a knight.

8.0-0

This move breaks the pin on the c3-knight while simultaneously establishing the king to safety behind a "pawn shield". It also clears room for the h1-rook to come out.

"Don't Open Your Shield!" Be careful about moving the pawns in front of your castled king. If the center is open (or will become open), then it's usually wise not to move your pawn shield unless you've determined it's necessary or useful to do so.

8...d5

Black continues with the primary objective, which is almost complete.

This move releases the light-squared bishop while simultaneously using the pawn to challenge the center.

9.exd5

The e4-pawn was insufficiently defended (9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 dxe4, losing a pawn). White exchanges it for the d5-pawn.

Bishops prefer to be on open diagonals unobstructed by their own pawns.

This move opens the diagonal to h7; releasing the light-squared bishop's diagonal.

9...cxd5

Black recaptures with the c6-pawn, which straightens his pawn structure, and also brings his pawn closer to the center.

So far both sides have been playing optimally. The material is equal. Both sides have two minor pieces developed. Both kings have castled to safety. White has the slight initiative, but Black has slightly more central control. The position is roughly even.

10.Bg5

White completes the primary objective.

This move develops the last minor piece while simultaneously attacking the f6-knight, which is the defender of the d5-pawn. Take notice that none of the major pieces have moved thus far (aside from castling). Both sides focused purely on completing the primary objective. As a result, this achieves an approximately equal (and good) position for both sides.

10...c6

Black consolidates the d5-pawn, which frees his knight and queen from having to defend it.

Playing the light-squared bishop to e6 would defend the d5-pawn while simultaneously "developing" a bishop. But the bishops prefer to be developed to open diagonals unobstructed by their own pawns.

11.Qf3

Your secondary objective is to develop your major pieces (rooks and queen). You don't have to complete the primary objective to develop your major pieces, but it's often better to do so.

This move clears room for the a1-rook to come out. It also attacks the f6-knight, which could potentially cripple the black pawns after subsequent exchanges on f6.

11...Be7

Try not to move the same piece twice in the opening, unless you have a good reason to do so.

The bishop retreated to break the pin on the f6-knight; freeing the knight to move (without losing the queen).

12.Re1

Rooks belong on open or semi open files, or behind pawns that have potential to be exchanged open. Rooks also belong behind pawns that have potential to advance forward to promotion, but that's only likely for middlegames & endgames.

Both players safely developed their pieces and thus reached playable positions. The players can now start devising their own plans individually. The blueprint has been a success.

UNORTHODOX CHESS STRATEGIES

If you face an opponent who's not playing properly (e.g., not playing for early control of the center, not developing each minor piece, etc.) but there's no immediate or obvious way to punish them for their gross errors (e.g., win their pieces and/or checkmate), then simply stick to the blueprint; patiently take full control of the center & develop your pieces accordingly. By doing so, you should obtain the superior position by default. Their strategies will often allow (and continue to allow) you to dominate the pace of the game until an opportunity or mistake is revealed. If you have the vastly superior development, then look for ways to break the position open at the right opportunity. Central control is a means to gain mobility. Ultimately, you must be able use this to create an attack or that advantage will dissipate.

Summary & Conclusion

The basic principle of opening strategy is to improve the mobility of your pieces while simultaneously restricting the opponent's. This is best accomplished by aiming your pieces towards the center. When both sides develop optimally, it should lead to approximately equal (and good) positions for both sides.

The blueprint is only used when there isn't an obvious tactic to win material in the current position. If your opponent leaves their pieces hanging or king exposed, then simply play to win those pieces and/or checkmate him instead. A material advantage is decisive enough to win in the long run. The most important point to remember is that the blueprint is only meant to be used as a guideline. You must look into the specifics for each individual position to judge what's best yourself. Use your own intelligence. Use your own creativity. Make your own decisions.

Congratulations, you now understand the fundamentals of Opening Strategy.

-sunnyjook