Chess Principles Introduction

This article is an introduction into Chess principles during the different stages of the game.

The Opening

The opening is considered complete, when the rooks are connected.

10 Rules for the Opening

1. Develop: Use all pieces for your game
2. Develop: Improve position by expanding it
3. Develop: Bring out minor pieces
4. Control the center by attacking it
5. Never move a piece twice within first 10 moves
6. Castle the King early, meaning within first 10 moves if not within first 7 moves
7. Don't bring out the Queen before all minor pieces are developed and the King is castled.
8. Develop pieces with a purpose
9. Think about your opponents moves and threads
10. Connect the rooks

These are not necessarily the best moves, but these are solid principles to achieve a good position without memorizing openings.

0 - 1000 ELO Opening Principles

• Develop knights before bishops
• With knight on f8 there is no mate, with knight on f1 there is no fun
• For the first move as black just mirror what the opponent is doing

The Middlegame

0 - 1000 ELO

Did opponent create any weaknesses?

Defend, improve your position, attack free pieces

Defending

Don't forget en passant (as defender as well as attacker)

Improving position

Wehere are weak positions of the opponent near his king?

Attacking

Only attack, if you come out on top. Do you have more attackers than the opponent has defenders?

Find all potential moves and go through all options and try to find out, which looks the best.

Hints

Avoid double isolated pawns, if possible

Pawns cannot move backwards, so moving them introduces weaknesses. Backwards pawn on a pawn chain is the weakest pawn

1000 - 1800 ELO

• Don't trade pieces or Queens if you are behind.

Tactics

General

Prevent being taken by knight immediately by moving to diagonal location with 1 square between. This way the opposing knight needs three moves to take your piece

Openings

Scandinavian Defense

1. e4, d4
2. Play exd5