Setting up your strategy for the rest of the game involves the opening plays in chess.If you position more pieces earlier than your opponent, you will have better control of the game and are more likely to win.If you memorize a few openings and pay attention to your opponent's moves, you can gain the upper hand.This article assumes your opponent has chess strategies.The moves listed here may be different by your opponent.
Step 1: The Ruy Lopez opening can be used to free your knight and bishop.
To take control of the center, advance your king's pawn 2 spaces forward to the e4 square.Your opponent will mirror your play in the mainline variant.Use the f3 space to put pressure on your opponent's pawn.Your opponent will usually move their queen's knight to c6.You can attack the knight next turn if you move your king's bishop to b5.Pawns can only advance 2 spaces at a time.The more powerful pieces are moved from the back row to the center of the board.This opening allows you to maneuver across the board while freeing up the space between your rook and king so you can castle, which is when you move your king to the opposite side.This can help protect your king.
Step 2: To draw out your opponent's king, open with the Fried Liver Attack line.
Move your pawn to e4 and allow your opponent to advance their pawn.Your opponent will move their knight to c6 if you position your knight on f3.Your bishop should be c4 to put pressure on your opponent.Your opponent will usually bring their other knight to f6 so you can move your knight.If your opponent advances their queen's pawn to d5 you can capture it with your pawn.You can capture f7 with your knight if your opponent captures your pawn.After that, your opponent will need to move their king to f7 to capture your knight, which will prevent them from building a strong defense.You will lose a knight early in the game.
Step 3: The black player can be forced into defensive positions by the London System.
If you don't want to lose pieces right away, develop your queen's pawn on your first turn.Your opponent will advance their pawn to d5.Bring your king's knight to f3 to protect your pawn.Your opponent's knight will be developed to f6.You have more control over the board if you move your queen's bishop to f4.
Step 4: Pawns can be developed on the queen's side to attack.
To control the center, advance your queen's pawn 2 spaces forward to the d4 square.Your opponent will usually move their queen's pawn to d5.Put pressure on the pawn by moving it to c4.The pawn will usually be captured by your opponent.To free up your bishop, advance your king's pawn to e3.Your opponent usually develops their knight to f6 so you can capture their pawn.If you sacrifice the pawn in front of your queen, the black player will have to respond more defensively for the rest of the game.
Step 5: The king's bishop and queen need to be freed.
You have control over the center if you advance your king's pawn to the e4 square.If your opponent moves a pawn to e5 you can develop another pawn and put pressure on them.The pawn will be captured on f4 by your opponent.There are no pieces blocking the way for your queen or bishop to move across the board even though you lost a pawn.
Step 6: The Sicilian Defense can be used to take the offense early in the game.
If the white player opens by moving their king's pawn to the e4 square, they can control the d4 space.Your opponent will usually respond with a knight to f3.For control over the e5 space, move your queen's pawn forward 1 space to d6.Capture the pawn from c5 if the white player advances their pawn to d4.Even if your opponent captures your pawn, you still have good control over the board.Even though you lose a pawn in this opening, you can still move your queen and bishop easily.
Step 7: You can build a wall of pawns with the Nimzo- Indian Defense.
White usually opens by moving their queen's pawn to d4 so they can control the center.Developing your knight to f6 will allow you to capture on d5 and e4.Your king's pawn should be moved to e6 to free up your bishop if your opponent moves a pawn to c4.When your opponent develops their knight to c3 move your king's bishop to b4 to put pressure on their pieces.You can castle if you leave your king's rook and king in their starting squares.If your opponent attacks your bishop with a pawn, you can capture their king on your next turn by attacking their knight on c3.They will attack your bishop with a pawn, but the pawn will be stuck behind another piece and won't be able to move.
Step 8: The French Defense can be used to put pressure on the queen.
If your opponent opens by moving their king's pawn to e4 you can immediately free up your bishop.Your opponent will usually respond by moving their queen's pawn to d4 so they have more control of the center.Move your pawn to the d5 square.Your opponent may try to capture your pawn, but you will be able to get it back.In the French Defense, you will be able to build a strong wall of pawns that will defend your pieces, but it will seem like you are giving more control of the center to the white player.
Step 9: The Caro-Kann Defense can be used to build a strong pawn structure.
If your opponent opens by moving a pawn to e4, position one of your pawns in c6 to put some pressure on the d5 space.If your opponent moves a pawn to d4 you can respond by moving another pawn.The white player will usually move their knight to c3 for added defense.If you capture the pawn on e4 you can regain control of the center.The queen has a wall of pawns on her side that will help protect her later in the game.
Step 10: The board has center squares.
Your opponent will have a hard time maneuvering their pieces without putting them at risk if you have pieces in the center 4 squares.Set up your other pieces so that they can capture on the squares if you move your pawn into the center.The longer you can keep control of the center, the more likely you are to win the game.You can still capture pieces on d4 and e5 if you move your knight to f3.
Step 11: Your knight and bishop should be free.
Bring out at least one bishop and knight from the back row so they are closer to the middle of the board.This helps you move around the board and puts more pressure on your opponent.knights can jump over other pieces so you can advance them without moving a pawn.
Step 12: Try to move different pieces at the same time.
While you are moving the same piece, your opponent may develop more of their pieces to the center and take control of the board.When you start your game, switch between pieces until you have a strong board presence.It is easier for you to get around the board if you get as many pieces off of their starting squares as you can.It is okay to use a piece you already moved if you can capture an enemy piece.You can continue developing other pieces if you need to.
Step 13: Save your queen for the big plays.
It can be tempting to move your queen early in the game since it is so powerful, but don't risk losing it just yet.The queen should be protected by your other pieces so that it doesn't get attacked right away.You can use it to maneuver around the board quickly and put pressure on a lot of squares.If you can move a pawn all the way to the other side of the board, you may be able to get your queen back.
Step 14: As soon as you can, build a castle.
Within the first few turns of the game, try to clear out all the pieces between your rooks and king.If you haven't moved your king or rook, you can slide the king so it's in the square.Lift up your rook and put it on the other side of the king to protect him.It will be harder for your opponent to attack.You can build a castle with either the king or queen.Even though you are moving 2 pieces, castling only counts as 1 turn.
Step 15: They can guard each other if there are clear spaces between your rooks.
Move the pieces between your rooks out of the back row after you castle.If your opponent captures a rook with one of their pieces, you can immediately capture the second one.If you can, try to line up one of your rooks with your opponent's queen across the board.