General Rules to Guide Your Opening Play

1. Start by advancing a CENTER PAWN 2 squares on the FIRST MOVE.
   
   
2. Advance both your CENTER PAWNS to the FOURTH RANK if possible.
   
   
3. Develop your KNIGHTS to the most central (B3) square. The K2 and Q2squares are usually preferable to the R3 squares.
   
   
4. KNIGHTS should be developed BEFORE BISHOPS. (King knight before king bishop and queen knight before queen bishop) This is because knights are usually best placed on KB3, while it's easier to determine the best place for a bishop after more moves have been made.
   
   
5. Develop democratically - ONE PIECE, ONE MOVE. Don't try to attack an entire army with one or two pieces.
   
   
6. CASTLE EARLY on the kingside. The king is safer in the corner.
   
   
7. DON'T DEVELOP THE QUEEN before castling.
   
   
8. Make as FEW PAWN MOVES as possible. Pawn moves create weaknesses in your position and should only be made to aid your development. An important exception to this rule is in a CLOSED game.
   
   An OPEN game is characterized by open lines and usually results from a KING PAWN opening. In an OPEN position, the rules of RAPID DEVELOPMENT are very important. In contrast, a CLOSED game, is characterised by a LOCKED PAWN FORMATION, usually resulting in a QUEEN PAWN opening.
   
   It is usually best to control the center by advance your QBP two squares in a QUEEN PAWN opening before developing your queen's knight and blocking it in.
   
   
9. DEVELOP WITH THREATS. (Attack center pawns with knights, pin knights with bishops)
   
   
10. DEFEND your opponents' threats BY DEVELOPING a piece whenever possible.
    
    
11. When recapturing with pawns, it is usually best to CAPTURE TOWARDS THE CENTER.