Chess Tutorial : Opening Essentials

In chess, a winning game plan starts with the first move. Your objective in the opening of a game is to reach a good position. The principles of opening play are based on the general principles for Positional Play -- respect the center, open lines, piece activity, and Pawn structure -- while keeping track of changes in the material balance of the two armies.

An important consideration for both sides is that White moves first. White spends the first part of the game trying to convert this temporary advantage into something more lasting. Black tries to eliminate White's temporary advantage.

It doesn't matter how creative you may be in the middle game or endgame if you lose in the opening. Avoid the quick knockout and get a comfortable game. Maybe even deliver a quick knockout yourself!

There is no single technique to learn or to master the opening phase. Following are a number of tools to help you better understand this critical part of a chess game.