Chess Tutorial : Opening Essentials

Learn More about the First Move

After 1.e4

• Introduction to 1.e4
  No chessplayer can ignore 1.e4, when White already attacks on the first move. Half of your opponents are going to open with the King's Pawn - how do you react?
  
  
• Introduction to 1.d4
  The initial position of a chess game is nearly symmetric. Only the position of the King and Queen breaks the symmetry, and this makes all the difference between 1.d4 and 1.e4. In most games opened with 1.d4, White plays an early c4 followed by Nc3.
  
  
• Unusual First Moves
  The initial position shares a feature with all chess positions -- the legal moves do not all have equal value. What distinguishes the good moves from the bad moves, and from the not-so-bad moves?
  
  

Index: Chess Tutorial : Opening Essentials

1. Start With a Winning Game Plan
2. Step Through the Opening Moves Played by the Masters
3. Learn More about the First Move
4. Build an Opening Repertoire
5. Read In-depth Tutorials on Specific Openings
6. Avoid Traps
7. Discover the Gambits
8. Find Out More in these References