When playing a game of chess, getting off to a good start with famous opening chess moves is important. If your opponent gains too many advantages over you in the first 10-15 moves, then you are going to have a very difficult time catching up and winning the game. This is why opening theory is so important in chess. Grandmasters over the centuries have refined some of the famous opening chess moves. Most serious chess players can describe the details of great opening chess moves like the Ruy Lopez, the Giuoco Piano, and the King's Indian Defense. Learn these opening chess moves, and try to understand why they work so well.
Great Opening Chess Moves -- A Brief Review
Many beginning chess players start by learning the Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening. White starts by moving the king's pawn out two spaces, establishing early dominance over the center. Black answers by making the same move. White then moves the king's knight out toward the center. This attacks Black's king's pawn right away, putting pressure on Black to defend it. Black moves his queen's knight out to the third row, towards the center, to protect his king's pawn. White's third move is to move his king's bishop out to the fifth row, over onto the queen side of the board. This is another attacking move, putting Black's queen's knight under attack. With the Ruy Lopez, White establishes a strong central position while relentlessly attacking Black's developed pieces.
The Giuoco Piano allows White to claim a lot of space while pushing forward through the center. After both players advance their king's pawns out two spaces, White answers by moving his king's knight out to the third row toward the center. Just as with the Ruy Lopez, Black defends his king's pawn by moving his queen's knight out to the third row toward the center. Now, White advances his king's bishop out to the fourth row on the queen's side. With this move, White puts additional pressure on the center of the board. After Black answers with the mirror move with his king's bishop, White completes the Giuoco Piano sequence by moving his queen's bishop's pawn up one square, behind his advanced bishop. This pawn defends the central square two spaces in front of his queen's pawn, reinforcing his hold over the center. White has plenty of options now to advance pieces through the center of the board.
These famous opening chess moves are important to memorize and use, but the key to successful openings in chess is to understand the principles behind the moves. Which openings try to control the center of the board? Which openings place your opponent on the defensive? How do you capitalize on that? The more you learn, practice, and make mistakes with your opening chess moves, the better you will become.
Great Opening Chess Moves -- A Brief Review
Many beginning chess players start by learning the Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening. White starts by moving the king's pawn out two spaces, establishing early dominance over the center. Black answers by making the same move. White then moves the king's knight out toward the center. This attacks Black's king's pawn right away, putting pressure on Black to defend it. Black moves his queen's knight out to the third row, towards the center, to protect his king's pawn. White's third move is to move his king's bishop out to the fifth row, over onto the queen side of the board. This is another attacking move, putting Black's queen's knight under attack. With the Ruy Lopez, White establishes a strong central position while relentlessly attacking Black's developed pieces.
The Giuoco Piano allows White to claim a lot of space while pushing forward through the center. After both players advance their king's pawns out two spaces, White answers by moving his king's knight out to the third row toward the center. Just as with the Ruy Lopez, Black defends his king's pawn by moving his queen's knight out to the third row toward the center. Now, White advances his king's bishop out to the fourth row on the queen's side. With this move, White puts additional pressure on the center of the board. After Black answers with the mirror move with his king's bishop, White completes the Giuoco Piano sequence by moving his queen's bishop's pawn up one square, behind his advanced bishop. This pawn defends the central square two spaces in front of his queen's pawn, reinforcing his hold over the center. White has plenty of options now to advance pieces through the center of the board.
These famous opening chess moves are important to memorize and use, but the key to successful openings in chess is to understand the principles behind the moves. Which openings try to control the center of the board? Which openings place your opponent on the defensive? How do you capitalize on that? The more you learn, practice, and make mistakes with your opening chess moves, the better you will become.
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