The main chess opening principles for beginners are: control the centre with a pawn, develop your knights and bishops, castle to keep your king safe, do not move the same piece twice without a good reason, and do not bring your queen out too early. Follow these five rules and you will reach a good position in almost every game, without memorising any opening lines.
The opening is the start of the game, roughly the first ten moves. In this phase both players are getting their pieces ready, a bit like a cricket team taking the field before the first ball. The side that gets ready faster and better usually gets the first chances to attack.
Rule 1: Control the centre
The centre is the four squares in the middle of the board: d4, e4, d5 and e5. A piece in the centre can move in more directions than a piece at the edge. A knight on e4, for example, can jump to eight squares, while a knight on a1 can reach only two. So your first move should usually put a pawn in the middle, such as 1.e4 or 1.d4.
Rule 2: Develop your knights and bishops
To develop a piece means to move it off its starting square to a useful spot where it can join the game. Knights and bishops are called the minor pieces, and they should come out first. A good habit is knights first, then bishops. After 1.e4 e5, the move 2.Nf3 develops a knight and attacks Black's pawn on e5 at the same time. That is a great opening move: it does two jobs at once.
Try to bring out a new piece on almost every move. Count your developed pieces now and then. If you have moved four pawns and only one knight, something has gone wrong.
Rule 3: Castle early
Castling is a special move where the king moves two squares towards a rook and the rook jumps to the other side of the king. It is the only move in chess where two pieces move at once. After castling, the king sits behind a wall of pawns, and the rook is closer to the centre, ready to fight. Try to castle within your first ten moves. If you are not sure of the rules, read our guide on how to castle.
Rule 4: Do not move the same piece twice
Every move in the opening is precious. If you move your knight to f3 and then to g5 and then back again, your other pieces are still sitting at home. Only move a piece a second time when there is a good reason, like capturing something or escaping an attack.
Rule 5: Do not bring your queen out too early
The queen is your strongest piece, worth about nine pawns. If she comes out early, your opponent can attack her with knights and bishops while also developing. You have to keep moving her to safety, and you fall behind. This is why tricks like Scholar's Mate often go wrong against a careful player.
Rules help, but always check for free pieces
Following the principles is not enough if you leave a piece where it can be taken for free. In the puzzle below, Black played 4...Bg4, developing a bishop and attacking White's queen. But Black forgot something important. Can you see it?
White's queen simply captures the bishop on g4, because nothing defends it. A bishop is worth about three pawns, so White is now well ahead. Our article on chess piece values explains these numbers.
Questions parents and kids ask
What are the 3 main opening principles in chess?
Control the centre, develop your knights and bishops, and castle to keep your king safe. Most other opening advice grows out of these three ideas.
How many moves is the chess opening?
There is no exact number, but the opening is usually the first 10 to 15 moves. It ends when most pieces are developed and the kings are safe.
Should beginners move knights or bishops first?
Usually knights first. A knight normally has one clear good square, like f3 or c6, while the best square for a bishop often depends on what your opponent does.
Why should you not bring the queen out early?
Because your opponent can attack the queen with smaller pieces while developing them. You lose time moving the queen again and again, and you may even lose her.