An opening is the first phase of a game, when both sides develop pieces and contest the center. Beginners often search for a perfect sequence, but principles are more useful than memorized moves. A good move gives a piece a useful square, prepares king safety, and keeps choices open. The examples below are starting points, not promises of a forced win.
| Rank | a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | black rook on a8 | black knight on b8 | black bishop on c8 | black queen on d8 | black king on e8 | black bishop on f8 | black knight on g8 | black rook on h8 |
| 7 | black pawn on a7 | black pawn on b7 | black pawn on c7 | black pawn on d7 | black pawn on e7 | black pawn on f7 | black pawn on g7 | black pawn on h7 |
| 6 | a6, empty | b6, empty | c6, empty | d6, empty | e6, empty | f6, empty | g6, empty | h6, empty |
| 5 | a5, empty | b5, empty | c5, empty | d5, empty | e5, empty | f5, empty | g5, empty | h5, empty |
| 4 | a4, empty | b4, empty | c4, empty | d4, empty | e4, empty | f4, empty | g4, empty | h4, empty |
| 3 | a3, empty | b3, empty | c3, empty | d3, empty | e3, empty | f3, empty | g3, empty | h3, empty |
| 2 | white pawn on a2 | white pawn on b2 | white pawn on c2 | white pawn on d2 | white pawn on e2 | white pawn on f2 | white pawn on g2 | white pawn on h2 |
| 1 | white rook on a1 | white knight on b1 | white bishop on c1 | white queen on d1 | white king on e1 | white bishop on f1 | white knight on g1 | white rook on h1 |
What you are trying to achieve
The opening has three goals: influence central squares, develop pieces from their starting squares, and make the king safer. Central control gives pieces room; development brings more of the army into play; king safety often means castling before the center opens, when legal.
These are priorities, not rigid laws. A capture, threat, or tactic can change the order. Ask not “Which famous opening should I play?” but “Which move improves my position while answering the last move?”
- Contest the center with a pawn or piece, often around e4, d4, e5, or d5.
- Develop knights and bishops before spending several tempi on the queen or the same piece.
- Prepare king safety and connect the rooks when the position allows it.
Two simple opening examples
After 1. e4 e5, White opens lines for the queen and f1 bishop while Black answers in the center. The sequence 2. Nf3 Nc6 develops both sides; 3. Bc4 aims at f7. This position is the Italian Game, and each move has an understandable purpose.
Another structure begins 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6. White challenges d5 with the c-pawn; Black supports the center and opens the dark-squared bishop. This is the Queen’s Gambit Declined. The ideas matter more than the name: central challenge, development, and a plan.
Mistakes that cost time
Repeatedly moving one piece lets the opponent develop faster. An early queen can be chased by knights and bishops, while many flank pawn moves may weaken your king. Do not castle just because a rule says so; check safety and castling rights first.
Development does not mean moving every piece once regardless of threats. A tactical win may come before a quiet developing move. Principles guide your search; they do not override rules or tactics.
How to practice an opening
Choose one first move with White and one response to 1. e4 and 1. d4 with Black. Learn the ideas, typical squares, and pawn breaks before adding variations. After each game, find where you lost time or left a piece undefended and ask which principle you missed.
Aim for a playable middlegame: developed pieces, a safe king, and an understandable plan. Against an unfamiliar move, inspect the threat and return to those goals. No opening guarantees a win, but sound habits make the game easier. Review the position after every game.
Questions and answers
What should a beginner do first in the opening?
Contest central squares with a pawn or piece, develop knights and bishops, and prepare king safety. Before following a general rule, check whether a capture, threat, or tactic requires a different move.
Do I need to memorize an opening?
No. Learn the ideas, typical squares, and pawn breaks behind a first move or defense. Review games for lost time, undefended pieces, and missed threats; opening names matter less than a playable middlegame plan.
Further reading: Lichess Learn chess