Start to Play a Chess Game

After you have learned the basics and rules, it's time to start to play a game! As you know you could randomly make a first move on a chess board, however there are strategies and principals for playing a chess game. Generally, a chess game has three phases - the opening, the middle game, and the end game. Here is a list of important principals for starting a game,

Control the Center

The following diagram illustrates the four center squares (e4, e5, d4, d5) of a chess board, marked by a "x".

The center squares in Chess are very important, whoever has the control of the center would definitely have some sort of advantages. It gives your pieces more mobilities and lots of attacking options. If you have a pawn at the center, your opponent won't be able to cramp your playing styles easily. Most of the games are started with an e4 or d4 move.

Development

The next important step in playing a chess game is development. In chess, development simply means that the pieces (Knights, Bishops and Queen) have left their original squares at the bank rank and move into squares on which they are well placed and ready to join the attack and defense. The following diagram shows the possible well developed position for white in a chess game,


During development phase, time is very important, whichever side has quickly developed the pieces has the initiative on attacking. In general, during development phase, it is undesirable to move the same piece twice as it slows down the development. Normally, it is considered that the development is complete if you have castled and the two Rooks are connecting to each other at the back rank.

King's Safety

Nothing is more important in Chess than the safety of your King. You loss the game if your king is checkmated. So it is absolutely vital to move your king to one the corners via castling. If the King is left in the center, it is subject to attacks by your opponents and in fact, lots of openings traps and tricks are are played based on the King is left in the center. On the other hand, if your opponent's King looks vulnerable in the center, you should quickly attack him before it can find a safe place.