Standard Chess Openings
In chess, there are many ways to make a good entrance. Here, we are going to show you the best ways to make an opening. We'll try to show you what to do whether playing as black or white. So, grab your chess boards, and let's get straight into it!
First off, we're going to show some good ways to open while playing as white. White has the advantage of moving first, an opportunity that you should use try to the best of your ability. One common yet effective opening is moving either of the two center pawns (D2 and E2) two spaces forward. The better bet is moving the E2 pawn however, as this position does not provide a diagonal pathway to the king, like moving D2 does.
This recommended position is pictured below.
This position is also well-known as the opening move for the four-move checkmate. You may use this technique from this point on if you like. To learn about the four move checkmate, click here for our full article. Utilizing this opening allows you to claim the center of the board right off the bat, as it limits the amount of safe moves the opponent can make. It also allows freedom of your queen and bishop from the back row, letting you make up your own strategies with those pieces.
Another good opening that can be done with only one piece involves your knights. Moving the knight at B1 to C3 or the knight at G1 to F3 is a more defensive move, as it would block off the aforementioned four-move checkmate as well as most other quick but deadly maneuvers. You can even move both for an even better pensive edge.
These two moves are pictured below.
These two are the best openings for white, but now let's take a look at black's vantage point.
Since black goes after white, black generally plays a defensive role within the first few turns of battle. As such, your opening should be defensive while playing as black, as the opposing team may be using the aforementioned openings to grab a competitive edge.
The the previously brought-up move of the knight at B1 to C3 or the knight at G1 to F3 also works out well for black, as it negates most advantages that can be gained from the opponent moving either of the center pawns forward two spaces.
Another good defensive opening that would work out well while playing as black is the "wave" defense that can be done with all pawns with the exception of the pawn at A2. You may see our full article on this defense by clicking here, however in a nutshell, the defense is a pattern of you pawns. The A2 pawn does not move. The B2 pawn moves forward one space, the C2 pawn moves forward two spaces, the D2 pawn moves forward one space, the E2 pawn moves forward two spaces and so on. When completed, the defense should look like what is pictured below.
The gaps in the defense allow only queens and the bishops that move on black spaces to travel with ease, as most other pieces will get caught by the net of pawns.
In conclusion, we have shown you some basic openings that can easily be executed with chess. We recommend these openings, but remember to always stay alert to a crafty opponent. Thanks, and good luck!
