How to Start a Game

Three golden rules for the opening

In this lesson you will learn

Control the centre
Develop your knights and bishops
Castle early
How to stop the Scholar’s Mate

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15.1 Three golden rules

Control the centre with your pawns: e4 and d4 for White, e5 and d5 for Black.
Develop your knights and bishops: bring them out from the back rank, towards the centre.
Castle early to put your king in safety and connect your rooks.

And three things to avoid: do not bring out the queen too early (she will be chased), do not move the same piece twice without a reason, and do not grab pawns while your pieces are still at home.

Diagram 15.1White to move

Diagram 15.1 · A good start

Both players follow the rules.

After ten moves both sides have pawns in the centre, knights and bishops developed and kings castled. That is a healthy opening.

15.2 The Scholar’s Mate

Many beginners lose in four moves to the Scholar’s Mate: White’s queen and bishop both attack f7, the weakest square next to Black’s king.

Diagram 15.2Black to move

Diagram 15.2 · Stop the mate

White threatens Qxf7#. Black must defend f7 (or block the queen’s path).

Black to move. Stop the checkmate and do not lose the e5-pawn.

Remember

Centre pawns first: e4, d4 (e5, d5 for Black).
Knights and bishops out before the queen and rooks.
Castle early.
Watch f7 (f2 for White): the queen and bishop like to attack it.

Exercises · Lesson 15

Play good opening moves and stop the early queen attack.

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