Chess is a game of strategies. The more control you have over the game, the better are your chances of you winning. One thing that every beginner should learn is the opening moves. Winning a chess game depends on how well you start. The stronger you begin, the more chances you have to win.
Therefore, every beginner should learn a few tricks of the trade. Opening a chess game without a strategy may lead you to lose the advantage of starting first. But when you drive the game from the start, you are more likely to win it.
Without further ado, let us take you through some of the best opening moves in chess.
Best Chess Openings
Chess opening means the initial moves in the game that help you strengthen your position on the board. But don’t use the same moves all the time as your opponents will understand your pattern, and you will be in big trouble. Therefore, use these moves to your advantage and add your style to the game.
The Italian Game
The Italian game is one of the oldest opening moves in the history of chess. The origin of the Chess game dates back to the 6th century, and this move was first played by Italian masters back in the 16th century. This move aims to capture the centre by developing a bishop to a strong diagonal aiming at f7. The move can lead to an open gambit play or a slower, manoeuvring play.
Here is how the Italian Game looks on the chessboard:
- e4 e5 (White pawn on 4th square, Black pan on 5th square)
- Nf3 Nc6 (White knight on f3 position and Black Knight on C6 position )
- Bc4 (White bishop on c4 position)
If the game continues in this direction, it becomes slow, and there is no trade-off between the pieces. However, white can consider aggressive gameplay. If black plays the next obvious move, bc5, white can go for Evans Gambit (4. b4) or the Italian Gambit (4. d4).
Even though the white side has the advantage of opening first, black can plan the game from the first move itself. Therefore, be it white or black, careful gameplay is essential.
The Ruy Lopez
The Ruy Lopez opening move in chess is one of the most classical moves. There are many variations to play this one, and each one is equally effective. However, this is also one of the most played moves among chess players.
Here is how the Ruy Lopez looks on the chessboard:
- e4 e5
- NF3 NC6
- Bb5
As you can see, the white aims at developing the bishop from the very beginning and pin down the black knight against the king. Most of these moves focus on capturing the f7 early on, and hence the Ruy Lopez is a systematic move to attack the black’s king.
The Slav Defense
The Slav Defence is yet another famous opening move among the Chess Grandmasters. It is one of the most reliable moves against the Queen’s Gambit and has different variations.
Here is how the Slav Defence looks on the chessboard:
- d4 d5
- c4 c6
Players who like to add creativity to the game can use the Slav Defence in various ways. This allows the players to strategize as well as enjoy the game.
The French Defence
Unlike other opening moves, the French Defence is a sharp counterattacking weapon used against white pawns King opening. Here is how a French Defence starts:
1. e4 e6
The move aims to block one side of the board and slowly take control of the white pieces in the centre. From the very first move, black pieces try to capture the a2-g8 diagonal, which is considered as a weakness for black pieces. Most players have a hard time playing against this defense since it is a very unusual move. If you are a beginner or moving towards excellence, mastering a French Defence can be an excellent addition to your chess repertoire.
The whole idea of chess opening moves is to put down a strong foundation for a game, which leads to the capturing of the king. You don’t have to memorize these moves to have the winning start. You can use your creativity and build your own strategy to enjoy the game to the fullest. If you want to amp up the game to the next level, you should try out some of these moves. A right move at the right time will guarantee a win for sure.
You can try these effective chess opening moves by playing chess online on MPL app. All you have to do is download MPL Pro APK and start playing. So what are you waiting for? Start playing now!