Any game of chess can be divided into roughly three parts; opening game,
(where you first deploy your forces), mid-game, (where any questions of who
controls what are decided), and end game, (where you prevail).
So, Rule #1: All of your opening game deployments should focus on the
four squares in the center of the board!
And here’s why: not only are those squares on the columns that contain the
king and queen, they are also on the diagonal leading to both Rooks, so, if
your opponent “castles”, (moves two squares towards his Rook, and then places
the Rook on the square between where he was and where he is), then you will
already be controlling some, if not all, of the longest diagonal going into
that area!
Which brings us to Rule #2: Unless it gives you a clear and present
advantage, (which is rare), never move the same piece twice in a row!
Here’s why: a Knight comes off the back row. Unless you move it to the
pawns’ row, it is already controlling as many squares as it can at one time,
which is eight. In keeping with rule #1, that first move of each piece should
put it where it can most thoroughly control the center squares.
Rule #3: Never block your “back row” pieces in with your own pawns!
An example of this would be either of your Bishops’ pawns. If you move either
pawn only one square, it delays how soon that Bishop can be deployed, since you
would have to move two pawns rather than one, before that diagonal opens up.
Rule #4: Avoid “doubling up” your pawns on any one column! Obviously,
the pawn that didn’t just kill a piece would be stuck, which also jams
up its’ row, both diagonals it’s on… it is really just a very bad idea.
Rule #5: Maintain balance between the deployment of your “King’s side”
pieces and your “Queen’s side” pieces! No, this does not mean you have to
move your King’s side Knight if you just moved the other one. What it does mean
is this: almost every opening game involves pawns, Knights, and Bishops, and
that’s all.
Bishops and Knights reinforce each other, but they can’t do that if they are
blocked in by a pawn that hasn’t moved yet! So, if you move a pawn on one side,
which creates an opening for one of your back pieces, you should think of your
next move in terms of creating another opening.