Chess openings for beginners: simple first moves that work

There are thousands of named chess openings, and you do not need to learn them. What you need are a few principles and one or two simple setups you can play without memorising pages of moves. This guide gives you both, with a few traps to avoid on the way. You can try everything here in a free game of chess on inkmate.

The three opening principles

1. Control the centre. The four middle squares (d4, e4, d5, e5) are where your pieces have the most influence. Start by moving a centre pawn two squares: e4 or d4.
2. Develop your pieces. Bring out your knights and bishops early, so they point toward the middle. Pieces on the back rank do nothing.
3. Castle early and keep your king safe. Castling moves the king away from the centre and brings a rook into play.

Almost every good opening is an expression of these three ideas. If you follow them, you will rarely be in serious trouble before move ten.

Things to avoid early

• Moving the same piece twice in the opening without a reason.
• Bringing your queen out too soon. It will be chased by smaller pieces and you will lose time.
• Grabbing pawns on the edge of the board while your pieces sit at home.
• Making lots of pawn moves on the wing instead of developing.
• Forgetting what your opponent’s last move threatens.

Playing White: the Italian Game

The Italian Game is one of the oldest openings and a friendly place to start. The moves are 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. White claims the centre with the e-pawn, develops a knight that attacks the black e-pawn, and points a bishop at the sensitive f7 square. From here you usually play d3 or c3, castle kingside and bring out your remaining pieces. It follows the principles exactly, and you will see it in games at every level.

Playing White: the London System

The London System is a setup, not a set of forced moves. White plays 1. d4 and then develops with Nf3, Bf4, e3, c3 and Nbd2, whatever Black does. Because the structure is the same most games, there is little to memorise. The one habit to learn is to bring your bishop out to f4 before you play e3, so that it is not trapped behind the pawns.

Playing White: the Queen’s Gambit

After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 White offers a pawn on c4. It is called a gambit, but it is not a real sacrifice: if Black takes with 2... dxc4, White can regain the pawn soon with moves such as e3 and Bxc4 while having a bigger share of the centre. It is a classic for a reason and a good way to learn how pawns fight for the centre.

Playing Black: answer 1. e4

The simplest reply is 1... e5, mirroring White. Then develop with ...Nc6 and ...Nf6, and the bishop to c5 or e7. If you prefer a sturdier shell, the Caro-Kann (1... c6) and the French (1... e6) both prepare to play ...d5 next. They are solid, and they take the pressure off the centre until you are ready.

Playing Black: answer 1. d4

Play 1... d5 and mirror the centre. Then bring out your knights and bishops, play ...e6, and castle. You will find that an even position comes easily with these principles alone.

Two traps worth knowing

Scholar’s mate is the fastest checkmate trick: 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5 Nf6?? 4. Qxf7#. It works because the f7 pawn is guarded only by the king. If someone tries it on you, defend with 3... g6 or 3... Qe7, develop sensibly and the attacker’s queen will be misplaced.

The other, more general, trap is the hanging piece: moving a piece to a square where it can be taken for free. Before every move, check what is attacked and what is defended.

After the opening

A good opening only gets you to a healthy middlegame. To finish games, you need basic checkmates, so read how to checkmate with king and queen next. If you are brand new to the game, how to play chess online covers the piece moves. And if you are teaching a child, how to teach chess to kids gives a gentler route in.

tip: Use the sleepy and dreamy bot levels to practise one opening over and over. Repetition builds the habit faster than reading about it.