Chess Opening Moves

Chess is a brain stimulating game played between two players on opposite sides of a board having 64 squares of alternating white and black color. Each player controls an army of 16 pieces which comprises of: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns. The two sides on which the armies are positioned are denoted by letters (a-h) and the other two sides are denoted by numbers (1-8). The ultimate aim of the game is to checkmate the king by following basic rules of chess and different chess techniques. Setting up the chess board, evaluating chess positions, fixing goals are some chess strategies that need to considered before playing the game. But above all these, starting with the best opening chess moves helps to mobilize the pieces to the most useful squares, where they will have maximum impact on the game.

Best Opening Moves in Chess
Since the first moves of a chess game or opening moves are extremely important and should be taken carefully, here are some common chess strategies for beginners that are highly effective and will make winning the game much easier.

Opening Moves for Ruy Lopez Opening
The Ruy Lopez move is named after a Spanish priest who introduced this move in 1561. It is considered to be one of the most popular chess moves, which can be used at all levels of the game. Its starting position is 1. e4, e5, 2. Nf3, Nc6 and 3. Bb5, in which white creates a pin of d-pawn or the Knight and attacks while trying to castle. Then it focuses pressure on the black e-pawn and prepares for a pawn on d4. In response, black will reply with a6 and attack the white bishop, as a result white will have to back up or exchange pieces.

Opening Moves for Giuoco Piano Opening
The move starts as 1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nc6, 3. Bc4 Bc5 in which the white plans a silent and unexpected attack on the black bishop. Also known as a quiet game, in this the opponent plays d3 after you start or will play b4 by offering a pawn in exchange for the powerful center.

Opening Moves for Sicilian Defense
This is most powerful black defense move in which e4 is played. When the white plays c5, black will defend for the center and attack d4. As a result, an asymmetrical position is formed which may lead to many complicated positions, hence this move should only be used by experts in the game. In this any side can win, therefore both the players have to be careful.

Opening Moves for The Dutch Defense
This move is easiest to learn and starts as 1. d5 f5. It is considered to be an aggressive counter play by black in which it moves toward the white's kingside with the objective of crushing the white. Even though it is a good move, it weakens the black's defenses and does not help in developing pieces.

Opening Moves for The Caro-Kann Defense
The move starts as 1. e4 c6 in which d5 is prepared to challenge the white e4 pawn. It is a solid move in which black avoids to block his King's bishop but has to play c5 i.e. black will allow white to control the center while it tries to get a pawn at d5. The sequence goes as 1. e4 c6, 2. d4 d5, 3. Nc3 dxe4 in which black eliminates white's central pawns and develops his own pieces.

For beginners or people new to the game, these moves might seem to be intimidating. To best utilize these moves, you will need to learn how to play chess proficiently. To this end, one can opt for undergoing chess lessons, which will teach you more than just the basics of the game. Since these common chess opening moves are time tested and proven to be successful, mastering them will increase your confidence in the early phases of the game. They are the best opening moves for chess which gives a better protection of the King, control over an area of the board (specifically the center), greater mobility for pieces, and possibly opportunities to capture opposing pawns and pieces.