In search of a great game that won’t only let you have fun but also challenge your mind? You might want to consider playing chess and join the many others loving this game.
Chess is not only a form of recreation for many but also a game where chess players test the boundaries of their minds.
Chess is not a new game. People have been drawn to this game for over 1,500 years. It has been said that chess was invented during the 6th century, with its earliest known form being “chaturanga.” The game pieces originally represented the military units common in warfare during that period, namely, the infantry, cavalry, elephants, a general, chariots, and a king.
Today, chess is everywhere. Aside from the frequent tournaments being conducted around it, people can also now play chess online, such as, for instance, via their mobile. While waiting for the bus to arrive during their commute or for their appointment with their doctor in the hospital, anybody can start playing a game of chess anytime and anywhere.
When playing chess, you’ve got to strategize, and everything begins with your opening move. This opening move is very crucial because this will determine your chances of winning. A good opening will provide better protection for the King, greater mobility for your pieces, and opportunities to capture the pawns and pieces of your opponent.
Some Of The Best Chess Opening Moves Even Beginners Should Know
What are the best chess openings? Let’s find out.
1. Caro-Kann Defence
The first powerful chess opening move you should know about is the Caro-Kann Defence. This chess opening is characterized by the moves: 1. e4 c6.
It has been said that this opening move is the common defense against the King’s Pawn Opening. Also, the Caro-Kann Defence is classified as a Semi-Open Game, alongside the Sicilian Defence and French Defence. But this is more solid and less dynamic than those other opening moves.
2. French Defence
We’ve mentioned French Defence in the previous item, so what is this all about? The French Defence chess opening is characterized by the moves: 1. e4 e6.
Then, this move is followed by 2.d4 d5. Usually, the Black plays … c5 soon after, attacking the White’s pawn center and gaining space on the queenside.
3. Smith-Morra Gambit
If you are looking for not just a decisive chess opening move but also an aggressive one, then use the Smith-Morra Gambit strategy. This particular defense can make the entire game very intriguing and captivating.
Smith-Morra Gambit is a strategy against the Black’s Silician Defence. If you are playing White and make an e4 move for any duration, you are bound to encounter the Silician Defence in several instances.
Also, here, the aim of the White is not only to take out the Black from the regular Sicilian lines but also to use its development advantage to overwhelm the Black’s King.
Eventually, White makes it a point to position its rooks on the semi-open d file and open c file. With this, the White would have several potential attacking lines at the player’s perusal. Black, then, would need to tread carefully.
4. Sicilian Defence
We’ve mentioned the Sicilian Defence in the last item on this list before this, and here are more details about this move.
The Sicilian Defence, on the other hand, is a chess opening move that starts with 1. e4 c5. Using this move, you’ll have a very popular and best-scoring response to the first move of the White 1.e4. Opening 1.d4 is, statistically, a more successful chess opening move for White because of the high success rate of this move versus 1.e4.
5. King’s Indian Defence
The King’s Indian Defence is a trendy chess opening move amongst players. This opening is defined by these moves. First, d4 Nf6, and second, c4 g6.
The Black intends to follow up with 3…Bg7, and 4…d6 (the Grünfeld Defence emerges when Black instead plays 3…d5, but this is a separate opening).
The major third move options for the White, with this opening, are 3.Nc3, 3.Nf3 or 3.g3. Both this opening and Grünfeld are playable versus these moves.
6. The Bird’s Opening
The Bird’s Opening is also touted as among the most famous opening moves in chess. Like the others, it is also very aggressive and leads to an exciting game, despite several pro chess players not using this as their opening move. Nonetheless, there are also various great games that have kicked off the game using this strategy.
The White begins by weakening its kingside, initiating a “flack attack” using its pawn at f on the center.
Furthermore, usually, a White player generally focuses on the light-colored squares. However, in this opening move, the focus is on the dark-colored squares. In Bird’s Opening, the dark-squared bishop is provided with more prominence over the light-squared one as the main minor chess piece.
7. Ruy Lopez
Also referred to as the Spanish Game or Spanish Opening, Ruy Lopez got its name from Ruy López de Segura, a Spanish priest from the 16h century.
This chess opening move is among the most popular around and has several variations. It is characterized by these movies: first, e4 e5; second, Nf3 Nc6; and third, Bb5.
8. Réti Opening
Another excellent chess opening move that can catapult you to victory is the Réti Opening. This is considered a hypermodern chess opening move whose “traditional” or “classic” method starts with the moves: first, Nf3 d5; then, c4.
The White attacks the Black’s pawn from the flank that may occasion 2…dxc4. The White may pair up this move with a kingside fianchetto to establish pressure on the light squares over at the center.
Start Your Chess Game Right
What you learned about are just some of the best opening moves in chess that can truly catapult you to your win. There are many other great openings, such as the Vienna Opening, Italian Game, King’s Indian Attack, London System, and so much more. It really depends on which makes you comfortable as you battle it out for triumph.
In conclusion, starting your chess game right by making a meaningful opening move is crucial to giving you more chances at winning and leading you to your ultimate success. Let’s play chess!
