ionadowman
130 ( +1 | -1 ) Have a purpose...... All your moves, right from the start, ought to have some purpose in mind. For instance, moves like 1.e4 or 1.d4 or 1...e5 or 1...d5 have the view to obtaining a stake in the centre, and to open lines, especially for a bishop. 1.c4 (or 1...c5) have in view an early Q-side action. 1.g3 (or 1.g6) intends to place pressure on the the centre (after the bishop goes to g2 (or ...Bg7) rather than to occupy it directly; and it also begins to build a solid defensive position for the castled king. 1.Nf3 (or 1...Nf6 or 1...Nc6) activates a piece before committing oneself to a set pawn structure. I think it's worth mentioning that the shape of the game - the structure - is really defined by pawn placement. If you prefer piece play on a fairly open board to patient manouevring behind the lines, you might prefer not to move many pawns in the opening. Do you prefer to establish a big pawn centre, or to attack one set up by your opponent? Consider Black's play in this kind of opening: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 ... w Has Black played badlyand without purpose, having his knight chased across the board? No. In chasing the knight, White has set up a big, strong centre, but as yet has no pieces out. Black can set about undermining White's centre. The game here is roughly even. Cheers, Ion