Chapter 08 · Early intermediate · 5 min
What is an opening?
An opening is just a good start: fight for the center, develop pieces, and get the king safe. No need for 25 memorized moves.
Explanation
An opening is for a good start, not for reciting 25 moves.
Good starts often follow the same ideas: control the center, develop the pieces, get the king to safety and avoid wasting time. If you respect that, you can survive a lot of unknown openings.
Learning an opening doesn't mean memorizing variations until midnight. It is better to understand why the moves are played. A move understood remains in mind. A move learned by heart often goes on vacation at the wrong time.
To remember
A healthy openness seeks the center, development and security of the king.
Classic error
Memorizing moves without understanding the idea behind it.
Player Tip
If you forget a variation, go back to the principles. They will save you more often than your memory.