You must learn at least a few chess openings.
You can read detailed explications on the chess openings page. If you don't know or your opponent doesn't play according to the chess openings , you should make the moves by using these principles. Of course you should decide which principles you will use according the situations in the game.
- You should move your pieces in order to control the central squares e4 , e5 , d4 , d5 .
- You should move central pawns first.
- Try to not move the same pieces twice if there is not an obligatory situation.
- Do not attack early. Develop all your pieces before the attack.
- Move knights and bishops first , then place your king in a secure corner by castling. The knights must be developed to f3 instead h3 , to c3 instead a3 for White . They must be developed to f6 instead h6 , to c6 instead h6 for Black.
- Then move your queen. But don't attack at the opening by the queen . This most powerful piece Queen will be threatened by the less valuable pieces ( bishop, knights, pawns ) of your opponent and you will waste your time when you try to protect your queen.
- Use rooks to control open and/or half-open lines.