Do you know about opening principles? Two fun miniature games to explain them

We all need at least basic knowledge to start our games, to get the best chance of having a good fight. But to study openings in depth is hard, it takes a lot of time, tons of repetition and practice... and more importantly, up to a certain skill level, you won't get to use those (sometimes endless) opening lines you worked so hard to learn.

So, if you are under 1500-1700 this post is especially for you, if you're above that rating, you can still enjoy this and find it useful, but you should study opening lines a bit harder.

There are guidelines to play a good opening; like everything else in chess, they are not absolute, but they can definitely help you to figure out how to display your "army" for battle.

Here they are, opening principles:

1. Develop your pieces, no time to waste!
Whoever has their pieces ready for battle first, can attack first. Usually knights and bishops should come out first.

2. Don't make too many pawn moves!
At least a couple of pawns have to move to let your pieces out. Usually center pawns (e2 or d2).

3. Don't bring your queen out too early!
If so, your opponent can attack it with development moves. You would have to waste moves saving your queen, instead of developing the rest of your pieces.

4. Castle early!
Make sure your king is save as soon as you can, otherwise, you could face an early checkmate!

5. Develop towards the center!
The squares e4, d4, e5 and d5: that’s the most important area of the board. From which each of your pieces can control as much space as possible.
There's an old saying in chess: you cannot start a successful attack without center control! (Future post on this!)

I hope you found this post entertaining and useful, if you liked it hit the heart, thanks! I wish you the best of lucks!