Chess Strategy : King's Knight's Openings - Part 1

Now that you have completed the free online chess lessons, it's time for you to advance your chess skills and learn chess strategy and tactics. Most chess matches are determined with the opening moves. This is the beginning of an 11 part series on King's Knight's opening moves thus allowing you to become a more proficient opponent and strategic chess player.

THE KING'S KNIGHT'S OPENING

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K's Kt. to B's 3d.

Your second move gives the name to this opening, which is one of the most popular and instructive of all the various methods of commencing the game. The Kt., it will be observed, at once attacks the adverse Pawn, and the defense recommended by the best authors and the leading players of Europe, is for Black to reply 2. Q's Kt. to B's 3d. He has, however, many other ways of playing, and as the examination of these comparatively simple variations will serve to prepare you for the more complex and elaborate combinations of the best Defenses, it will be advisable to consider them previously. In the first place, then, Black may sustain his Pawn by playing—

1. P. to K. B's 3d.

2. K's B. to Q's 3d.

3. Q. to K. B's 3d.

4. P. to Q's 3d.

or, in the second place, he may leave it unprotected, and play—

5. K's Kt. to B's 3d.

6. K's B. to Q. B's 4th.

7. P. to K. B's 4th.

8. P. to Q's 4th.

He has thus eight different modes of play at his command, besides the move of Q's Kt. to B's 3d, in answer to your second move of K's Kt. to B's 3d. Each of these will form the subject of a separate game.

The next series of free chess lessons will examine advanced chess opening moves including the Damiano Gambit, Philidor's Defense, Petroff's Defense, the Counter Gambit and others so check back soon.