Learn chess: the basics to start right
Opening principles, beginner mistakes, how many moves to memorize.
Learning chess is not about memorizing moves: it is about understanding why they are played. This page gathers our beginner guides, from the three opening principles to reading chess notation, including the classic mistakes that lose games within the first ten moves.
The order that works: first the three phases of a game so you know where you are, then controlling the center and developing your pieces, then when to castle. With these basics you leave the opening with a playable position without having memorized anything. The first 30 days program puts it all in order.
Only then comes the question of openings: should you learn them and how many moves to memorize? Short answer: one opening, ten moves, played until you know it by heart. That is exactly what Prologue Chess makes you do.
Articles in this theme
How to start a chess game: the first 10 moves
Not sure how to start a chess game? Here's what your first moves in chess should do, one full example for each color, and five things never to do.
When to castle in chess, how to do it, and which side
How to castle in chess, the rules, and when to do it. Kingside or queenside, short or long castle, and the cases where it's better to wait.
7 beginner opening mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Queen out too early, forgetting to castle, moving the same knight ten times: the 7 opening mistakes that cost the most games, and how to fix them.
Controlling the center in chess: why it decides everything
Whoever holds the center holds the game. Here's why the e4, d4, e5 and d5 squares decide everything, and the two proven ways to control them.
The 3 opening principles in chess (and how to actually use them)
Control the center, develop your pieces, get your king safe: the 3 principles that let you play a good opening without memorizing twenty moves of theory.
Opening, middlegame, endgame: the 3 phases of a chess game
Every chess game runs through three phases, each with its own rules and priorities. Understand them to know what to look for at every moment.
Should beginners learn openings?
"Work on tactics, not openings," you often hear. True and false. Here's when and how a beginner should deal with openings, without wasting time.
Starting chess: your first 30 days plan
You know the rules but have no idea where to begin? Here's a clear 30-day plan to build your chess foundations and play your first real games.
How to read chess notation: the complete beginner's guide
Nf3, exd5, O-O, Qh5+: chess notation looks like a secret code. In ten minutes, you'll be able to read and write any game, in English and beyond.
How many opening moves do you really need to memorize?
Spoiler: far fewer than you think. Here's how many opening moves to memorize at each level, and why grasping the ideas beats reciting squares every time.
Developing your pieces in chess: the order that works
Knights before bishops, one piece at a time, queen last: the development order that gives you a good opening without agonizing twenty minutes over each move.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start to learn chess?
The rules, then the three opening principles: occupy the center, develop your minor pieces, castle early. Then play slow games applying those principles before memorizing any opening.
Should a beginner learn openings?
Yes, but only one, and not deeply: ten moves of a main opening are enough. The goal is not to recite but to reach the middlegame with a healthy position and a plan.
How long does it take to reach 1000 Elo?
With regular practice (three or four slow games a week, analyzed) and one opening learned by playing it, most beginners pass 1000 Elo within three to six months.
Ready to win your openings?
Start with the Italian Game, for free. From your very next games, you'll know exactly what to play in the opening.
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