Fight for Control of the Center
Pieces in the center become much more mobile.
When you control the center, your pieces enjoy greater freedom to move. The central squares (e4, e5, d4, and d5) are ideal spots, giving your pieces the best positioning to influence a larger portion of the board. For instance, a knight placed in the center can control up to eight squares, whereas a knight on the edge or in a corner has far fewer options.
Controlling the center helps your pieces work together more harmoniously. When your pieces are coordinated, they can support each other and launch strong, unified attacks. By developing your pieces towards the center, you give them the flexibility to quickly move to either side of the board as needed.
Development
Developing your pieces means moving them from their starting positions to more active and useful squares. This includes your knights, bishops, and eventually your rooks and queen. By placing your pieces on active squares, they become more powerful and can control important parts of the board.
Knights and bishops, often called minor pieces, should usually be the first to develop. Knights are especially good early on because they can hop over pawns and other pieces, landing on squares that control the center of the board. Bishops can slide diagonally across the board, covering a lot of ground and supporting your other pieces. Remember, your queen is powerful but can be a target if brought out too early, so it’s usually better to save her for later. Rooks and your queen come into play after you've developed your minor pieces and possibly castled to ensure your king is safe.
