OPENING THEORY

The opening is nothing short of a race. You want to get ALL of your pieces (not pawns) out and in play as soon as possible. Moving pieces off the back row is known as developing. Simply put a piece that isn't developed is a piece that isn't doing anything. It is not always enough to just get your pieces off the back row.

If you just move your pieces off the back row and call that your opening, then you will quickly find that you spend your whole game running from your opponent. You need to plan where you put your pieces so that you can get your pieces out quickly while making your opponent slow down.

Have you ever found yourself thinking, "I would need more pieces but they are all put away and it will take to long too get them, I have problems now," then you have your answer. FAILURE TO DEVELOP ALL YOUR PIECES IS LIKE GOING TO WAR WITH ONLY HALF YOUR ARMY. All through chess time is an issue. You opponent will not wait for you to get ready, prepare first and you will not run short later. Once the middle game is started there is no guarantee you can find the time to develop.