Best Chess Openings for Beginners: Simple First Moves Explained

Introduction

It is thrilling to learn to play chess, and to some degree, it is overwhelming. One of the initial obstacles that any novice has to overcome is how to start a chess game. It starts with 20 moves that you can make on the first turn, where do you start?

The reality is that one does not have to learn dozens of lines to master chess openings for beginners. All that is required is to have a few simple chess openings, a decent knowledge of the fundamentals, and a feel of what is suited to you. Here in this guide, we will take you through the best chess openings for beginners, show you why they are good and how exactly you can play those openings yourself, with diagrams, animated examples and even practical advice on how to become a better player as quickly as possible.

Why Chess Openings Matter for Beginners

Openings set the tone for the entire game. While the middlegame and endgame decide who wins, a weak opening can leave you in trouble before the real fight even begins.

Here’s why a solid opening matters:

• You gain control of the center — the most important area of the board.
  
  

• You develop your pieces quickly and safely.
  
  

• You avoid common traps and beginner mistakes.
  
  

• You get your king to safety with early castling.
  
  

• You start learning chess patterns that repeat again and again.
  
  

Choosing one of the best chess openings for beginners means choosing a system that teaches you real chess — not just tricks or traps.

Common goals of good beginner chess openings:

• Easy to remember and repeat
  
  

• Teach opening principles (not just memorization)
  
  

• Lead to safe, balanced positions
  
  

• Scalable as your skill improves
  
  

Table: What a Good Beginner Opening Should Do

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Opening Principles Every Beginner Should Know

It is important to know why some moves are played before getting deeper into the particular beginner chess openings. An opening does not only involve pushing a pawn, it also has essential principles to be followed so that you can create a good safe position.

Here are the five most important principles that apply to all basic chess openings:

1. Control the Center

One is advised to conquer the middle squares (e4, d4, e5, d5) at the earliest opportunity. This makes your pieces as mobile as possible and it restricts the possibilities of your opponent.

Good first moves: 1.e4, 1.d4
Bad first moves: 1.h4, 1.a4 — don’t waste time on the flanks

2. Develop Your Pieces Early

Bring out your knights and bishops quickly. Avoid moving the same piece twice unless necessary. Your odds are better the sooner your army is in action.

3. Castle Early

Protect your king by castling on move 5–8 if possible. Keeping your king in the center too long is a common beginner mistake.

4. Don’t Move the Queen Too Soon

Yes, the queen is powerful — but if you bring her out too early, she’ll get chased around by knights and bishops, costing you time and tempo.

5. Follow a Plan — Not Random Moves

Each move should help you complete development and prepare for middlegame strategy. Avoid pushing random pawns or reacting without purpose.

Classic Opening Development

FEN after 5...O-O:
r1bq1rk1/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 0 6

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Top 5 Beginner-Friendly Chess Openings

The following are five simple chess openings that are easy to understand, follow the basics and are good even as you get better. They are both coach approved and beginner tested.

1. Italian Game

One of the oldest and most intuitive chess openings for beginners, the Italian Game teaches fast development and center control.

Main idea: develop pieces quickly and prepare to castle
Typical plan: Bc4, Nf3, short castling, pressure on f7

FEN after 6.cxd4:
r1bqk1nr/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b5/2BPP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 7

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2. Queen’s Gambit

Despite the name, it’s not a real gambit — White offers a pawn to gain central space. It’s safe, positional, and very instructive.

Main idea: control the center, then develop behind it
Typical plan: d4, c4, Nc3, e3, Be2, O-O

FEN after 5...O-O:
rnbq1rk1/ppp1bppp/4pn2/3p2B1/2P5/2N1P3/PP1P1PPP/R2QKBNR w KQ - 0 6

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3. London System

A favorite among beginners and streamers alike — simple, system-based, and reliable against nearly anything.

Main idea: build a setup with d4, Nf3, Bf4, e3, c3
Typical plan: just follow the structure; don't remember lines.

FEN after 6.Nbd2:
r1bqkb1r/pp3ppp/2n1pn2/2pp4/3P1B2/4P3/PPP2PPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 7

4. Scotch Game

Want fast action in the center? For energetic players who enjoy strategic combat and well-defined concepts, the Scotch is perfect.

Main idea: open the center early, develop with tempo
Typical plan: e4, d4, Nf3, Nc3

FEN after 5...Bb4:
r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/8/1b1NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 2 6

5. English Opening

A flexible system that starts on the flank and allows for transpositions into many structures.

Main idea: control the center with c4, then develop flexibly
Typical plan: c4, g3, Bg2, Nc3, Nf3, d3

FEN after 5...d6:
r1bqk2r/ppp2pbp/2np2p1/4p3/2P5/2NP2P1/PP3PBP/R1BQK1NR w KQkq - 0 6

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Common Opening Mistakes to Avoid

Even the best chess openings for beginners won’t help if you fall into basic traps. Let’s go over the most common early-game mistakes — and how to avoid them. Mastering these can save you dozens of games.

1. Bringing the Queen Out Too Early

Beginners often rush to develop the queen, hoping for quick attacks. But this usually backfires: the queen becomes a target and wastes time dodging minor pieces.

Why it’s bad: No piece development, queen is easily attacked, you fall behind quickly.

Do this instead: Develop knights and bishops first.

2. Not Controlling the Center

Moves like a3 or h3 in the opening don’t fight for space and often result in a cramped position.

Do this instead: Start with 1.e4 or 1.d4 to claim central ground.

3. Ignoring Development to Chase Pawns

Don’t fall into the trap of grabbing early material at the cost of development.

What goes wrong: Queen gets exposed, Black delays development.

4. Delaying Castling Too Long

Keeping your king in the center is risky, especially if the position opens up. Castle early to avoid tactical disasters.

Best practice: Castle by move 7–9 if possible.

5. Moving the Same Piece Twice in the Opening

Every unnecessary piece movement is lost tempo. If your knight jumps around early, you're losing the initiative.

What to do instead: Finish developing other pieces first.

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How to Practice Openings Effectively

Learning chess openings for the beginners is not about knowing 20 moves variations. It is about building habits, learning the principles and training till the movement becomes second nature.

Here’s how to turn openings into strengths:

1. Focus on Move Ideas, Not Memorization

Don’t just learn what to play — learn why. Ask yourself:

• What does this move control?
  
  

• What’s being developed?
  
  

• What’s the plan after castling?
  
  

2. Use PGNs and Repetition

Replaying openings via PGN files builds muscle memory. Try repeating one opening daily for 7 days.

Use this with tools like Chess.com Opening Explorer or Lichess Study Mode.

3. Play Short Games Focused on a Single Opening

Start 10-minute games online using only your target opening. Focus on development, castling, and principles — not just winning.

4. Use Chess Trainers and Opening Databases

Modern tools analyze your games and show how often you stick to opening lines. Some even suggest better continuations.

Try the Lichess Opening Explorer — it’s free and shows popularity, success rates, and master-level moves.

5. Create Your Opening Notebook

Write a little note about your favorite openings, PGNs, traps to avoid and goals. It is a wonderful review and reflection technique.

FAQs about Chess Openings for Beginners

1. What is the best beginner opening in chess?

The Italian Game is widely regarded as the best opening for beginners. It teaches fundamental principles: center control, piece development, and early castling. Other great options include the London System and the Queen’s Gambit, which are also easy to learn and very effective.

2. What is the dumbest chess opening?

Many players consider 1.f3 followed by 2.g4, known as the Fool’s Mate setup, one of the worst ways to start a chess game. It violates all key principles: no center control, poor development, and early king exposure. While funny in casual play, it teaches an important lesson — bad openings get punished quickly.

3. What are the three golden rules of chess opening?

These are the classic and simple rules that every starting person should follow:

1. Control the center (e4, d4)
   
   

2. Develop minor pieces (knights and bishops)
   
   

3. Castle early for king safety
   
   

These three principles are the core of all simple chess openings and help avoid common mistakes.

Feel free to learn more about other openings from Chess.com’s Beginner Guide

4. What are the best first four moves in chess?

There’s no perfect universal answer, but a classic example would be:

This setup comes from the Italian Game, which develops two pieces, controls the center, and prepares to castle — hitting all the beginner fundamentals.

5. Can easy chess openings still beat stronger players?

Absolutely. Many easy chess openings like the London or Scotch Game are used by top-level players. What matters is how well you understand the ideas behind the moves — not how complicated the opening is.

Final Thoughts — Keep It Simple, Stay Consistent

You don’t need to memorize 50 lines of theory to improve at chess. The most important thing is getting good habits: play principled moves, learn your openings, and play them a great deal.

No matter what your goal is: to learn rapid development with the Italian Game, to develop structure with the Queen Gambit, or just to keep it simple with the London System, every game you play trains your pattern recognition and decision-making.

Final beginner opening tips:

• Stick to simple chess openings that follow basic principles
  
  

• Practice them with repetition and short time controls
  
  

• Review your games and correct early mistakes
  
  

• Use PGNs, FENs, and visual tools to deepen understanding
  
  

• Don’t jump to complex systems too fast — master the basics first