\documentclass[a4paper,10pt,twocolumn]{article}

\usepackage{chess}

\setlength{\topmargin}{0cm}
\setlength{\headheight}{0cm}
\setlength{\headsep}{0cm}
\setlength{\topskip}{0cm}
\setlength{\textheight}{24cm}

\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}
\setlength{\parskip}{1.5ex}

\begin{document}

\title{Exeter Chess Club: Opening rules
}

\author{Dr. Dave}

\maketitle
\tableofcontents


\section{Exeter Chess Club: 10 rules for the opening
}

\begin{enumerate}

 \item
 Get your pieces out into the centre quickly.  The opening is a
race to see who can get their pieces out first while keeping at least
a share of control of the centre. 
 
 \item
This is the main point to remember; all the other rules are just
footnotes to this one

 \item
More detail on winning the race:
 \begin{itemize}

 \item
Move pieces not pawns, and \item
 move them to their best squares in
one move if you can, and also \item
 try to gain time if you can by
aggressive moves. 
\end{itemize}

 \item
 Move minor pieces out first, not your Q or RRs which can be
attacked and lose time
 \item
 Get a firm foothold in the centre and don't give it up
 \item
 Generally move Knights straightaway to f3/c3 or f6/c6 
 \item
 Move your king to safety at the side by castling King's-side
(which also gets your Rook into play)
 \item
 {\bf Complete your development} before moving a piece twice or
starting an attack
 \item
 Keep your queen safe
 \item
 Don't grab pawns or attack if you haven't completed development
 \item
What to do if there is a lead in development:\begin{itemize}
\item
 {\bf If you are ahead in development}, start
something going and open up lines for your better pieces
 \item
 {\bf If you are behind in development}, don't start
anything and keep things closed until you have caught up \end{itemize}
 
\end{enumerate}




\section{Further advice on playing the opening}

I've collected here some other advice from the grandmasters of the past.

\subsection{Lasker's rules for the opening}

\begin{enumerate}


 \item
 Do not move any pawns in the opening of a game but the King and
Queen pawns. 

 \item
 Do not move any piece twice in the opening, but put it at once on
the right square. 

 \item
 Bring out your knights before developing your bishops, especially
the Queen's Bishop. 

 \item
 Do not pin the adverse King Knight (ie. by Bg5) before your
opponent has castled. 

\end{enumerate}


 COOL TIP: Why should you move
the knights first?  Well, knights are very much more effective if they
are in the centre.  (Bishops are more effective here too, but they can
work from a distance).  For the opening that has to mean Knights
moving to c3 and f3 (or c6 and g6).  Where should the Bishops go?  The
White King's Bishop on f1 could go to b5,c4,d3 or even e2.  Which is
best? That depends on what your opponent is up to.  So, move your
knights straight away to the centre, and while you are doing that your
opponent's moves may suggest to you where you should put your bishops. 



\subsection{Reuben Fine on the opening}

\begin{enumerate}


 \item
 In the initial position White, because of the extra move, has a
slight advantage.  Consequently: 

 \item
 White's problem in the opening is
to secure the better position, while... 

 \item
 Black's problem is to
secure equality. 
\end{enumerate}




\subsection{Fine's rules for the opening}

\begin{enumerate}


 \item
 Open with either the e-pawn or the d-pawn.

 \item
 Wherever possible, make a good developing move which threatens something or adds to the pressure on the centre.

 \item
 Develop knights before bishops.

 \item
 Pick the most suitable square for a piece and develop it there once and for all.

 \item
 Make one or two pawn moves in the opening, not more.

 \item
 Do not bring your queen out too early.

 \item
 Castle as soon as possible, preferably on the king's side.

 \item
 Play to get control of the centre.

 \item
 Always try to maintain at least one pawn in the centre.

 \item
 Do not sacrifice without a clear and adequate reason, eg.:

\begin{itemize}

 \item
 it secures a tangible advantage in development
 \item
 it deflects the opponent's queen
 \item
 it prevents the opponent from castling
 \item
 it enables a strong attack to be developed
\end{itemize}


\end{enumerate}





\subsection{Fine's two last questions to be asked before a move is made}
\begin{itemize}


 \item
 How does it affect the centre?

 \item
 How does it fit in with the development of my other pieces and pawns?
\end{itemize}





\subsection{Nimzovitch's Seven Axioms}

(from My System)



\begin{enumerate}


\item
Development is to be understood as the strategic advance of the
troops toward the frontier line (the line between the fourth and fifth
ranks). 

\item
A pawn move must not in itself be regarded as a devloping move,
but merely as an aid to development. 

\item
To be ahead in development is the ideal to be aimed for. 

\item
Exchange with resulting gain of tempo.

\item
Liquidation, with consequent development or disembarrassment.

\item
The pawn centre must be mobile.

\item
There is no time for pawn hunting in the opening, except for
centre pawns. 

\end{enumerate}


 -- NIMZOVITCH






\subsection{Suetin's four principles for advanced players}


\begin{enumerate}

\item
The fight for control of the centre
\item
The striving for the quickest and most active development.
\item
The creation of conditions that permit early castling.
\item
The formation of an advantageous pawn structure
\end{enumerate}

 -- SUETIN





\subsection{Hort's 13 rules for all players}



\begin{enumerate}


\item
Take advantage of every tempo.

\item
Do not make pawn moves without careful planning.

\item
Begin the game with a centre pawn, and develop the minor pieces so
that they influence the centre. 

\item
Develop flexibly!

\item
Develop harmoniously!  Play with all your pieces

\item
Do not make aimless moves.  Each move must be part of a definite
plan. 

\item
Do not be eager for material gain.  The fight for time is much
more important than the fight for material, especially in open
positions. 

\item
A weakening of your own pawns may be accepted only if it is
compensated by a more active placement of your pieces. 

\item
With the help of your pawns, try to get an advantage in space and
weaken your opponent's pawn position. 

\item
Do not obstruct your pawns by grouping your pieces directly in
front of them; pawns and pieces must work together. 

\item
During the first few moves, pay special attention to the
vulnerable KB2 square on both sides. 

\item
Remember that the poor placement of even a single piece may
destroy the coordination of the other pieces. 

\item
With White, exploit the advantage of having the first move and try
to gain the initiative.  With Black, try to organize counterplay. 

\end{enumerate}


This last point is worth particular attention, for, although it
contains much wisdom, it is not always applied in current tournament
practice.  Unfortunately, we belong to a time when White usually tries
to gain only a minimal advantage, because to try for more entails the
taking of risks.  Black, having no sure method of developing
counterplay without risk, usually tries to minimise White's attacking
possibilities.  The game thus proceeds towards an endgame in which
neither side has real winning chances."


 -- VLASTIMIL HORT






\subsection{Portisch on forming a repertoire}


``Your only task in the opening is to reach a playable middlegame."


"...To all players I can recommend the following: simplicity and
economy.  These are the characteristics of the opening systems of many
great masters... A solid opening repertoire fosters self-confidence."

 -- LAJOS PORTISCH


(LP goes on to discuss the 
Exchange Ruy Lopez,
 the Modern Steinitz (as Black),
slow lines of the French Winawer,
 the Classical Pirc,
the Closed Sicilian
 and the
King's Indian Attack against the French (and Sicilian;
 and on the other side of the board
the Exchange Queen's Gambit
 and lines of the
King's Indian Defence and
Nimzo-Indian)




\end{document}