Controlling the centre means occupying or attacking the four middle squares, e4, d4, e5 and d5, with pawns and pieces from the first moves.
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Pieces in the middle reach more squares than pieces on the edge. A pawn on e4 or d4 also takes squares away from the opponent's knights and bishops before they come out.
How to do it
- 1Start with the e-pawn or the d-pawn.
- 2Bring knights and bishops out to squares that point at the centre.
- 3Leave the edge pawns alone in the first ten moves.
For your level
Push a middle pawn first. Then bring out your knights. Point them at the middle.
Common mistakes
- Opening with an edge pawn, which takes no central square and frees no piece.
- Grabbing a wing pawn early while the opponent builds the centre.
Questions
- Is 1.e4 better than 1.d4?
- No. Both take a central square and free a bishop and the queen. Games after 1.e4 tend to open sooner and games after 1.d4 tend to be slower, so the choice is about taste.
- Why is the centre so important in chess?
- A knight in the centre attacks eight squares; in a corner it attacks two. Central pawns also decide where the opponent's pieces can stand.