Fast development means bringing the knights and bishops off the back rank quickly, one move each, and castling before starting any attack.
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The side with more pieces out usually gets to attack first, because the other side's defenders are still at home. A move spent on a pawn, or on the same piece again, is a move not spent developing.
How to do it
- 1Bring out the knights first, towards the centre, then the bishops.
- 2Castle within the first ten moves.
- 3Move each piece once until all are out, unless a second move wins something.
For your level
Bring out your knights and bishops. Then castle your king. Move each piece once.
Common mistakes
- Making several pawn moves in the opening while the pieces stay at home.
- Putting a piece where a pawn can attack it and make it move again.
Questions
- How many moves should development take?
- About ten. By then, in most openings, both knights and both bishops can be out and the king castled.