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Develop Your Pieces

Development means moving pieces from their starting squares to useful squares. Developed pieces take part in the game.

Knights develop first

White plays Nf3 and Black plays Nc6. Both knights have left their starting squares.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Bishops develop next

White plays Bc4 and Black plays Bc5. Both bishops have left their starting squares and aim at the center.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Castle to finish development

White plays O-O after developing knight and bishop. The king is safe and the rook on f1 is in play.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • Knights and bishops develop first. They are the pieces that leave the back rank most easily.
  • Develop with a threat when you can. A developing move that also attacks an enemy piece gains time.
  • Castle after developing the pieces between king and rook. Castling brings the king to safety and the rook into play.
  • A piece on its starting square takes no part in the game. An undeveloped side fights with fewer pieces.
  • Develop before attacking. An attack with undeveloped pieces runs out of pieces quickly.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5, what should White play next to castle?