1. How to start well in a game of chess

2. Things to avoid: wasting time and 4-move checkmate

1. How to start well in a game of chess

U9s/U11: Open with a duck! [U14s]

DCK = Develop, Centre, King

(c)

Develop
Centre
King

• Develop
  • Send out your pieces one at a time, and move each piece once
  • Don't waste time (make only 2-3 pawn moves, keep your Queen safe)
• Centre
  • Get a pawn in the centre, two if you can
  • Move pieces towards the centre
• King Safety
  • Castle as soon as you can
  • Leave alone the wall of pawns in front of your King
• Rooks
  • Connect your Rooks (clear your back rank so they can see each other)
  • If you haven't connected your Rooks, you haven't done all your opening jobs

Perfect!

U14s: Open better than you did when you were U9!

You have to be more accurate and pushier

• Develop
  • Send out your pieces
  • Develop with threats if you can
  • Avoid Old Stodge positions
• Centre
  • Get a pawn in the centre, two if you can
  • As White: put pressure on your opponent's pawn
  • As Black, hit back with ...d5 or ...c5
• King Safety
  • Castle as soon as you can
    • But not into an attack
  • Leave alone the wall of pawns in front of your King
• Rooks
  • Connect your Rooks (clear your back rank so they can see each other)
  • Open a file for your Rooks
  • Play openings where a file can get opened!
• Also:
  • You have to play proper openings with a name
  • You have to know at least 4 systems: two for White and two for Black e.g.

2. Things to avoid

Don't waste time

Don't fall for a quick checkmate

You can see the quick checkmates and how to avoid them here:

http://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/node/95

(c) Photo credit: Paul Beckwith, playing chess with his duck Crash https://twitter.com/PaulHBeckwith Paul comments: "He is not that good, since I won 3 games out of 4."