In short: Getting the pieces off their starting squares and into play, above all in the opening.
At the start of the game almost all the pieces are shut in behind the pawns. The knights can jump out right away, but the bishops, the rooks and the queen need some pawns to move first. Getting the pieces into play is called development.
The rules of thumb
- Take space in the center. A good start is a pawn to e4 or d4 (e5 or d5 for Black). It opens the way for the bishop and the queen.
- Minor pieces first. Knights and bishops out before the queen and the rooks.
- One piece, one move. Don't move the same piece twice in the opening without a good reason.
- Castle early. Castling brings the king to safety and a rook into play.
- Hold back the queen. Out too early, she gets chased, and you lose tempo.
What it can look like
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None of this is a must. Strong players break the rules of thumb all the time, but then they have a concrete reason. For someone learning, the rules are an excellent support, and many quick losses among beginners start with someone ignoring them.
A lead in development
If you have more pieces out than your opponent, you have a lead in development. It is a temporary advantage: in a little while your opponent will have caught up. So whoever has the lead should use it, often by opening up the game while the opponent's pieces are still at home.
You'll find more ideas from the opening among our chess openings.
Frequently asked questions
Which pieces should you develop first?
Usually the knights and bishops, the minor pieces. The rooks come into play after castling, and the queen usually waits until the minor pieces are out.
What is a lead in development?
Having more pieces out than your opponent. The lead doesn't last forever, so whoever has it should use it, often by opening up the game before the opponent catches up.
Updated October 31, 2026
The starting position. Press ▶ or use the arrow keys.