What is Development in chess?
Bringing your knights and bishops off the back rank into the game.
Good opening play is mostly about fast development and king safety. Pieces sitting on their starting squares do nothing; develop them toward the center early.
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Analyze my games →More chess terms
- TempoA single move counted as a unit of time.
- InitiativeBeing the side making threats and dictating play.
- OutpostA square (often supported by a pawn) that an enemy pawn can never attack.
- Weak squareA square that cannot be defended by a friendly pawn, making it vulnerable to enemy occupation.
- HoleA square in your position that your own pawns can never defend, creating a permanent weakness.
- Isolated pawnA pawn with no friendly pawns on the adjacent files.