WEBVTT 00:00.960 --> 00:06.150 Why that in this picture, I want to take a slightly different angle on an opening principle, it's 00:06.150 --> 00:07.460 the center of the chessboard. 00:07.470 --> 00:10.650 We really want to focus on center the center of the chessboard. 00:10.920 --> 00:14.100 And there's an extended center as well you can think about like this. 00:14.850 --> 00:19.560 So pieces towards the center, like a knight, they're often much stronger than they are, much stronger 00:19.740 --> 00:21.930 in the sense that they are controlling more squares. 00:22.110 --> 00:24.240 And that's the same with most pieces, in fact. 00:26.640 --> 00:33.820 So central control, but particularly these four squares are essential basis for playing the opening. 00:34.290 --> 00:43.440 So that's why either 844, in fact, are considered like the strongest, both to try out and start the 00:43.440 --> 00:43.760 game. 00:44.040 --> 00:46.860 So E4 is already attacking two central squares. 00:47.220 --> 00:49.710 Now, let's say they they play in a very fancy way. 00:50.160 --> 00:57.900 B6, what would be the ideal setup to play well d4 for example, and here you can develop this night 00:58.710 --> 00:59.810 and you can develop this line. 00:59.850 --> 01:05.130 So this is an ideal kind of set up and say they were playing like this. 01:06.240 --> 01:14.070 You can develop towards the sense of the bishops controlling D5 and say they played this for you, get 01:14.070 --> 01:20.220 this classical sense up and then, OK, they're hitting your opponent, you defend it and then you can 01:20.240 --> 01:25.050 also you've got the classical sense up here, which is the default kind of sets up you want to aim for 01:25.050 --> 01:25.620 in general. 01:25.890 --> 01:31.560 This would be a dreamy sort of set up in general, and your rooks are ready to come to the center. 01:31.560 --> 01:36.660 We can even extend this a little bit further, that we put our rooks towards the center and you get 01:36.660 --> 01:39.420 the idea this is like a golden setup. 01:40.200 --> 01:44.010 It's been referred to sometimes as a kind of golden setup, essentially. 01:44.010 --> 01:46.230 Look at the central control, the light in central control. 01:46.230 --> 01:52.560 Every piece is aimed firing at the central four squares of the chessboard. 01:53.040 --> 01:58.950 There was actually a study by the GROOT'S which said what separates most players from lesser players 01:58.950 --> 02:00.960 is their attention to the center. 02:01.110 --> 02:06.420 So bear that in mind throughout the game that your central control and your difference of central control 02:06.420 --> 02:12.260 between you and your opponent often indicates up to a large part who has the advantage? 02:12.540 --> 02:13.330 This is a dream. 02:13.330 --> 02:20.730 He set up just a fictional game here to show, you know, ideally you'd really emphasize central control 02:20.970 --> 02:21.990 by playing like this. 02:22.590 --> 02:26.670 And it does create lots of opportunities later for all sorts of attacks. 02:27.180 --> 02:30.120 So this is a dream setup to aim for in general. 02:31.410 --> 02:36.900 In general, if your opponent wasn't contesting the center and you've got all sorts of possibilities 02:36.900 --> 02:37.770 for them to worry about. 02:38.610 --> 02:46.500 So central control is a key premise of playing openings which are effective and dangerous for your opponent. 02:46.920 --> 02:53.130 So try and think about the four central squares of the chessboard and how each of your pieces can contribute 02:53.700 --> 02:55.500 to that battle of the center. 02:56.610 --> 02:59.340 OK, the center is like the hill on the battlefield. 03:00.000 --> 03:04.920 For hundreds of years it's been fought that if you have the hill, you can see all around. 03:05.490 --> 03:11.140 It's a strategic advantage to be on the hill, in the chess, on the chessboard that is the hill, that 03:11.160 --> 03:18.930 the four central squares are a very, very good thing to try and have an advantage over the opponent. 03:19.530 --> 03:21.510 OK, that's much.