Developing move

At the start of a game, most pieces are confined behind their pawns. A developing move usually brings a knight or bishop off its starting square and places it where it controls useful squares, defends something important, or helps create a threat. Development is not merely moving a piece. It is making that piece take part in the game.

Effective activation

The Bishop Joins the Game

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

a1

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

From f4, the bishop controls e5 and continues through d6 to the pawn on c7.

A move with concrete effects

The white bishop moved from c1 to f4. From there it controls e5 and attacks the pawn on c7, so it is now participating from a safe and useful square.

1. From f4, the bishop controls e5 and continues through d6 to the pawn on c7.

Good developing moves often serve several purposes at once: fighting for the center, helping the king castle early, and improving coordination. Knights and bishops usually come first because they can become active immediately, while rooks normally need other pieces to clear their paths.

A pawn move may open a diagonal for a bishop or queen, but it is not usually counted as developing a piece. Moving the same piece several times also adds no new development. It may spend moves that the opponent uses to activate the rest of the army and obtain a lead in development. There are valid exceptions: escaping an attack, winning material, or creating a concrete threat can justify moving a developed piece again.

Preparation with a pawnRepeated move

Opening the Path Is Not Development

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

a1

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

The move d2-d4 cleared the c1-d2-e3-f4-g5-h6 diagonal.

The diagonal is open, but the piece is still home

The pawn moved from d2 to d4 and opened the diagonal of the bishop on c1. The bishop is still on its starting square. The pawn prepared development, but it did not develop the piece.

1. The move d2-d4 cleared the c1-d2-e3-f4-g5-h6 diagonal.
2. The bishop remains on c1: its route is ready, but the piece has not developed yet.