The centre
Also called Center, Centre control.
The four middle squares, d4, e4, d5 and e5, from which pieces reach the most of the board.
A knight in the centre attacks eight squares; in a corner, two. Openings are largely a fight over these squares, with pawns (the classical way) or with pieces from a distance (the hypermodern way).
New to chess? The examples here use it. Play your first moves (five minutes), then learn chess from the beginning, one short lesson at a time.
Learn and practise it
- Lesson: The three phases of a game