Chess Quote by Wilhelm Steinitz
“The king pawn and the queen pawn are the only ones to be moved in the early part of the game.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Chess Fundamentals, 1909
In the opening, only the king’s and queen’s pawns should be moved early, emphasizing central control and piece development.
In simple terms: Early pawn moves focus on central control.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize central pawn moves in openings.
Themes
chess
strategy
opening theory
development
control
Mood
analytical
instructional
strategic
Type
educational
technical
When to use this quote
- tournament play
- training sessions
- online matches
Key Concepts
pawn structure
central dominance
piece coordination
Questions to Reflect On
- When might deviating from this principle be advantageous?
- How does pawn structure affect mid‑game plans?
A Different Perspective
Rigid opening rules can limit flexibility against unconventional play.
![“[Photographer Julian Wasser] had this great idea that I should play chess naked with Marcel Duchamp and it seem to be such a great idea that it was just like the best idea I'd ever heard in my life. It was like a great idea. I mean, it was - Not only was it vengeance, it was art, and it was, like…” quote by Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18d/eve-babitz-19835_art_photographer-julian-wasser-had-this-grea_14326.jpg)
