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Well let's begin with the basics. I'm assuming at this point that you have some basic understanding of chess rules and chess notations. The basic plan of an opening after moving e4 or d4 also known as moving your king's or queen's pawn is to fight for control of the center. The idea behind this is simple; if you have control over the center you can develop your pieces faster to whichever side of the board the action is at giving you greater control over the board. Accordingly e5 or d5 moves by black are reactionary moves that try to thwart whites effort to control the center of the board. I recommend playing symmetrically (example: e4, e5 or d4, d5) during openings for players learning chess. This does not create an advantage but you can avoid several traps by using this sound but cautious play. So now you ask, I've moved my center pawns what do I do now? The next step is to develop your minor pieces. The recommended move order is to develop your Knights first, usually to f3 or c3 as white and f6 and c6 for black. Taking on these squares are key moves because they develop the Knight and immediately fight for the key center squares (e4, e5, d4, d5). Now for developing your other minor piece the Bishop, my preference is to always develop my kingside Bishop first this is the light squared bishop for white and the dark squared bishop for black. This allows you to castle on the next move if the Knight has also been developed. Generally I always ponder four thoughts before I move my Bishop. 1. Look for open lines, a bishop flourishes in open games they are fast and lethal from long range and can put tremendous pressure on you opponent. 2. Threatening or Pinning, if you can develop your bishop to a square that threatens your opponent or pins down a piece due to the possibility of losing a greater valued piece then you can force a reaction that gains time for you also known in chess as gaining tempo. 3. Can I develop my bishop to a square that will improve my position? This involves a strategic plan were you are perhaps limiting the Bishop's value on the board in an attempt to gain some other type of advantage. An example would be protecting a key square even if it hampers the movement of your Bishop. 4. Finally one of the most important questions you should ask yourself before moving a Bishop or any piece in general. By moving this piece will I be weakening my position or allowing my opponent to gain an advantage in any way? If the answer doesn't favor you then go back to the drawing board and find a different move. After developing the minor pieces it is time to develop your major pieces. Rooks are the battering rams of chess they destroy anything in front or to the side of them. Rooks flourish on open lines much like the Bishop and are best placed on open or half open files. Often times after early center