Greetings to all chess fans! Protecting the king is one of the basic opening chess principles. There are a number that I can easily remember.
- Control the center
- Develop your pieces
- Don't move the same piece twice
- Don't develop your Queen early
- Castles to protect the King
It's a lesson beginner chess players learn yet even season grandmasters violate this principle with disastrous results. Even top ten grandmasters sometimes violate this opening rule and paid dearly for it. In Tata Steel Chess tournament, I saw a couple of games that led to beautiful sacrifices.
Game 1 - Van Foreest vs Keymer
image from chessbase.com
The game was played in round 9. I was watching it because it was my favorite opening, the London System. It was played by Dutch number two player Jorden Van Foreest against Germany number one, Vincent Keymer.
Black challenges White's bishop on f4. The usual move is Bg3 and after Black captures the bishop, the h file will open for a possible King side attack.
White allowed the exchange on f4. It looks ugly at first having doubled pawns on the f file but in return, White gets control of the e5 square.
Black moved d6, threatening to capture the pawn on f4 and land a check on b4. White countered with Qd2 to protect the f4 and b4 squares.
Ng8 intending to dislodge White's Knight on e5 with f6. Black is under a lot of pressure because of the pin on his Knight on c6. The move loses time, better was to castle Kingside.
With Black's King still not castled, Jorden sacrificed his Knight to open the center. After a few moves, Black is already lost.
Game link: https://lichess.org/broadcast/tata-steel-chess-2026--masters/round-9/4qFZzDfZ/pQNnris6
Game 2 - Bluebaum - Giri
image from x.com
This time the game was between German number two, Matthias Bluebaum against Dutch number one, Anish Giri.
Looks like a bad opening choice but it's been played before and analysis says the position is equal. Black gives up his sniper Bishop on g7 to saddle White with doubled pawns on the c file.
Although analysis says it's still equal, I already prefer White in this position. Black's Knight on h5 looks misplaced and dark squares on his King side looks weakened by the absence of the bishop.
Black launched an attack on the King side while his own monarch is still out in the open. He won three pawns but his King is going to be hunted.
Re3 opens a discovered attack against Black's Queen while threatening another discovered attack against Black's King. Inspite of the three pawn deficit, White has the advantage.
White has pressure on the e7 Knight while threatening another discovered attack on Black's Queen. Giri soon lost the game.
Game link: https://lichess.org/broadcast/tata-steel-chess-2026--masters/round-10/XaaOM4mi/BkzNQ5Uk
My Own Game
My own game was not as flashy but illustrates the point too.
Black left his King uncastled and planned to launch an attack on my castled King.
He advanced his g pawn and left his King open. After Bh5+ he will lose his Knight on d7 and has to give up his Queen to avoid mate.
Game link: https://lichess.org/ChUM5cB7G9tG
Conclusion
Protecting the King in the opening phase of the game is one of the basic chess principles. Castling is your way of putting the king to safety before the battle truly begins. A safe king lets your pieces work freely and keeps tactics from landing on you. Protect the king early and you can proceed to the middle game with less fear and concern. Violate this principle and more often than not, you will pay the price as even grandmasters find out how bad it can be.
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