Why is it important to control the centre of the board in chess?

Question

Why is it important to control the centre of the board in chess?

Answer 1

The Center of the board allows your pieces to exert more pressure and control on more squares than if they were on the edge of the board, especially the Knight.  

Also, if you are in the center it's easier to move from the queen side to the king side.  It makes you more flexible.

In addition, you will have more space to work with. instead of having the cramped "U" shape to your defense like your opponent will if you control the center.

Answer 2

In many cases, the person who controls the four squares at the center of the board will have the better game. There are simple reasons for this.

First, a piece in the center controls more of the board than one that is somewhere else. As an example, place one knight on a center square and another in one of the corners of the board. The knight in the center can move to eight different squares, while the "cornered" one only has two possible moves!

Second, control of the center provides an avenue for your pieces to travel from one side of the board to the other. To move a piece across the board, you will often have to take it through the center. If your pieces can get to the other side faster than your opponent's pieces, you will often be able to mount a successful attack there before he can bring over enough pieces to defend.

Answer 3

Knights, queens, and bishops power increase as they become closer to the center of the board.  When pieces get close to the edge they lose power.  

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Answer 4

Mr. What nailed it.

Answer 5

The main reason is the theory of spacial control which states that if you have control of the center you have more options to move you pieces compared to your opponet. The stronger your grip on the center the more your opponents options begin to dwindle. As it has been stated already this is espicially true of the knight which becomes way more powerful if on an outpost in the center of the board than on the sides.

Answer 6

Controling the center of the board prevents your opponent from increasing tronged pressure from bishops and the queen.  This also forces the rooks to attack from the sides while you have an open board attack strategy.  Finally, forcing the pawns on the sides to cross the board to regain lost pieces is simpler than one that can move virtually anywhere.  Of course, nothing stops the knight's jump over pieces attacks.Try it & enjoy!