--- title: "Development in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/development.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/development" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "Development means bringing your pieces from their starting squares to active posts, usually by moving the knights and bishops out." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/tempo.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/lead-in-development.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-activity.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-coordination.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-safety.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/center-control.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/strategy.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Development in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. Development means bringing your pieces from their starting squares to active posts, usually by moving the knights and bishops out. Development means bringing your pieces from their starting squares to active posts, usually by moving the knights and bishops out, castling and linking the rooks, so they can all contribute to the fight. At the start of a game most of your army sits on the back rank, doing nothing. Development is the process of bringing it into play. [Knights](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) and [bishops](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) usually come out first, the king is tucked away by [castling](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/castling.md), and the rooks then find open or half-open lines. A well developed side can strike anywhere on the board, while an undeveloped piece is a spectator. Simple habits help. Move each minor piece once, aim for [squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) where it influences the center, and avoid shuffling the same piece again and again. Do not bring the queen out early, because it becomes a target and the opponent develops with tempo against it. Only make a pawn move when it helps your pieces or fights for the center. Development is also a measure. If you are further along than your opponent, you may be able to open the position and punish them. If you are behind, you should keep the position closed and finish catching up before anything opens. The usual error is to stop thinking of development once the king is castled. Every piece, including the rook on the corner, should have a job before you start a plan elsewhere. Also worth reading is [Tempo](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/tempo.md). A tempo is a single move counted as a measure of time: gaining one means making a useful move that also forces the opponent to react, while losing one means spending a move that accomplishes nothing. It sits close to [Center control](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/center-control.md). Center control means influencing the central squares d4, d5, e4 and e5, with pawns, pieces or both, so that your forces move freely and the opponent has less room to operate. Compare it with [Opening principles](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opening-principles.md). Opening principles are general guidelines for the first moves: control the center, develop knights and bishops quickly, castle early and avoid moving the same piece twice without reason. Strategic ideas such as "Development" show up in your games as small decisions, move after move. A [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li reviews those decisions and turns them into a study plan. ## Related terms - [Tempo](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/tempo.md) - [Lead in development](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/lead-in-development.md) - [Piece activity](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-activity.md) - [Piece coordination](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-coordination.md) - [King safety](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-safety.md) - [Center control](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/center-control.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Tempo in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/tempo.md) - [Lead in development in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/lead-in-development.md) - [Piece activity in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-activity.md) - [Piece coordination in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece-coordination.md) - [King safety in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-safety.md) - [Center control in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/center-control.md) - [Chess terms: Strategy](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/strategy.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)