The highly-recommended sequence of opening moves for a beginner, according to several chess programs has been referred to as the Golden Moves. Of course, there are several variations on this theme and they are not limited to any particular ECO classification. Further, the order of the moves makes no difference-- the final result is what matters.

This approach is certainly good for avoiding the Fool's Mate and other simple traps in the *positive mode* of good training for chess opening principles. These include development, proper piece placement, protection, preparation for offensive and defensive maneuvers, etc.

Thus, this game collection will provide example games that are practical demonstrations of the Golden Moves. They are grist for the mill for those beginners, letting them see it put in motion.

This game is not yet in CG, but shows a case of the Golden Moves for the Black chessmen:

Event "Memorial L.Polugaevsky (open)"
Site "Samara (Russia)"
Date "2015.07.07"
Round "5"
White "Timankin Fedor (RUS)"
Black "Bykov Oleg (RUS)"
Result "0-1"
WhiteElo "2070"
BlackElo "2059"
ECO "A01"
Opening "Nimzovich-Larsen attack: modern variation" Source "CA 17 HugeBase"

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. h3 O-O 7. Nd2 Bf5 8. e3 Qd7 9. a3 Rfe8

click for larger view

Note that "Ten Golden Moves" may also be seen in the literature. Here is a decent example, not in CG yet and without any fianchetto, by two U8 players:

Event "Ch Romania (juniors) (under 08)"
Site "Caciulata (Romania)"
Date "2011.4.11"
Round "4"
White "Stancu-Filipescu David"
Black "Gheorghiu Stefan-Daniel"
Result "0-1"

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bc4 d6 5. Nf3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bf4 b6 8. Re1 Bb7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. Rad1

click for larger view

Here's a case where U14 girls are the players and primarily show a variation of the Golden Moves for the Black chessmen:

Event "Ch Romania (juniors) (under 14) (g)"
Site "Caciulata (Romania)"
Date "2011.4.15"
Round "7"
White "Ichim, Ioana-Andreea"
Black "Banciu, Bianca-Gabriela"
Result "0-1"
BlackElo "1620"
ECO "A05"
Opening "Reti: Nimzovich-Larsen attack"

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 g6 3. Bb2 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. O-O Nc6 7. d3 Bf5 8. Nbd2 Qd7 9. Re1 Rad8 10. e3 Rfe8

click for larger view

Ten Golden Moves is rather limiting, since 12 moves may result in a Golden Moves configuration of value as well. Also, note that the first diagram was from a game where *nine* moves led to the Golden Moves configuration.

ChessCoachClark (CCC) originated this game collection in October 2024 and he updates it on occasion. This project is a work in progress, culling games from various sources, including several chess training books and personal research. The games are ordered by date (oldest first), not by importance.

Be well.
Be safe.