How to Win at Chess with Opening Principles
This year, I am participating for the second time in the "2024 Chess.com Daily Chess Championship" following my previous involvement in 2018.
The first round has been "easy", and in almost all the games I found myself in a favorable position early on by simply adhering to the opening principles.
The key principles to follow in the opening are:
Developing the pieces: Bring them out from their initial positions and place them actively.
Controlling the center: This doesn't necessarily mean occupying it. The center refers to the 16 central squares, especially e4, d4, d5, and e5.
Ensuring the safety of the king: While the king can stay in the center, it is common to castle and keep pieces nearby for defense.
Here are some exercises that teach these principles: Opening principles.
You can read more info here: https://www.chessable.com/blog/chess-opening-principles-beginners/
And here: https://www.chess.com/article/view/learn-chess-opening-principles
Failing to follow to these principles often leads to inferior and uncomfortable positions, making it easier for the opponent to create combinations.
Let's take a look at some games, chosen from those I played in the first round of the tournament, to see what mistakes my opponents made. They are arranged in order of completion.
1) damafe vs @n_i_c_k_u. "Where do I put the bishop?"
2) damafe vs @furryb. The cowardly gambit
3) @furryb vs damafe. Forgot to control the center
Summary: This was the fastest. He simply forgot to control the center, and tactically I won a pawn.
4) @Praveen2205 vs damafe. Don't lose a piece in 1 
Summary: Highly aggressive player, but by moving the same piece twice and bringing out the queen so early, it's easy to end up in a worse position. If you also lose a piece on move 1...
5) damafe vs @guijosa. The starch paste.
Summary: My opponent merely developed the pieces without seeking activity, control of the center, or ensuring the safety of the king. The outcome? The king trapped in the center and a "starch paste" ("engrudo" in spanish) that led to the loss of material.
6) damafe vs @ArturoDumas. Develop the pieces!
7) @guijosa vs damafe. Castle now!
Summary: A clear example of losing tempos. He moved the same piece twice and moved two pawns instead of castling.
I hope that if you are a beginner, you have learned to follow the principles of the opening, so you don't get lost in the first 10 moves. 
I had help from ChatGPT to translate the blog; there may be some errors. If so, let me know to correct them. 
In Spanish: https://www.chess.com/es/blog/damafe/como-ganar-siguiendo-los-principios-de-la-apertura
