Answers.Body: <p>It means both.  The 'center' is most common defined as d4, d5, e4, and e5.  (The squares immediately around these are also sometimes included.)  Pieces in the center have greater mobility and flexibility than those on the edges.  The knight in the corner versus a knight in the center is the classic example.  A bishop in the center may attack b8 and h8.  The same bishop on g2 is still powerful, but can't immediately control the opponent's king-side.</p>
  
  <p>Putting pawns in the center cramps the opponent and removes his options.  If you control the center squares, you can begin thinking about working pieces into strong-points on the opponent's side of the board.  Pawns on the the 5th rank can protect pieces on the 6th.  These pieces are seriously in the opponent's business. </p>
  
  <p>EDIT</p>
  
  <p>It's hard to keep the queen or a rook in the center (during the middle game) since the opponent's minor pieces will probably be able to drive them away. Also, controlling the center doesn't mean your just plop your pieces and pawns in the center, but that you can <em>keep</em> them there.  Finally, controlling the center is only a means to an end.  Once your pieces are qualitatively better than your opponent's, you must strive for the win.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-08-09T00:21:26.553Z
Answers.Text: So,is the trick to 'controlling the center' about placing pieces and pawns in the center and ensuring that they're protected? If so, is it preferable to place pawns and minor pieces rather than major pieces so that the opponent will not gain material by attacking the pieces in the center?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ste Rose
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-08-09T01:37:31.420Z
Answers.Text: @SteRose I edited my answer
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-08-08T11:19:39.573Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-08-09T11:08:37.077Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2013-08-09T11:08:37.077Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Body: <p>I keep reading about the importance of controlling the center in an opening, however (and forgive me my ignorance), I'm unsure if control means to occupy the center squares or to position pieces such that they are attacking the center squares. If anyone could elucidate the concept of controlling the center, I'd be very grateful!</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-08-15T18:42:26.127Z
Comments.Text: possible duplicate of [What is the theory behind center control?](http://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/251/what-is-the-theory-behind-center-control)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tom Au
Tags: <opening>
Title: What Is Controlling The Center?
ThreadText: # What Is Controlling The Center?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-08)
  
  I keep reading about the importance of controlling the center in an opening, however (and forgive me my ignorance), I'm unsure if control means to occupy the center squares or to position pieces such that they are attacking the center squares. If anyone could elucidate the concept of controlling the center, I'd be very grateful!
  
  **Tags:** opening
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: possible duplicate of [What is the theory behind center control?](http://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/251/what-is-the-theory-behind-center-control)  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2013-08-08. Score: 6 | Accepted answer
  
  It means both. The 'center' is most common defined as d4, d5, e4, and e5. (The squares immediately around these are also sometimes included.) Pieces in the center have greater mobility and flexibility than those on the edges. The knight in the corner versus a knight in the center is the classic example. A bishop in the center may attack b8 and h8. The same bishop on g2 is still powerful, but can't immediately control the opponent's king-side.
  
  Putting pawns in the center cramps the opponent and removes his options. If you control the center squares, you can begin thinking about working pieces into strong-points on the opponent's side of the board. Pawns on the the 5th rank can protect pieces on the 6th. These pieces are seriously in the opponent's business.
  
  EDIT
  
  It's hard to keep the queen or a rook in the center (during the middle game) since the opponent's minor pieces will probably be able to drive them away. Also, controlling the center doesn't mean your just plop your pieces and pawns in the center, but that you can *keep* them there. Finally, controlling the center is only a means to an end. Once your pieces are qualitatively better than your opponent's, you must strive for the win.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: So,is the trick to 'controlling the center' about placing pieces and pawns in the center and ensuring that they're protected? If so, is it preferable to place pawns and minor pieces rather than major pieces so that the opponent will not gain material by attacking the pieces in the center?  
  > **username_2**: @SteRose I edited my answer  
  
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