Chess is a complex strategy board game that has been played for centuries. It involves two players who take turns moving pieces on an 8x8 grid called a chessboard. The objective of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king, which means putting the king in a position where it is under attack and cannot escape capture. There are six different types of pieces in chess, each with its own unique way of moving: King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn. Here are some main tips to win every game :
(1) Openings :
As a chess player, you have to know your openings. Not only is it possible to lose a game in less than 10 moves (think of Scholar’s Mate), but the moves you make in the opening set the course for the rest of the game. You don’t want to enter the middlegame hobbled with some handicap you incurred in the opening, only to be cursed with it for the rest of the game! Here are top 10 openings to follow for beginners :
#1 — The French Defense
#2 — Sicilian Defense
#3 — The Queen’s Gambit Declined
#4 — The Slav Defense
#5 — The Italian Game
#6 — The Caro-Kann Defense
#7 — The London System
#8 — The Nimzo-Indian Defense
#9 — The Scandinavian Defense
#10 — The King’s Indian Attack
(2) Principles of Opening Play :
To get a good position in chess you must follow some instructions that leads to victory in most games. Successful opening play is guided by several principles:
1. Control the Center: Establish a strong presence in the center with pawns and pieces.
2. Develop Your Pieces: Bring knights and bishops into play before moving the same piece twice.
3. King Safety: Ensure the king’s safety, often by castling.
4. Connect Rooks: Connect your rooks by moving your central pawns or freeing them for activity.
5. Avoid Premature Attacks: Don’t launch premature attacks that weaken your position.
(3) Tactics and Strategy:
Chess strategy is what makes chess such a beautiful game. After the memorized opening moves are played and each player starts to unfold their plan, the real chess begins to take place. Everyone likes to study opening theory and learn end game techniques but the middle chess game is where most games are won and lost. Many games will end in resignation even before an endgame takes place. Below you will find many of the strategies and tactics that every chess player should have in his repertoire. This is one of the biggest areas of the game that most players struggle with because there are so many things to look at it can become overwhelming. After learning from the videos make sure it is followed by lots of practice to train the eye to see things much faster. There are always new strategy videos uploading to make sure you have all the information you need to be successful on the chess board.
(4) Time Management:
A lot of players struggle with time management. Moving too quickly or too slowly can be an easily overlooked problem for many. Regardless of the time control, it is important to move quickly enough to avoid time trouble, but also slowly enough to play good moves. In my opinion, time management is not talked about enough. It can be the difference between winning and losing games. It can also be a major difference between masters and amateurs.
1. Think during your opponent’s turn:
We are guilty of it… You make a move. You sit back. You relax. You stop thinking about the position in front of you. You start daydreaming. STOP IT! When your opponent’s time is ticking, make it habit to stay focused on the position. Try and predict what they will do next. If you’re not sure what to think about, ask yourself questions. What are the potential tactical possibilities? What are the major weaknesses? What is the long-term plan for both sides? What is the worst placed piece, and how can it be improved? If you stay mentally involved with the position when it’s not your turn, you will see more and use less time on your own turn.
2. Learn to identify critical moments:
Identifying critical moments is hugely important as it relates very much to time management. There are certain clues in a position which might tell me whether or not a position is critical. While these have can become second nature for stronger players, improving players may have to consciously look for certain clues.
Clue that a position is critical:
• Forcing move(s) exist which might lead to a decisive advantage
• Deciding whether or not to release pawn tension
• Deciding whether or not to allow trades of certain pieces
• When the opponent has a clear threat that needs to be dealt with in some way
• When a move in question is very committal and transforms the position in some way that can’t be undone
3. Learn your openings:
It might seem weird to associate openings with time management. However, I’ve seen so many instances where a player will waste so much time early on because they don’t know the opening. In blitz or rapid time controls especially, it is important to stick with openings and structure you know, so you save more time and energy for the rest of the game.
(5) End-Game knowledge :
1. Endgame knowledge in chess is the mastery of positions and strategies that occur in the final phase of the game when most pieces have been exchanged.
2. It involves understanding key objectives, such as king safety, pawn promotion, piece activity, pawn structure, and piece coordination.
3. The endgame is where the king becomes an active participant, and understanding concepts like the opposition and centralization becomes crucial.
4. Rook endgames are common and demand knowledge of active rook play, the cut-off, and important positions like the Lucena position.
5. In king and pawn endgames, players must excel in techniques for promoting pawns and creating passed pawns.
6. Evaluating the strengths and limitations of bishops and knights in endgames is essential for success in bishop and knight endgames.
7. Practical endgame exercises help players sharpen their endgame skills and make optimal decisions in real games.
8. Developing endgame strategies based on the specific position can be decisive, determining whether to aim for a pawn ending, king and pawn ending, or minor piece ending.
9. Endgame resources, including books, videos, and online materials, provide invaluable guidance for players looking to deepen their understanding.
10. A strong grasp of endgame knowledge is a hallmark of chess mastery, enabling players to capitalize on advantages and salvage draws from lost positions in the crucial final phase of the game.