Chess Basics: Beginners guide to three stages of chess

Chess is a game between two players played across a chessboard having 16 pieces each in black and white color. The objective of the game is to capture the opponent's King by saying "checkmate". Since it is a mind game and involves serious thinking, to have better control over the game and to appreciate the real beauty of the game, the game has been split into three different stages - each entwined with the other in an orderly fashion. A good opening sets up the plot for an interesting middle game where chess strategies and chess tactics rule. The middle game, where the real battle takes place between the two forces, then leads to the end game where the decision of victory or loss is decided.

They are as follows:

1. Opening game
2. Middle game
3. End game.

Let me explain to you the various stages and their relative importance.

Opening Game

In the beginning stages of a game of chess, openings are almost like the beginning of a battle. By learning openings, what happens is that you limit the risk, and are aware of follow up moves that work to your advantage. The moving of those first pawns is an attempt to gain strength and take a powerful position in the territory that makes up the center of the board.

MIDDLE-GAME

This is the part of the game when the opening strategies lead to battle. Having established and understood the principles of opening strategy, the player is presented with multiple choices of moves that can determine success or failure. Again, all of the moves of chess have been studied for viability, and the middle game will be a deciding factor as to whether a player is strong enough to win. This is the part of the game where tactics are employed to fool the opponent, and gambits or offering the temptation of sacrificing pawns will be used as a decoy to other moves. Another tactic that will be employed during the middle game is to use the knight to threaten two pieces at the same time, and many inexperienced players will lose major pieces during the course of the middle battle.

END GAME

Endings can be victorious or disappointing, and all of the planning made during opening and mid game phases will lead to a scenario where one player is stronger than the other, and will gain advantage. The unsatisfying end to a game is a stalemate where a player cannot move while not actually being in check. The best solution or end game strategy is one that leads to a victorious win, where a player has used the dexterity of his pieces to place his opponent in a position where there are no moves left for a King in check. This really is a crowning victory and is the aim of the game of chess.