Chess is one of the oldest games being played in this planet. The game of chess derives its popularity from the fact that it is a mind game and requires serious thinking. Chess is the only game where luck or chance has no place. If you deem the other person's blunder as your luck, then i cannot say anything about that - you will be a novice.
I think Chess lures and fascinates people because it improves a person's character and life style. By understanding the elements of chess, one can easily get an idea of the game. Not only playing chess is fun, but it is a worthy exercise that stimulates your mind. Given below are some of the benefits of playing chess, which, i think is the reason for the popularity of this game.
1. Playing chess builds and helps to maintain intellectual abilities. When children who are in inner-city at risk schools are involved in a chess program either through the school, or another local organization they not only learn how to play chess, they also improve their math and reading skills as well. Test scores of children who learned to play chess showed an amazing improvement over the course of just a year’s time. Even kids who were not the best chess players still showed improvement. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, adults who play chess also improve their brain function and it helps their memory and may delay or diminish the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Chess has social and emotional benefits as well. Children who are involved in playing chess either at school or in some other group can build skills such as learning about how to be a good winner and loser. They learn about fairness and not cheating. They also learn confidence and self-esteem as they improve their skills. Communication is improved as the children communicate with other children and adults while they play the game and discuss strategies and moves.
3. When you play chess you develop more creativity, problem solving skills, and long term strategy planning. As a child or adult first starts learning the game of chess, they may just be planning one move at a time. They do not have the skills to think ahead. But as they improve, they get better at thinking more moves in the future and planning strategies and counter strategies to defend their pieces as well as capture their opponent’s pieces. These are skills that can be used in real life as well.
Chess has been around in one form or another for over 2,000 years. The appeal of this game lies in its ability to challenge player’s intellect and strategy.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Chess Basics : What you need to play chess?
Chess is a mind game, that calls for serious thinking on behalf of the players, apart from the basic elements of chess, to become victorious by saying Checkmate.
Anybody and everybody having an attitude towards the game of chess can learn the game and start playing as a novice. But a person with some specific character or attitude will always do well in the game, research has found.
To become a good chess player, you need understand yourself. Understanding how you make your decisions and how you go forth to achieve your goals.
If you are one of those people who take every step with caution, avoid taking risks and not ready to lose anything you have to gain something new, then play defensively. Playing defensive has its advantages especially if your opponent is someone who plays very aggressive. What you need to concentrate on is you pawn positioning. Play defensive and avoid exchanging pieces, keep blocking the opponent from breaking through and wait for a mistake or opening to go on the attack.
If you believe in taking risks without losing too much, then play aggressive by reinforcing all your pieces by one another. The key pieces for you in this kind of strategy are the knights. Position your bishops and queen to target an area on the board and then use your knights to create an opening for them. Use your pawns as distractions by attacking with them the area you do not plan to exploit. Most expert chess players use this strategy.
If you are an adventurous and aggressive personality, who lives dangerously and loves taking risks, then play exactly the way your personality is. Make an aggressive opening and try to reinforce the center of the board. Do not mind exchanging pieces but save your rooks and queen for the later game. This strategy of exchanging pieces mercilessly is called the 'Butcher method'. Force the opponent to move his king and then capitalize on it by attacking the area where his king is.
Learn the basics of chess to perfection then improve your game by playing more often and better players. See the famous games played by the grandmasters of chess and learn to think how they think. However, once you have become good enough by learning from others, then its time to get even better by making your own moves and strategies. Keep in mind, self belief and knowing who your opponent is, is the key to victory in chess.
Anybody and everybody having an attitude towards the game of chess can learn the game and start playing as a novice. But a person with some specific character or attitude will always do well in the game, research has found.
To become a good chess player, you need understand yourself. Understanding how you make your decisions and how you go forth to achieve your goals.
If you are one of those people who take every step with caution, avoid taking risks and not ready to lose anything you have to gain something new, then play defensively. Playing defensive has its advantages especially if your opponent is someone who plays very aggressive. What you need to concentrate on is you pawn positioning. Play defensive and avoid exchanging pieces, keep blocking the opponent from breaking through and wait for a mistake or opening to go on the attack.
If you believe in taking risks without losing too much, then play aggressive by reinforcing all your pieces by one another. The key pieces for you in this kind of strategy are the knights. Position your bishops and queen to target an area on the board and then use your knights to create an opening for them. Use your pawns as distractions by attacking with them the area you do not plan to exploit. Most expert chess players use this strategy.
If you are an adventurous and aggressive personality, who lives dangerously and loves taking risks, then play exactly the way your personality is. Make an aggressive opening and try to reinforce the center of the board. Do not mind exchanging pieces but save your rooks and queen for the later game. This strategy of exchanging pieces mercilessly is called the 'Butcher method'. Force the opponent to move his king and then capitalize on it by attacking the area where his king is.
Learn the basics of chess to perfection then improve your game by playing more often and better players. See the famous games played by the grandmasters of chess and learn to think how they think. However, once you have become good enough by learning from others, then its time to get even better by making your own moves and strategies. Keep in mind, self belief and knowing who your opponent is, is the key to victory in chess.
Chess Basics: Common words in chess and their meanings
Chess is one of the oldest and the most fascinating board games ever invented and played with such passion and involvement. Yes - this is the most passionate game because you have to give your best to say checkmate and win over your opponent. Because, chess is one game where there is no room for luck or chance. You are the master of the game and you decide the fate of your prospects.
So, apart from the basic elements of chess, one should be aware of the many common terms used in the game of chess such as pin, castling, development, opening, fork, etc.,
This article is an attempt to help you understand these common terms.
An opening is simply the first moves of the game. You are free to move any pawn or piece you like, so long as the move is legal, but chess has been studied for thousands of years, and many openings have been developed that are known to lead to good possibilities.
Development means bringing your pieces (the ones on the back row, such as knights and bishops) out from their starting positions so they can be used to take part in attacks on the opponent or to defend your own pieces. Many openings begin by bringing out the knights and/or bishops out within the first half-dozen moves.
Castling can only be done once by each player, and is designed to protect the king. You must have cleared a path between the king and one of the rooks before you can castle, and neither the king nor the rook must have moved. To castle, move the king two squares towards the rook, and then move the rook to one square past the king (so the rook jumps' over the king to land on the square next to it). It is called castling, because the other name for a rook is a castle.
Pins, forks and skewers are terms for some particularly useful moves. A pin is a move that prevents another piece from moving (often because moving the piece would place the king in check). A fork is a move in which a single piece attacks two pieces simultaneously. A skewer is a move that puts the king in check and forces it to move on a line or diagonal also occupied by another piece. So when the king moves, the other piece is captured.
En prise is the term used for a piece that is undefended and can be captured. En passant is a special move in which a pawn captures another which has just made its first move. A pawn, on its first move, moves two squares forward, bringing it next to an opposing pawn. Moving only one square forward would have put it in a position where it could be captured, but the opponent can capture the pawn anyway en passant (in passing). The pawn moves into the square it would have captured in anyway.
A gambit is a sacrifice (usually of a pawn) during the opening moves, usually to give an advantage of some kind, such as more space, less cramping, or to double' the opponent's pawns (meaning two pawns are now on the same column).
So, apart from the basic elements of chess, one should be aware of the many common terms used in the game of chess such as pin, castling, development, opening, fork, etc.,
This article is an attempt to help you understand these common terms.
An opening is simply the first moves of the game. You are free to move any pawn or piece you like, so long as the move is legal, but chess has been studied for thousands of years, and many openings have been developed that are known to lead to good possibilities.
Development means bringing your pieces (the ones on the back row, such as knights and bishops) out from their starting positions so they can be used to take part in attacks on the opponent or to defend your own pieces. Many openings begin by bringing out the knights and/or bishops out within the first half-dozen moves.
Castling can only be done once by each player, and is designed to protect the king. You must have cleared a path between the king and one of the rooks before you can castle, and neither the king nor the rook must have moved. To castle, move the king two squares towards the rook, and then move the rook to one square past the king (so the rook jumps' over the king to land on the square next to it). It is called castling, because the other name for a rook is a castle.
Pins, forks and skewers are terms for some particularly useful moves. A pin is a move that prevents another piece from moving (often because moving the piece would place the king in check). A fork is a move in which a single piece attacks two pieces simultaneously. A skewer is a move that puts the king in check and forces it to move on a line or diagonal also occupied by another piece. So when the king moves, the other piece is captured.
En prise is the term used for a piece that is undefended and can be captured. En passant is a special move in which a pawn captures another which has just made its first move. A pawn, on its first move, moves two squares forward, bringing it next to an opposing pawn. Moving only one square forward would have put it in a position where it could be captured, but the opponent can capture the pawn anyway en passant (in passing). The pawn moves into the square it would have captured in anyway.
A gambit is a sacrifice (usually of a pawn) during the opening moves, usually to give an advantage of some kind, such as more space, less cramping, or to double' the opponent's pawns (meaning two pawns are now on the same column).
Chess Basics : SWOT Analysis of Chess Pieces
Chess is a game between two players played across a chessboard having 16 pieces each in black and white color. One set of 16 pieces includes 1 King, 1 Queen, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights, 2 rooks and 8 pawns. Each and every piece has its own significance, value and specific movement in the board. Any person aspiring to learn chess can do so by just knowing the basic elements of chess, the relative values and how to make the moves. After knowing about the pieces and before learning how to use them in the game, one should know the relative strengths and weaknesses of these pieces.
This article is an attempt towards that end.
The King is the most important piece on a Chessboard. It is around this figure that this entire game revolves and the loss of a King means defeat for any player. The King is one of the weaker Chess pieces on the board, with the ability to move only one square at a time in any direction, with the exception of Castling. It can never come into danger from any other piece and if it is placed into a position where danger may ensue, the King must either be moved to safety, the piece placing the King in danger must be captured, or something must be moved, blocking the path.
The Queen, however, is the most powerful piece available on the board. It may move as many spaces as is possible either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The only restrictions placed upon it are those of the Knight's movements: in an irregular shape or jumping over other pieces. With this vast power of the Queen, it is often a priority for players to remove another player's Queen from the game, as the endgame can be notoriously difficult to win with one or more Queens in play.
Bishops are allowed to move as many spaces as they wish, but only ever in a diagonal position. Because of this, Bishops have their limitations as they will always rest on a square of the same color on which they began the game. Their range, however, often proves to be an asset. Knights have the most unusual movement requirements out of any Chess piece. They are restricted to move either two spaces vertically and one horizontally, or one space vertically and two spaces horizontally, making their finished move look like an "L." This unique movement pattern is both an advantage and a disadvantage for a player, as it allows unique striking patterns that cannot always be avoided, but it can also provide more problems when it comes to making a retreat.
Rooks move as many spaces as is possible in either a horizontal or vertical direction. They are generally considered to be stronger pieces than Bishops or Knights, placing them just lower in power than the Queen. Rooks are one of the most advantageous pieces to hold in an endgame, often helping to quickly bring about a victory.
Pawns, on the other hand, are the weakest pieces of the game. They can only move forward one space at a time, with exception of their first move, and they can only capture diagonally. The advantage about Pawns, however, if if a player can make one reach the other side of the board, the Pawn may be promoted into another piece of greater value, making them dangerous, the closer they get to the other side. With this basic knowledge, Chess can become a greater game of long-term planning and execution.
This article is an attempt towards that end.
The King is the most important piece on a Chessboard. It is around this figure that this entire game revolves and the loss of a King means defeat for any player. The King is one of the weaker Chess pieces on the board, with the ability to move only one square at a time in any direction, with the exception of Castling. It can never come into danger from any other piece and if it is placed into a position where danger may ensue, the King must either be moved to safety, the piece placing the King in danger must be captured, or something must be moved, blocking the path.
The Queen, however, is the most powerful piece available on the board. It may move as many spaces as is possible either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The only restrictions placed upon it are those of the Knight's movements: in an irregular shape or jumping over other pieces. With this vast power of the Queen, it is often a priority for players to remove another player's Queen from the game, as the endgame can be notoriously difficult to win with one or more Queens in play.
Bishops are allowed to move as many spaces as they wish, but only ever in a diagonal position. Because of this, Bishops have their limitations as they will always rest on a square of the same color on which they began the game. Their range, however, often proves to be an asset. Knights have the most unusual movement requirements out of any Chess piece. They are restricted to move either two spaces vertically and one horizontally, or one space vertically and two spaces horizontally, making their finished move look like an "L." This unique movement pattern is both an advantage and a disadvantage for a player, as it allows unique striking patterns that cannot always be avoided, but it can also provide more problems when it comes to making a retreat.
Rooks move as many spaces as is possible in either a horizontal or vertical direction. They are generally considered to be stronger pieces than Bishops or Knights, placing them just lower in power than the Queen. Rooks are one of the most advantageous pieces to hold in an endgame, often helping to quickly bring about a victory.
Pawns, on the other hand, are the weakest pieces of the game. They can only move forward one space at a time, with exception of their first move, and they can only capture diagonally. The advantage about Pawns, however, if if a player can make one reach the other side of the board, the Pawn may be promoted into another piece of greater value, making them dangerous, the closer they get to the other side. With this basic knowledge, Chess can become a greater game of long-term planning and execution.
General Chess: Chess pieces and their symbolic importance
Chess is a very old game, said to have been played since 600 BC. Invented in India during that period, the game of chess or Chaturang as it is then called in India has withstood the test of time and technology to such a great extent that it is as fascinating now as it was when played in good old days.
Another interesting aspect of the game of chess is that no special efforts need to be made to learn the game of chess. Anybody can quickly and easily learn the game of chess by understanding basic elements of chess. The interesting part is only when you practise and start cultivating the habit of saying checkmate quite often that you will start understanding the beauty and challenge this game offers to your thinking brain.
Before plunging into the ocean of chess, let us try to understand the true meaning of the pieces in the chessboard and why such names as king, queen, bishop, knight,etc are given to chess pieces than any other name. Knowing about these common aspects will help you understand more about the concept of the game. An interesting hint for you - Chess is often referred to as a War Game - and you as a player is the Commander in chief of one of the two forces.
The Chess pieces, when the game was originally conceived in India, were all based on war elements. Infantry and calvary, elephants and chariots were all represented by pieces much like Pawns, Knights, Bishops, and Rooks. These pieces played out the game, trying to gain dominance over the other player's army. As the game spread to Eastern Asia, the pieces changed somewhat but still kept a military theme. The most importance piece at this stage, instead of being called the King, was usually referred to as the General. Even when the game eventually moved to Europe, the game did not catch on until the pieces were redesigned with a court-like theme instead of the popular military one.
Pawns kept the idea of the infantry and grew to represent the peasants from a court. They were considered expendable pieces, as the entire game was built around protecting the court. During the phase of Medieval Chess, however, these pieces were given a little more substance, and each particular Pawn was generally given a name relating to a certain commoner's occupation. Some Pawns were considered to be city guards, farmers, merchants, doctors, and innkeepers. While these special ranks did not denote anything special upon the Pawns, it attempted to give a little more story to the game of Chess and make things a little more diverse.
The Rook was originally symbolizing of a chariot and the word itself sounds remarkably familiar to the Persian word for "chariot." These Persian war chariots were often heavily armored with fortified stone work, giving the Chess piece the image of a mobile building. The design eventually reshaped itself into a turret and the modern Rook was born. Knights are usually represented by horses and are rather straightforward in their history and appearance. They never have had drastic meaning changes or appearance.
Bishops seem to generate from the Staunton Chess set. They are given a tall hat, much like a Bishop's mitre. This form, however, also pays homage to the original form of the Bishop, with the traditional deep groove also symbolizing the tusks of the elephant that the piece initially represented. The Queen, however, has had the most transformation over time. Originally only being allowed to move one space diagonally and to make a jump like a Knight only once in a game, by 1600, the piece was given the powers it is granted today. Additionally, the King was changed from a General to keep with the modern court theme. Just as with a General leading a war, a country is powerless without its King, making it be the most important piece of a Chess game.
Another interesting aspect of the game of chess is that no special efforts need to be made to learn the game of chess. Anybody can quickly and easily learn the game of chess by understanding basic elements of chess. The interesting part is only when you practise and start cultivating the habit of saying checkmate quite often that you will start understanding the beauty and challenge this game offers to your thinking brain.
Before plunging into the ocean of chess, let us try to understand the true meaning of the pieces in the chessboard and why such names as king, queen, bishop, knight,etc are given to chess pieces than any other name. Knowing about these common aspects will help you understand more about the concept of the game. An interesting hint for you - Chess is often referred to as a War Game - and you as a player is the Commander in chief of one of the two forces.
The Chess pieces, when the game was originally conceived in India, were all based on war elements. Infantry and calvary, elephants and chariots were all represented by pieces much like Pawns, Knights, Bishops, and Rooks. These pieces played out the game, trying to gain dominance over the other player's army. As the game spread to Eastern Asia, the pieces changed somewhat but still kept a military theme. The most importance piece at this stage, instead of being called the King, was usually referred to as the General. Even when the game eventually moved to Europe, the game did not catch on until the pieces were redesigned with a court-like theme instead of the popular military one.
Pawns kept the idea of the infantry and grew to represent the peasants from a court. They were considered expendable pieces, as the entire game was built around protecting the court. During the phase of Medieval Chess, however, these pieces were given a little more substance, and each particular Pawn was generally given a name relating to a certain commoner's occupation. Some Pawns were considered to be city guards, farmers, merchants, doctors, and innkeepers. While these special ranks did not denote anything special upon the Pawns, it attempted to give a little more story to the game of Chess and make things a little more diverse.
The Rook was originally symbolizing of a chariot and the word itself sounds remarkably familiar to the Persian word for "chariot." These Persian war chariots were often heavily armored with fortified stone work, giving the Chess piece the image of a mobile building. The design eventually reshaped itself into a turret and the modern Rook was born. Knights are usually represented by horses and are rather straightforward in their history and appearance. They never have had drastic meaning changes or appearance.
Bishops seem to generate from the Staunton Chess set. They are given a tall hat, much like a Bishop's mitre. This form, however, also pays homage to the original form of the Bishop, with the traditional deep groove also symbolizing the tusks of the elephant that the piece initially represented. The Queen, however, has had the most transformation over time. Originally only being allowed to move one space diagonally and to make a jump like a Knight only once in a game, by 1600, the piece was given the powers it is granted today. Additionally, the King was changed from a General to keep with the modern court theme. Just as with a General leading a war, a country is powerless without its King, making it be the most important piece of a Chess game.
Chess Basics: What is a fianchetto in chess?
In order to become a skillful chess player, one should learn all the tricks of the trade and should be well versed in the chess strategies, openings, tactics, formations and what not. But one need not memorize all these things to become an effective and skillful chess player. All he or she must have a thorough understanding of the basic elements of chess and the chess strategies will come naturally to you.
One of the many concepts in chess one should be aware of, if not familiarize himself or herself, is fianchetto.
I will try to explain the term and its relevance in chess here.
The word "Fianchetto" is an Italian word meaning "flanking" . In the game of chess, when the Knight's pawn advances one or two squares and the Bishop moves in front of the Knight, this is called The Fianchetto.
The aim is to counteract your opponents advances on the centre squares. It gives your bishop a long diagonal right across the board and dissects the centre squares which as we know are vital to any chess attack. You can play it either Queen's or King's side. It allows you to be more aggressive with your Bishop right from the very start of the game. It can also provide you with an escape route for your Bishop if it gets blocked by your centre pawns.
The most common fianchetto can be seen in the Sicilian Dragon and the Benoni defence amongst others. The Fianchetto played on the Queens side is usually stronger than the Fianchetto played on the King's side as the Kings defences would be weakened by the the pawn structure. If you do both it is called The double Fianchetto) The theory of the experts about this generally warn against a double Fianchetto as you are better to have one Bishop attacking and one defending if you are to use this tactic.
Another benefit of the Queen's side Fianchetto is that if your opponents castle on his King's side then your Bishop is pointing straight at the King's defence like an Exocet missile. Your opponent has to continually be wary and guard against a surprise attack. Nevertheless, there is a school of thought which says castling into the fianchetto is very strong defensivley unless your opponent has castled on the opposite corner. The choice is yours.
So how would you counteract this tactic. The easiest way is to cram your pawns into the centre squares and stifle his attack. This would usually do the trick but if he did the same a battle would result in the middle of the board and the centre squares could open up again and his Fianchetto attack would be still on. You should try and cover the centre squares with your pawns before you even consider the Fianchetto so you have control as to when you want to move them and allow your Bishop into the attack.
I have personally found that attacking the side the Fianchetto has taken place on with your pawns (as long as you have not castled on the same side of course) can work. It can leave the Bishop vulnerable and open to attack. Attacking the pawns around the Fianchettoed Bishop will wreck and weaken the whole structure. Also remember at the beginning of the game if you use this strategy, your knight can end up being left in it's starting position as if it moves in front of the Bishop it will block the bishops attack. It is therefore dangerous to exchange your Fianchettoed Bishop for another piece and leave your opponents same coloured bishop on the board. If it moves on to that same diagonal your Rook could be trapped by your Knight and have no escape.
One of the many concepts in chess one should be aware of, if not familiarize himself or herself, is fianchetto.
I will try to explain the term and its relevance in chess here.
The word "Fianchetto" is an Italian word meaning "flanking" . In the game of chess, when the Knight's pawn advances one or two squares and the Bishop moves in front of the Knight, this is called The Fianchetto.
The aim is to counteract your opponents advances on the centre squares. It gives your bishop a long diagonal right across the board and dissects the centre squares which as we know are vital to any chess attack. You can play it either Queen's or King's side. It allows you to be more aggressive with your Bishop right from the very start of the game. It can also provide you with an escape route for your Bishop if it gets blocked by your centre pawns.
The most common fianchetto can be seen in the Sicilian Dragon and the Benoni defence amongst others. The Fianchetto played on the Queens side is usually stronger than the Fianchetto played on the King's side as the Kings defences would be weakened by the the pawn structure. If you do both it is called The double Fianchetto) The theory of the experts about this generally warn against a double Fianchetto as you are better to have one Bishop attacking and one defending if you are to use this tactic.
Another benefit of the Queen's side Fianchetto is that if your opponents castle on his King's side then your Bishop is pointing straight at the King's defence like an Exocet missile. Your opponent has to continually be wary and guard against a surprise attack. Nevertheless, there is a school of thought which says castling into the fianchetto is very strong defensivley unless your opponent has castled on the opposite corner. The choice is yours.
So how would you counteract this tactic. The easiest way is to cram your pawns into the centre squares and stifle his attack. This would usually do the trick but if he did the same a battle would result in the middle of the board and the centre squares could open up again and his Fianchetto attack would be still on. You should try and cover the centre squares with your pawns before you even consider the Fianchetto so you have control as to when you want to move them and allow your Bishop into the attack.
I have personally found that attacking the side the Fianchetto has taken place on with your pawns (as long as you have not castled on the same side of course) can work. It can leave the Bishop vulnerable and open to attack. Attacking the pawns around the Fianchettoed Bishop will wreck and weaken the whole structure. Also remember at the beginning of the game if you use this strategy, your knight can end up being left in it's starting position as if it moves in front of the Bishop it will block the bishops attack. It is therefore dangerous to exchange your Fianchettoed Bishop for another piece and leave your opponents same coloured bishop on the board. If it moves on to that same diagonal your Rook could be trapped by your Knight and have no escape.
Chess Basics : Simple tips to use your bishops effectively
In the game of chess, one of the two minor pieces is the Bishop, the other being the Knight. Two bishops for each player, one each flanking the queen and the king respectively are unique in their own. As you may be aware, the bishops move only in diagonals, either forward or backward in any direction.
Effective utilization of the bishops should be a part of any successful chess strategy. In order that you should learn and appreciate the importance of the bishop in your game plan, i would like to place before you some simple tips.
The bishop pair is very powerful, it wins against two knights in most positions that one of the knights cannot be exchanged for one of the bishops. A drawback to the bishop is it is always on the same color. Games with bishops of opposite color are drawish.
A bishop can only stop a pawn that is on the seventh rank and about to queen if it controls the same color as the queening square. This is important to keep in mind when we are exchanging bishops or a knight for a bishop. Although the knight is slightly less powerful than the bishop, if we are sure not to trade both knights for our opponent's bishops, then we can arrive at a knight versus bishop ending.
One important aspect of the bishop is that it is powerful against connected pawns. The knight is also powerful against connected pawns. In some endings the bishop will be a better piece than the rook. Steinitz won many games using this principle. But if the pawns are far apart, then the rook is much more powerful. Especially the knight cannot handle pawns that are
far apart because it can only move about two squares each time it moves. For this reason the bishop will be better than the knight in positions where we have to cover two parts of the board.
On the defensive side, the bishops can only guard pawns that are on its color. We need to take this into account when we exchange pawns. Also when we exchange bishops or knight for bishop, we must look at our pawn structure. Be sure not to trap your bishops behind pawns.
The fianchetto is a popular way to move the bishop on its first move. Openings with fianchettoed bishops include the King's Indian, Queen's Indian, and Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defence. You can control the same squares as the fianchetto by moving the bishop to the bishop 3 square of either the king or the queen. You can do this by moving the bishop first to the king 2 square or queen 2 square, then the king bishop 3 or queen bishop 3 square. This will not be quite as defensive, however.
Effective utilization of the bishops should be a part of any successful chess strategy. In order that you should learn and appreciate the importance of the bishop in your game plan, i would like to place before you some simple tips.
The bishop pair is very powerful, it wins against two knights in most positions that one of the knights cannot be exchanged for one of the bishops. A drawback to the bishop is it is always on the same color. Games with bishops of opposite color are drawish.
A bishop can only stop a pawn that is on the seventh rank and about to queen if it controls the same color as the queening square. This is important to keep in mind when we are exchanging bishops or a knight for a bishop. Although the knight is slightly less powerful than the bishop, if we are sure not to trade both knights for our opponent's bishops, then we can arrive at a knight versus bishop ending.
One important aspect of the bishop is that it is powerful against connected pawns. The knight is also powerful against connected pawns. In some endings the bishop will be a better piece than the rook. Steinitz won many games using this principle. But if the pawns are far apart, then the rook is much more powerful. Especially the knight cannot handle pawns that are
far apart because it can only move about two squares each time it moves. For this reason the bishop will be better than the knight in positions where we have to cover two parts of the board.
On the defensive side, the bishops can only guard pawns that are on its color. We need to take this into account when we exchange pawns. Also when we exchange bishops or knight for bishop, we must look at our pawn structure. Be sure not to trap your bishops behind pawns.
The fianchetto is a popular way to move the bishop on its first move. Openings with fianchettoed bishops include the King's Indian, Queen's Indian, and Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defence. You can control the same squares as the fianchetto by moving the bishop to the bishop 3 square of either the king or the queen. You can do this by moving the bishop first to the king 2 square or queen 2 square, then the king bishop 3 or queen bishop 3 square. This will not be quite as defensive, however.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Chess Basics: Simple tips to use your King effectively
In the game of Chess, the most important piece is the King and the capture of the king results in the end of the game. The heading might look peculiar to some body. King is not only the most important piece in the game of chess, but it is also the only piece among the 16 pieces that stays throughout the game. In a nutshell, if the king is there, the game is there. If the king is not there, there is no game. In otherwords, as long as the word "checkmate" is not uttered in the game of chess, the King will be there in the board.
Such is the importance of the king. In addition to assuming the pivotal role in the game of chess, the King can be used to effective use by adopting appropriate chess strategies. Herewith I list some tips for effective utilization of the King.
Strategy for using the kings position comes in the three phases of the game of chess. The early game, where the chief object of the king is to remain behind the protection of other pieces, the middle game where the mobility of the king becomes important in the avoidance of check and in the end game when the ability to use the king and its position effectively is vital to victory.
For the first stage of the game the primary importance of the king's position is to remain stationary. This is important because castling requires that the king has not moved and the ability to both move your king into a better defended position as well as bringing out a castle can be very important. Because of this, and the general protected nature of the starting position. During this point of the game you are focused on position more than exchanging pieces but unless it is necessary avoid using your king for either of these goals.
The middle of the game typically comes with the first exchanges of pieces. It is at this point that the carnage of chess begins. It is typically around this time that your king will move for the first time. This is often a castling move which allows you to move your king two spaces and typically frees one of your castles to begin to attack as well. So long as you can keep your king safely behind a wall of men it is good, but keep in mind that the king is one of the most efficient pieces for capturing enemies so keeping him in striking distance of pieces often saves both of them. For this reason the best way to use your king is keeping him near the center of a group of piece. You will rarely get to attack with the king in this situation but when you do it is often to take important pieces.
The kings position in the game enters its most important in the end game. Assuming the game reaches the end point it is the time when most of the important pieces are gone and a handful of pawns remain. Because so few pieces exist at this point it is possible to truly use the king as an attacking piece at this point in the game and there are several important points to this strategy. One of the most important is the inability of your opponent to move into check. This means that you can often pin an enemy king into a corner or protect a pawn as it moves forward to be promoted, as well as capturing the remaining pawns in the kings slow methodical fashion.
Such is the importance of the king. In addition to assuming the pivotal role in the game of chess, the King can be used to effective use by adopting appropriate chess strategies. Herewith I list some tips for effective utilization of the King.
Strategy for using the kings position comes in the three phases of the game of chess. The early game, where the chief object of the king is to remain behind the protection of other pieces, the middle game where the mobility of the king becomes important in the avoidance of check and in the end game when the ability to use the king and its position effectively is vital to victory.
For the first stage of the game the primary importance of the king's position is to remain stationary. This is important because castling requires that the king has not moved and the ability to both move your king into a better defended position as well as bringing out a castle can be very important. Because of this, and the general protected nature of the starting position. During this point of the game you are focused on position more than exchanging pieces but unless it is necessary avoid using your king for either of these goals.
The middle of the game typically comes with the first exchanges of pieces. It is at this point that the carnage of chess begins. It is typically around this time that your king will move for the first time. This is often a castling move which allows you to move your king two spaces and typically frees one of your castles to begin to attack as well. So long as you can keep your king safely behind a wall of men it is good, but keep in mind that the king is one of the most efficient pieces for capturing enemies so keeping him in striking distance of pieces often saves both of them. For this reason the best way to use your king is keeping him near the center of a group of piece. You will rarely get to attack with the king in this situation but when you do it is often to take important pieces.
The kings position in the game enters its most important in the end game. Assuming the game reaches the end point it is the time when most of the important pieces are gone and a handful of pawns remain. Because so few pieces exist at this point it is possible to truly use the king as an attacking piece at this point in the game and there are several important points to this strategy. One of the most important is the inability of your opponent to move into check. This means that you can often pin an enemy king into a corner or protect a pawn as it moves forward to be promoted, as well as capturing the remaining pawns in the kings slow methodical fashion.
Chess Basics: Beginners guide to opening moves in chess
Chess is a mind game. It is also the only game where there is no room for luck or chance. You determine the fate of the game by your moves and nobody can change the result of the game other than you. So it is essential that you adopt some basic opening principles of the game, especially related to chess, so that you can have a better chess strategy against the opponent.
Hereunder, I present the general principles or thumb rules which every chess player needs to bear in mind if he or she has to become an expert in the field
1. Develop as quickly as possible.
2. Occupy the center.
3. Have a general plan.
4. Control the center.
5. Prevent opponent from reaching his objective.
There is possibly another rule, although I would consider it more of an unwritten rule because of its being self-evident. That final rule being 'do moves that succeed in as many of the other rules as possible.' I think that the rules may need some clarification so I'll give a basic understanding of each rule.
What does it mean for a piece to be developed? Does it mean if the piece has been moved it is developed? If a knight is moved from c1-b3-a1 the knight has moved, but is it developed? Another definition I have heard is if the piece is in front of pawns it is developed. However, most chess players have seen something called 'fianchetto', meaning that the pawn in front of the where the knight starts is moved allowing the bishop to move one square, placing it on a long diagonal. In that case the bishop is still behind pawns in a sense. To me, being developed means that the piece has more squares to move to, and thus is more powerful than where it was originally placed, while allowing the rooks to enter to game. Although, none of these definitions quite suit the meaning of what it is to be developed, hopefully the reader, after having read them, may grasp his/her own meaning.
The center is the 4 squares in the center of the board (if you cannot imagine a board without one I'm sorry) and normally the 12 squares surrounding them. If a piece is in those squares, and we pretend it is the only piece on the board, the piece has more squares to move to. Well, okay the rook has the same number of squares no mater where it is and the king doesn't need to be within that area to have full power, but the rook is generally not shoved into the center as a general rule, mainly because the opponent's bishops and knights will attack it, because there's a basic point system based on the general effectiveness of the pieces. Each piece is worth so many pawns, knight 3, bishop 3 or 3.5, rook 5, queen 9, and king=checkmate. Again, that rule is general, it is not always correct according to the position, sometimes a knight is better than a rook sometimes a pawn or 2 are as good as or better than a bishop, knight, or rook.
Even if you have all of your pieces in the game and you own the center, if you do now know what to do with it, why does it matter? If an army has twice as many tanks, three times as many foot soldiers, and better technology, but does not know what to attack, what use is any of that (your own views of war being whatever they may be you should be able to understand this, if not imagine a soccer/football team with all the best players but all of them being told to not get the ball by the coach, that team although better fitted for winning will not win).
Do NOT simply memorize moves. You MUST understand why the moves are being made. One way, see what happened later in a game where the moves were done. Another way, look at many games and try to view some underlying purpose on your own. If you can find a book or website that explains the purpose of the openings moves, which personally I have found it rare where the underlying plan is explained, try it out and see if it works in your games or figure out if the information is wrong or you did something wrong.
Hereunder, I present the general principles or thumb rules which every chess player needs to bear in mind if he or she has to become an expert in the field
1. Develop as quickly as possible.
2. Occupy the center.
3. Have a general plan.
4. Control the center.
5. Prevent opponent from reaching his objective.
There is possibly another rule, although I would consider it more of an unwritten rule because of its being self-evident. That final rule being 'do moves that succeed in as many of the other rules as possible.' I think that the rules may need some clarification so I'll give a basic understanding of each rule.
What does it mean for a piece to be developed? Does it mean if the piece has been moved it is developed? If a knight is moved from c1-b3-a1 the knight has moved, but is it developed? Another definition I have heard is if the piece is in front of pawns it is developed. However, most chess players have seen something called 'fianchetto', meaning that the pawn in front of the where the knight starts is moved allowing the bishop to move one square, placing it on a long diagonal. In that case the bishop is still behind pawns in a sense. To me, being developed means that the piece has more squares to move to, and thus is more powerful than where it was originally placed, while allowing the rooks to enter to game. Although, none of these definitions quite suit the meaning of what it is to be developed, hopefully the reader, after having read them, may grasp his/her own meaning.
The center is the 4 squares in the center of the board (if you cannot imagine a board without one I'm sorry) and normally the 12 squares surrounding them. If a piece is in those squares, and we pretend it is the only piece on the board, the piece has more squares to move to. Well, okay the rook has the same number of squares no mater where it is and the king doesn't need to be within that area to have full power, but the rook is generally not shoved into the center as a general rule, mainly because the opponent's bishops and knights will attack it, because there's a basic point system based on the general effectiveness of the pieces. Each piece is worth so many pawns, knight 3, bishop 3 or 3.5, rook 5, queen 9, and king=checkmate. Again, that rule is general, it is not always correct according to the position, sometimes a knight is better than a rook sometimes a pawn or 2 are as good as or better than a bishop, knight, or rook.
Even if you have all of your pieces in the game and you own the center, if you do now know what to do with it, why does it matter? If an army has twice as many tanks, three times as many foot soldiers, and better technology, but does not know what to attack, what use is any of that (your own views of war being whatever they may be you should be able to understand this, if not imagine a soccer/football team with all the best players but all of them being told to not get the ball by the coach, that team although better fitted for winning will not win).
Do NOT simply memorize moves. You MUST understand why the moves are being made. One way, see what happened later in a game where the moves were done. Another way, look at many games and try to view some underlying purpose on your own. If you can find a book or website that explains the purpose of the openings moves, which personally I have found it rare where the underlying plan is explained, try it out and see if it works in your games or figure out if the information is wrong or you did something wrong.
Chess Basics: Understand that every pawn is a potential Queen
In the game of chess, each and every piece has equal importance and value. If you underestimate the utility of any piece based on the relative value assigned to the piece, then you will be only a novice in the game and might take a much longer time to become an expert in the game of chess.
One such piece in the game of chess that does not get the treatment it deserves, especially in the hands of novices in their early stages of learning is the Pawn. Pawn has some interesting aspects and has its own utility value. Pawns cannot move backward or sideward. Pawns cannot capture directly. They can only capture piece lying on either side of the front row. That is for example a pawn in d5 can capture a piece lying either in e3 or e5 and not any piece lying in e4. Though these are the negative aspects or inferior features in comparison with other pieces, they have some real utility value. Only they can get promoted to a queen. Even queen cannot get a double promotion. So, you should use your pawns very effectively and strategically to promote them, amid hurdles and opposition from the opponent.
The following tips will be of use to you in your effective chess strategy :
* Protect every pawn. In a close end game, even a one-pawn advantage can determine the outcome. Any pawn that remains on the board can eventually be promoted to a queen, so each one holds an implicit threat.
* Move two pawns at once. A pawn becomes a tremendous threat as it nears the eighth row. Trying to counter the threat of one pawn creates an opening for the others. Most players will even sacrifice a valuable piece rather than allowing an enemy pawn to promote itself. (Even if it means giving up their bishop, knight, or rook!)
* Form a diagonal line. Pawns can protect each other if they're in a diagonal line. Moving carefully can keep some pawns protected by the other pawns as they complete their march across the board. It's often possible to sacrifice one pawn to enable the others to advance.
* Trade pieces. It's nearly impossible to escort a pawn to the eighth rank without getting picked off by an opposing piece. Often the solution lies in simply eliminating as many pieces as possible from the board. This is especially useful when the opposing player has fewer pawns - or if their slow-moving pieces are clustered too far away to catch up to the advancing pawns.
A common rule of thumb is to consider a pawn being worth one point, while a queen is worth nine. So promoting a pawn confers a huge strategic advantage. In chess notation, this rare move is described by indicating the chosen piece after the pawn move.
One such piece in the game of chess that does not get the treatment it deserves, especially in the hands of novices in their early stages of learning is the Pawn. Pawn has some interesting aspects and has its own utility value. Pawns cannot move backward or sideward. Pawns cannot capture directly. They can only capture piece lying on either side of the front row. That is for example a pawn in d5 can capture a piece lying either in e3 or e5 and not any piece lying in e4. Though these are the negative aspects or inferior features in comparison with other pieces, they have some real utility value. Only they can get promoted to a queen. Even queen cannot get a double promotion. So, you should use your pawns very effectively and strategically to promote them, amid hurdles and opposition from the opponent.
The following tips will be of use to you in your effective chess strategy :
* Protect every pawn. In a close end game, even a one-pawn advantage can determine the outcome. Any pawn that remains on the board can eventually be promoted to a queen, so each one holds an implicit threat.
* Move two pawns at once. A pawn becomes a tremendous threat as it nears the eighth row. Trying to counter the threat of one pawn creates an opening for the others. Most players will even sacrifice a valuable piece rather than allowing an enemy pawn to promote itself. (Even if it means giving up their bishop, knight, or rook!)
* Form a diagonal line. Pawns can protect each other if they're in a diagonal line. Moving carefully can keep some pawns protected by the other pawns as they complete their march across the board. It's often possible to sacrifice one pawn to enable the others to advance.
* Trade pieces. It's nearly impossible to escort a pawn to the eighth rank without getting picked off by an opposing piece. Often the solution lies in simply eliminating as many pieces as possible from the board. This is especially useful when the opposing player has fewer pawns - or if their slow-moving pieces are clustered too far away to catch up to the advancing pawns.
A common rule of thumb is to consider a pawn being worth one point, while a queen is worth nine. So promoting a pawn confers a huge strategic advantage. In chess notation, this rare move is described by indicating the chosen piece after the pawn move.
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Chess Basics: Understanding of the chess pieces
Chess is one of the ancient games played since 600 bc. The fascination for the game still exists because basically it is designed to be a strategic game between two highly skilled minds, or a fight between Intuiton and Logic. Chess is considered to be a game to increase your mental prowess and concentration skills. In order to reap the benefits of playing chess, one should understand the pieces and how they are employed in the game. This article tries to throw more light on those aspects.
In be beginning each player chooses one of the colors to play with (either black or white)and each of these players control sixteen chess pieces to start the game. Out of these sixteen pieces, eight pieces are what we call pawns. Then we have two knights, two rooks, two bishops, one queen and finally one king. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king (this means that the opponent's king will get killed the next turn and has no where to move to).
The king can move only one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally but as you become more familiar with the game, you will learn of more advanced techniques such as castling.
The queen can move any number of vacant squares diagonally, horizontally, or vertically and the queen is the most powerful piece on the board, however one can always argue that the most powerful piece depends on how you use that piece to your advantage.
The bishop moves any number of vacant squares in any direction diagonally. Note that a bishop never changes square color so a bishop on the "dark" square will always stay on the "dark" square and vice versa with the light square bishop.
The knight can jump over occupied squares and moves two spaces horizontally and one space vertically or vice versa, making an "L" shape.
The rook moves any number of vacant squares vertically or horizontally and provides extensive support in a bid to corner or check the opponents king. Rooks are also involved in the special technique known as castling.
Understanding pawns is a challenge even though they seem to be the simplest of all the pieces. If a pawn has not moved from the start of the game, it can move up one square as long as that square is unoccupied, However, pawns also has the option of moving two squares forward from the start position as long as the squares are not occupied by another piece. Pawns are the only pieces that capture differently than they move. They can capture an enemy piece on either of the two squares diagonally in front of them, but cannot move to these spaces if they are vacant. Once a pawn reaches the opposite side of the board into opponent's side of the board (eighth rank), the pawn can be promoted to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same color. It is most common for players to promote their pawns to queens. When moving pawns, one must remember and never forget that pawns cannot move backwards, so be careful as to how you move your pawns. Do not underestimate pawns as they can serve as your best first line of defense against opponent's aggression and see each pawn as a potential queen so you do not "waste" pawns that quickly.
One's own friendly pieces cannot be passed if they are in the line of movement of another piece, and a friendly piece can never replace another friendly piece. Enemy pieces cannot be passed but they can be "killed." When a piece is captured (or killed), the attacking piece replaces the enemy piece on its square. The captured piece is thus removed from the game and may not be returned to play for the remainder of the game. The king cannot be captured, only put in check. If a player is unable to get the king out of check, checkmate results, with the loss of the game. The game may also end in drawn depending on various conditions that you will learn as you gain more experience with the game.
In be beginning each player chooses one of the colors to play with (either black or white)and each of these players control sixteen chess pieces to start the game. Out of these sixteen pieces, eight pieces are what we call pawns. Then we have two knights, two rooks, two bishops, one queen and finally one king. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king (this means that the opponent's king will get killed the next turn and has no where to move to).
The king can move only one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally but as you become more familiar with the game, you will learn of more advanced techniques such as castling.
The queen can move any number of vacant squares diagonally, horizontally, or vertically and the queen is the most powerful piece on the board, however one can always argue that the most powerful piece depends on how you use that piece to your advantage.
The bishop moves any number of vacant squares in any direction diagonally. Note that a bishop never changes square color so a bishop on the "dark" square will always stay on the "dark" square and vice versa with the light square bishop.
The knight can jump over occupied squares and moves two spaces horizontally and one space vertically or vice versa, making an "L" shape.
The rook moves any number of vacant squares vertically or horizontally and provides extensive support in a bid to corner or check the opponents king. Rooks are also involved in the special technique known as castling.
Understanding pawns is a challenge even though they seem to be the simplest of all the pieces. If a pawn has not moved from the start of the game, it can move up one square as long as that square is unoccupied, However, pawns also has the option of moving two squares forward from the start position as long as the squares are not occupied by another piece. Pawns are the only pieces that capture differently than they move. They can capture an enemy piece on either of the two squares diagonally in front of them, but cannot move to these spaces if they are vacant. Once a pawn reaches the opposite side of the board into opponent's side of the board (eighth rank), the pawn can be promoted to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same color. It is most common for players to promote their pawns to queens. When moving pawns, one must remember and never forget that pawns cannot move backwards, so be careful as to how you move your pawns. Do not underestimate pawns as they can serve as your best first line of defense against opponent's aggression and see each pawn as a potential queen so you do not "waste" pawns that quickly.
One's own friendly pieces cannot be passed if they are in the line of movement of another piece, and a friendly piece can never replace another friendly piece. Enemy pieces cannot be passed but they can be "killed." When a piece is captured (or killed), the attacking piece replaces the enemy piece on its square. The captured piece is thus removed from the game and may not be returned to play for the remainder of the game. The king cannot be captured, only put in check. If a player is unable to get the king out of check, checkmate results, with the loss of the game. The game may also end in drawn depending on various conditions that you will learn as you gain more experience with the game.
Chess Basics: How to avoid victory in chess
Chess is a board game played between two people and a chessboard with 16 pieces each distributed to the two players. The mission of the game is to win over the opponent's King and say "checkmate".
People who are interested in playing chess and have a strong ambition to become masters in the game and grandmasters learn all the tricks, do persevere and practice a whole lot towards this goal. While there are innumerable books and other materials to teach you how to play the chess, how to improve the chess skills, chess strategies and such other things, there are very few or no material instructing us what you should not do in a game of chess so that you will never say checkmate to the opponent.
I take this opportunity to teach you folks how to avoid victory in the game of chess.
There are some simple dictums or rules that you should follow to avoid victory in chess. They are as follows :
1. Do not concentrate : If you dare to do it, you may know the opponent's plan and try to avoid defeat. Your mission is to avoid victory. So please do not concentrate.
2. Ignore threat from the opponent: This is yet another important point. If you take notice of the threat and take action to avoid that, then it tantamounts to your accepting the opponent to be as smart as you. That cannot be allowed because if he becomes as smart as you, then he will start avoiding victory and your mission will be a failure. So beware.
3. Stick to your plan come what may: You are not supposed to change your game plan whatever may happen in the chessboard. If you give up the planned strategy, then it will expose your weakness and lack of resoluteness to face adversity. So do not do that.
4. If you see a good move, go ahead and make it - Dont hesitate; This is one golden rule. Remember that your first instinct is the best instinct. So, if you happen to see a good move, immediately make that move. Dont think for a second - that is a crime to think.
5. Move the same piece again and again in the opening stages : This is one good point worth considering. You should not develop any piece in the opening. Instead move the same piece more than once. You can move the pawn only one square once so that you can make one more move of the same pawn.
If you follow all or any of the above mentioned tips judiciously, then nobody can force you to say checkmate to your opponent. If you decide not to win, who can stop you from losing or not saying "checkmate"?
People who are interested in playing chess and have a strong ambition to become masters in the game and grandmasters learn all the tricks, do persevere and practice a whole lot towards this goal. While there are innumerable books and other materials to teach you how to play the chess, how to improve the chess skills, chess strategies and such other things, there are very few or no material instructing us what you should not do in a game of chess so that you will never say checkmate to the opponent.
I take this opportunity to teach you folks how to avoid victory in the game of chess.
There are some simple dictums or rules that you should follow to avoid victory in chess. They are as follows :
1. Do not concentrate : If you dare to do it, you may know the opponent's plan and try to avoid defeat. Your mission is to avoid victory. So please do not concentrate.
2. Ignore threat from the opponent: This is yet another important point. If you take notice of the threat and take action to avoid that, then it tantamounts to your accepting the opponent to be as smart as you. That cannot be allowed because if he becomes as smart as you, then he will start avoiding victory and your mission will be a failure. So beware.
3. Stick to your plan come what may: You are not supposed to change your game plan whatever may happen in the chessboard. If you give up the planned strategy, then it will expose your weakness and lack of resoluteness to face adversity. So do not do that.
4. If you see a good move, go ahead and make it - Dont hesitate; This is one golden rule. Remember that your first instinct is the best instinct. So, if you happen to see a good move, immediately make that move. Dont think for a second - that is a crime to think.
5. Move the same piece again and again in the opening stages : This is one good point worth considering. You should not develop any piece in the opening. Instead move the same piece more than once. You can move the pawn only one square once so that you can make one more move of the same pawn.
If you follow all or any of the above mentioned tips judiciously, then nobody can force you to say checkmate to your opponent. If you decide not to win, who can stop you from losing or not saying "checkmate"?
General Chess: History of Chess
If there is one game that has stood the test of time and technology over the past few centuries, it has to be Chess only. The reason for this is that this fascinating game needs thinking to the core and there is no room for chance or luck in this game. Chess has withstood the time because it has been beneficial to the mind and a stimulant to the mind. The beauty of this game is that it is not just a mind game. It involves both intuition and logical thinking as well. In a nutshell, chess is a battle between Intuition Vs. Logic. Before dwelling about the game of chess and various elements of chess, let us dwell a bit on the history of the game.
Chess is an ancient game still being played by many people. It is estimated that in the United States alone, there are 39 million chess players. Chess tournaments are very popular, and a chess Grand Master can have as much notoriety as a sports star or political leader. For a game whose pieces are remnants of an ancient way of life, the game itself remains very popular in the modern world. Chess. Truly a game for the ages.
It has been found that the game, which we now call as Chess, goes so far back into the murky dimness of history that no one is really sure about the specifics of its origin. But scholars generally believe that Chess originated in what are now Northern India and Afghanistan. The oldest written reference to Chess is circa 600 in India. Ironically the name of this game then was not Chess but Satranj or Chaturang.
From ancient India the game spread to Persia (present day Iran). Tradition has it that a Hindu ambassador brought a chess set to the ruler of Persia in the 6th century. With the rise of Islam, the game was spread to the Arabs, who in turn spread the game to Byzantium.
Whenever a culture discovered the game, the game changed. An example of this was the re-naming of the pieces. In India, the most important piece was called the Rajah, in Persia it was called the Shah, in the Arab world it was called the Caliph, and in Europe it was called the King. Although many other pieces were added or removed from the game over time, the most important piece has always been the ruling piece, whether it has been called Rajah, Shah, Caliph or King.
The game variant that is most well known in the western world came from Persia to the main trade routes of Spain and Italy around 1000 AD. The game that we know today spread all over Europe, and by 1400 AD was well established and being played under most of the rules that still apply to the game today.
The first international chess tournament was held in London in 1851. This first tournament was not officially sanctioned, so the winner of it, a German named Adolf Anderssen, was known unofficially as the world's best chess player. It was not until 1866 that the first official international chess tournament was held, also in London. Wilhelm Steinitz from Bohemia won this tournament, and was the first official World Chess Champion.
Chess is an ancient game still being played by many people. It is estimated that in the United States alone, there are 39 million chess players. Chess tournaments are very popular, and a chess Grand Master can have as much notoriety as a sports star or political leader. For a game whose pieces are remnants of an ancient way of life, the game itself remains very popular in the modern world. Chess. Truly a game for the ages.
It has been found that the game, which we now call as Chess, goes so far back into the murky dimness of history that no one is really sure about the specifics of its origin. But scholars generally believe that Chess originated in what are now Northern India and Afghanistan. The oldest written reference to Chess is circa 600 in India. Ironically the name of this game then was not Chess but Satranj or Chaturang.
From ancient India the game spread to Persia (present day Iran). Tradition has it that a Hindu ambassador brought a chess set to the ruler of Persia in the 6th century. With the rise of Islam, the game was spread to the Arabs, who in turn spread the game to Byzantium.
Whenever a culture discovered the game, the game changed. An example of this was the re-naming of the pieces. In India, the most important piece was called the Rajah, in Persia it was called the Shah, in the Arab world it was called the Caliph, and in Europe it was called the King. Although many other pieces were added or removed from the game over time, the most important piece has always been the ruling piece, whether it has been called Rajah, Shah, Caliph or King.
The game variant that is most well known in the western world came from Persia to the main trade routes of Spain and Italy around 1000 AD. The game that we know today spread all over Europe, and by 1400 AD was well established and being played under most of the rules that still apply to the game today.
The first international chess tournament was held in London in 1851. This first tournament was not officially sanctioned, so the winner of it, a German named Adolf Anderssen, was known unofficially as the world's best chess player. It was not until 1866 that the first official international chess tournament was held, also in London. Wilhelm Steinitz from Bohemia won this tournament, and was the first official World Chess Champion.
Chess Basics: How to set up the chessboard
Chess is one of the board games played between two players seated one opposite to the other with the chessboard placed in between the two players.
Before going further, let us try to understand what is a chessboard, what does it comprise of and how to use the board for playing the game. This article does try to explain the same to you.
The board usually comes folded and needs unfolding. Open the board between you and your opponent. The square closest to you on the left-hand side must be dark. If not, just turn the board until it is.
The chess board is made up of 64 squares with 32 being black and 32 being white, but sometimes you may encounter different coloured squares. That means there are 8 rows of 8 squares each. In a chess game, the horizontal squares are named 'a' to 'h' from left to right, and '1' to '8' from bottom to top. This naming is from the white player's side of the board.
Each side consists of: Eight pawns, two Rooks, two Knights, two Bishops, one King and one Queen.
First, you must take your two Rooks (otherwise known as Castles) and deploy one at each corner of the board in the first row. To simplify; There are four rooks in total, between the two sides and they will be occupying each corner of the board.
Take your two Knights and deploy them adjacently, to each Rook, so that you are working toward the middle of row one. Then, take your two Bishops and do the same, except this time, they will each be, three squares in, and sitting right next to the knights.
Row one is almost complete and there are two squares and two very important pieces remaining; The King and the Queen!
The positioning of the Queen may seem peculiar, but it has been a rule observed from the beginning of chess time; The Queen, must sit on her own color square!
If you happen to be the player with the black pieces and your black Bishop, just happens to be sitting on a black square? Then this will be the determining factor, that the next piece to be placed on the board, cannot be your Queen!
Obviously, the same rule applies to the white side and once the key pieces are set up, you will observe that both, the white Queen and Black Queen, will be facing each other from across the board. This rule will undoubtedly leave no question, as to where the King should be placed.
Now that the first row is in position, the remaining pieces, have their rightful place, as I mentioned previously; The pawns, all eight, will be sitting and occupying row two, completely.
We have successfully set up the chessboard and all the pieces at the appropriate places. You can start playing the game once you know the elements of chess, not mere names, but what they are, how they operate and how to use them effectively in your chess strategies to win over the opponent.
Before going further, let us try to understand what is a chessboard, what does it comprise of and how to use the board for playing the game. This article does try to explain the same to you.
The board usually comes folded and needs unfolding. Open the board between you and your opponent. The square closest to you on the left-hand side must be dark. If not, just turn the board until it is.
The chess board is made up of 64 squares with 32 being black and 32 being white, but sometimes you may encounter different coloured squares. That means there are 8 rows of 8 squares each. In a chess game, the horizontal squares are named 'a' to 'h' from left to right, and '1' to '8' from bottom to top. This naming is from the white player's side of the board.
Each side consists of: Eight pawns, two Rooks, two Knights, two Bishops, one King and one Queen.
First, you must take your two Rooks (otherwise known as Castles) and deploy one at each corner of the board in the first row. To simplify; There are four rooks in total, between the two sides and they will be occupying each corner of the board.
Take your two Knights and deploy them adjacently, to each Rook, so that you are working toward the middle of row one. Then, take your two Bishops and do the same, except this time, they will each be, three squares in, and sitting right next to the knights.
Row one is almost complete and there are two squares and two very important pieces remaining; The King and the Queen!
The positioning of the Queen may seem peculiar, but it has been a rule observed from the beginning of chess time; The Queen, must sit on her own color square!
If you happen to be the player with the black pieces and your black Bishop, just happens to be sitting on a black square? Then this will be the determining factor, that the next piece to be placed on the board, cannot be your Queen!
Obviously, the same rule applies to the white side and once the key pieces are set up, you will observe that both, the white Queen and Black Queen, will be facing each other from across the board. This rule will undoubtedly leave no question, as to where the King should be placed.
Now that the first row is in position, the remaining pieces, have their rightful place, as I mentioned previously; The pawns, all eight, will be sitting and occupying row two, completely.
We have successfully set up the chessboard and all the pieces at the appropriate places. You can start playing the game once you know the elements of chess, not mere names, but what they are, how they operate and how to use them effectively in your chess strategies to win over the opponent.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Chess Basics: Want to become a GM? Analyze your games
It has been and will be the aspiration of a chess player to become a Grand Master. It is of course very easy to learn the game of chess. A study of the basic elements of chess, including the various pieces, such as King, Queen, Bishops, Rooks, Knights and Pawns, their relative strengths and weaknesses and their values, will be more than enough to start playing the game.
"Easy to Learn, difficult to master" goes the dictum. Chess is one such game that needs constant practice and perseverance - be it a grand master or a novice who has just learned about chess. Sheer practice and perseverance is required for one to excel in this game. Why is it so? It is so, because the game requires serious thinking and there is no luck or chance. You, using your mind and thinking, will have to decide the fate of the game. If you make a mistake, you stand to lose and if you are shrewd, the other person will obviously lose.
Chess has been here for more than 300 years in its current version while it is being said that it is as old as 3000 years if not more, though i have my own doubts. A lot of material has been published and the latest computer technology has taken the game to a new level. However, it is only sheer practice and commitment that can make you step up the ladder of expertise and gain the level of grandmaster.
Herewith, i provide you with some simple tips which will help you become a grandmaster. This is not a difficult task at all provided you take the initiative and work towards that goal with determination and dedication.
Most of us, in our earlier days, might have learnt to drive a bicylce with the assistance of our father or any relative for that matter. Whatever may be the technical advice we get about driving the bicycle, you tend to fall down from the cycle and hurt yourself. But over a period you will learn it and become an expert rider of bicycle. Practical mistakes committed by you and overcome by you are the best teachers that can take you to higher levels.
Same is the case with chess as well. The simple way to improve your chess skills and become a GM one day is to write down the notations for all your games you play with your opponent. As soon as you completed the game, irrespective of the result, do one thing immediately. Write down in a piece of paper three new things that you learned from this particular game. That is not a difficult task at all.
Then compare your moves, especially opening moves made, with the ones suggested in the books such as Ruy Lopez opening, King's Gambit etc., and find out where you made a mistake.
As a third step, recollect the critical point of the game, that one move or one blunder which changed the course of the game. This is the reason I suggested that you should do this exercise as soon as you complete the game. If you delay it, you might forget the sequence that happened in the game.
Fourthly, take out the notation paper where you had recorded the moves. Go through each and every move of yours, and explain the reason behind the move, the idea of the move and the tactic behind that move. While recollecting these points, it is quite possible that different ideas might come to you. Then, in the light of the new ideas, your moves will also come into play and a critical analysis of each such move will be the best lesson for you than any number of books or any number of advices from your mentor or any other chess player.
If you can do this critically for yourself in good faith, i am sure you will become a wonderful chess player.
"Easy to Learn, difficult to master" goes the dictum. Chess is one such game that needs constant practice and perseverance - be it a grand master or a novice who has just learned about chess. Sheer practice and perseverance is required for one to excel in this game. Why is it so? It is so, because the game requires serious thinking and there is no luck or chance. You, using your mind and thinking, will have to decide the fate of the game. If you make a mistake, you stand to lose and if you are shrewd, the other person will obviously lose.
Chess has been here for more than 300 years in its current version while it is being said that it is as old as 3000 years if not more, though i have my own doubts. A lot of material has been published and the latest computer technology has taken the game to a new level. However, it is only sheer practice and commitment that can make you step up the ladder of expertise and gain the level of grandmaster.
Herewith, i provide you with some simple tips which will help you become a grandmaster. This is not a difficult task at all provided you take the initiative and work towards that goal with determination and dedication.
Most of us, in our earlier days, might have learnt to drive a bicylce with the assistance of our father or any relative for that matter. Whatever may be the technical advice we get about driving the bicycle, you tend to fall down from the cycle and hurt yourself. But over a period you will learn it and become an expert rider of bicycle. Practical mistakes committed by you and overcome by you are the best teachers that can take you to higher levels.
Same is the case with chess as well. The simple way to improve your chess skills and become a GM one day is to write down the notations for all your games you play with your opponent. As soon as you completed the game, irrespective of the result, do one thing immediately. Write down in a piece of paper three new things that you learned from this particular game. That is not a difficult task at all.
Then compare your moves, especially opening moves made, with the ones suggested in the books such as Ruy Lopez opening, King's Gambit etc., and find out where you made a mistake.
As a third step, recollect the critical point of the game, that one move or one blunder which changed the course of the game. This is the reason I suggested that you should do this exercise as soon as you complete the game. If you delay it, you might forget the sequence that happened in the game.
Fourthly, take out the notation paper where you had recorded the moves. Go through each and every move of yours, and explain the reason behind the move, the idea of the move and the tactic behind that move. While recollecting these points, it is quite possible that different ideas might come to you. Then, in the light of the new ideas, your moves will also come into play and a critical analysis of each such move will be the best lesson for you than any number of books or any number of advices from your mentor or any other chess player.
If you can do this critically for yourself in good faith, i am sure you will become a wonderful chess player.
Chess Strategy: The Beginners guide to improve chess skills
Many people, fascinated by the game of chess, start to play chess having understood the basic elements of chess and understood the rules of the game. But as they start playing games, they find themselves in the wrong side of the board hearing checkmate from the opponent quite frequently and thus losing interest to pursue the game further.
Dont lose heart when you cannot win over the opponent or say checkmate. It is in your hands and only in your hands. Remember that chess is a game of the minds, and there is no place for luck or chance in this board game.
The following tips or suggestions will help a novice in chess to improve his skills and say checkmate frequently over his or her opponent.
1. Studying the games of the grandmasters is a best way to improve the skills. But, for a novice, it might look greek and latin in the early stages. One may even go to the extent of commenting on grandmaster's moves and may also suggest a better move. This is nothing but childishness or their inability to understand the moves. Trying to understand the moves of grandmasters will always help to understand and basic rules much better.
2. It is advisable that, having understood the rules and notation of the games, the moves made by you in a game are recorded in a paper. Subsequently analyse your moves and those of the opponent to find out where you went wrong and what could have been done instead of what you actually did. This is the best way to eliminate or reduce the mistakes and will help a long way in improving the game.
3. Before making a move on the board, think twice and do not move in a haste. Also, analyse what would be best possible response to your move from the opponent. You should also think a couple of moves ahead and plan your best response to the move of the opponent. By constantly keeping a watch on the moves of the opponent as well as your moves, you can avoid making any moves in haste and thus provide an opportunity for the opponent to latch on your blunders.
4. Do not consider pawns to be inferior ones. Give importance to each and every piece depending upon their utility. Remember that every pawn in the chess board can become a possible queen or any other piece of your choice on promotion. No other piece has the capability. So view pawns as potential queens and use them effectively.
5. Try to protect your queen during the game. If, by chance, you were to lose the queen, do not think that the game is over and you have lost the game. Many beginners give more preference or importance to queen and if they lose that one, start playing carelessly or throw away the game. This is not correct.
Remember clearly that losing or winning a game of chess depends only on your hands and nothing can prevent you from winning if you apply your mind, focus and clearly planned chess strategies.
Dont lose heart when you cannot win over the opponent or say checkmate. It is in your hands and only in your hands. Remember that chess is a game of the minds, and there is no place for luck or chance in this board game.
The following tips or suggestions will help a novice in chess to improve his skills and say checkmate frequently over his or her opponent.
1. Studying the games of the grandmasters is a best way to improve the skills. But, for a novice, it might look greek and latin in the early stages. One may even go to the extent of commenting on grandmaster's moves and may also suggest a better move. This is nothing but childishness or their inability to understand the moves. Trying to understand the moves of grandmasters will always help to understand and basic rules much better.
2. It is advisable that, having understood the rules and notation of the games, the moves made by you in a game are recorded in a paper. Subsequently analyse your moves and those of the opponent to find out where you went wrong and what could have been done instead of what you actually did. This is the best way to eliminate or reduce the mistakes and will help a long way in improving the game.
3. Before making a move on the board, think twice and do not move in a haste. Also, analyse what would be best possible response to your move from the opponent. You should also think a couple of moves ahead and plan your best response to the move of the opponent. By constantly keeping a watch on the moves of the opponent as well as your moves, you can avoid making any moves in haste and thus provide an opportunity for the opponent to latch on your blunders.
4. Do not consider pawns to be inferior ones. Give importance to each and every piece depending upon their utility. Remember that every pawn in the chess board can become a possible queen or any other piece of your choice on promotion. No other piece has the capability. So view pawns as potential queens and use them effectively.
5. Try to protect your queen during the game. If, by chance, you were to lose the queen, do not think that the game is over and you have lost the game. Many beginners give more preference or importance to queen and if they lose that one, start playing carelessly or throw away the game. This is not correct.
Remember clearly that losing or winning a game of chess depends only on your hands and nothing can prevent you from winning if you apply your mind, focus and clearly planned chess strategies.
Chess Basics: Five simple tips to sharpen your chess skills
Chess is a simple board game that anyone can learn by simply understanding the basic elements of chess. Mere knowledge about the game will not tantamount to expertise in the game and one has to formulate various kinds of chess strategies and tactics at every point of time, so that he or she can frequently say "checkmate" - the golden words in Chess.
The following tips will help any novice chess player or player who finds difficulty in saying checkmate to his opponent, but no problems in hearing the same, to reduce the loss percentage and enhance his or her skill.
1. Be decisive : Before entering into a game, it is essential that you should have some general strategy in place such as to play defensively and wait for opportunities or mistakes from the opponent or to take up attacking posture right from the beginning. Whatever may be attitude, you should not only be decisive in executing the same, but at the same, should exercise adequate caution. As in many cases, due to over-enthusiasm, you might end up making not mistakes but blunders and allow the opponent to have an upperhand. Always remember that chess is a game that cannot be work with a little bit of luck or chance. It is in your hands whether to win or lose. So, act decisively without haste.
2. Understand opponent's plan behind his moves: It is good that you should adopt your set out tactic or strategy to capture the opponent's king. But, in the pursuit, you should not lose sight of the opponent's moves. Sometimes, you might be having a good strategy in place and you are developing pieces towards that end. But in urgency or by oversight, you might lose sight of opponent's moves or intention behind those moves. Before you can complete your strategy, the opponent would have taken your King for a walk saying checkmate on you. So, be careful to assess the moves of the opponent and be prepared to change or alter your tactics.
3. Opt for Castling as early as possible: Castling is the best way to make two pieces change places in one single move. The rook which is otherwise in the corner flank is brought to the centre and the king is moved to a safe place at the flanks. Use this opportunity at the earliest which will not only safeguard your King, but also open up your second major piece in the board, the rook.
4. Develop minor pieces before Queen : Your queen is the most powerful piece in the board and its immense capabilities should be put to optimum use at the appropriate time only. Restrain yourself from opening up the queen before the minor pieces are not developed adequately.
5. Have control over the central part of the board with the help of centre pawns and the knights. Do not have your knights in the flanks as they have lesser mobilty there. A knight in the middle of the board can control as many as eight squares, whereas the knight in the flanks can have effective control over only 3 squares. So have effective control over the centre of the board.
These simple tips, effectively used, can help you say checkmate more often and at the same enhance your skill level.
The following tips will help any novice chess player or player who finds difficulty in saying checkmate to his opponent, but no problems in hearing the same, to reduce the loss percentage and enhance his or her skill.
1. Be decisive : Before entering into a game, it is essential that you should have some general strategy in place such as to play defensively and wait for opportunities or mistakes from the opponent or to take up attacking posture right from the beginning. Whatever may be attitude, you should not only be decisive in executing the same, but at the same, should exercise adequate caution. As in many cases, due to over-enthusiasm, you might end up making not mistakes but blunders and allow the opponent to have an upperhand. Always remember that chess is a game that cannot be work with a little bit of luck or chance. It is in your hands whether to win or lose. So, act decisively without haste.
2. Understand opponent's plan behind his moves: It is good that you should adopt your set out tactic or strategy to capture the opponent's king. But, in the pursuit, you should not lose sight of the opponent's moves. Sometimes, you might be having a good strategy in place and you are developing pieces towards that end. But in urgency or by oversight, you might lose sight of opponent's moves or intention behind those moves. Before you can complete your strategy, the opponent would have taken your King for a walk saying checkmate on you. So, be careful to assess the moves of the opponent and be prepared to change or alter your tactics.
3. Opt for Castling as early as possible: Castling is the best way to make two pieces change places in one single move. The rook which is otherwise in the corner flank is brought to the centre and the king is moved to a safe place at the flanks. Use this opportunity at the earliest which will not only safeguard your King, but also open up your second major piece in the board, the rook.
4. Develop minor pieces before Queen : Your queen is the most powerful piece in the board and its immense capabilities should be put to optimum use at the appropriate time only. Restrain yourself from opening up the queen before the minor pieces are not developed adequately.
5. Have control over the central part of the board with the help of centre pawns and the knights. Do not have your knights in the flanks as they have lesser mobilty there. A knight in the middle of the board can control as many as eight squares, whereas the knight in the flanks can have effective control over only 3 squares. So have effective control over the centre of the board.
These simple tips, effectively used, can help you say checkmate more often and at the same enhance your skill level.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Chess Basics: How to use your knights effectively
In the game of chess, the knight and the bishop are termed as minor pieces, and has been assigned a value of three points each. While bishop can move either forward or backward in diagonals depending upon the color of its initial square, the knight is one special piece among all the other pieces in the board, because it has a unique movement. Moreover, it is the only piece that can jump across any piece as long the piece is not in its destination square.
No other piece has the capability to jump over other pieces. This unique feature of the knight should be used effectively. Some of the tips for putting the knight to effective use are given hereunder.
For example, the knights ideally placed in d5 or e5 in case of white pieces, and in d4 and e4 in case of black pieces, are very powerful. However, they are not as powerful if placed in d4 and e4 in case of white pieces, and d5 and e5 in case of black pieces.
Similarly, knights either on c5 or f5 will be a formidable threat to the opponents, while the knights in c4 or f4 or not a big threat to the opponent in most cases.
The greatest utility of knight in the game of chess is the capability of forking. One of the most important chess strategies and chess tactics is the fork. The fork with a check on the king has won many queens and rooks because the knight's jumping over other pieces and unusual move pattern makes it a sneak attack that is hard but not usually impossible to see.
The two rooks can also be forked. It will theoretically win the exchange because only one rook can move at a time. But the game of chess is more complicated than just the strategy of winning the exchange by a fork of the knight. A sacrifice of the exchange has won many games against an unwary opponent. The knight is superior to the bishop in some endings. It is rare but possible for the knight to be superior to the rook. Some of the masters of the nineteenth century used the power of the knight in some positions.
Defending against the knight can be done with an exchange of knights or bishop for knight. But if you exchange a bishop for a knight that is in a superior position, do not exchange your remaining bishop for one of your opponent's knights because then you will be up against two bishops with two knights. Then just about all you can do is trade one of your opponent's bishops for one of your knights, unless you have a winning attack on the king. In the endgame, one way to defend the king against the knight is to take the diagonal opposition of one square or any odd number of squares. This will make it so the knight cannot check the king for about seven or eight moves.
No other piece has the capability to jump over other pieces. This unique feature of the knight should be used effectively. Some of the tips for putting the knight to effective use are given hereunder.
For example, the knights ideally placed in d5 or e5 in case of white pieces, and in d4 and e4 in case of black pieces, are very powerful. However, they are not as powerful if placed in d4 and e4 in case of white pieces, and d5 and e5 in case of black pieces.
Similarly, knights either on c5 or f5 will be a formidable threat to the opponents, while the knights in c4 or f4 or not a big threat to the opponent in most cases.
The greatest utility of knight in the game of chess is the capability of forking. One of the most important chess strategies and chess tactics is the fork. The fork with a check on the king has won many queens and rooks because the knight's jumping over other pieces and unusual move pattern makes it a sneak attack that is hard but not usually impossible to see.
The two rooks can also be forked. It will theoretically win the exchange because only one rook can move at a time. But the game of chess is more complicated than just the strategy of winning the exchange by a fork of the knight. A sacrifice of the exchange has won many games against an unwary opponent. The knight is superior to the bishop in some endings. It is rare but possible for the knight to be superior to the rook. Some of the masters of the nineteenth century used the power of the knight in some positions.
Defending against the knight can be done with an exchange of knights or bishop for knight. But if you exchange a bishop for a knight that is in a superior position, do not exchange your remaining bishop for one of your opponent's knights because then you will be up against two bishops with two knights. Then just about all you can do is trade one of your opponent's bishops for one of your knights, unless you have a winning attack on the king. In the endgame, one way to defend the king against the knight is to take the diagonal opposition of one square or any odd number of squares. This will make it so the knight cannot check the king for about seven or eight moves.
Chess Basics: 5 simple tips for opening moves
Chess is a simple board game that can be learnt in quick time by understanding the chess basics or the elements of chess. The real challenge comes when you start playing the game. This is one unique game where there is no room for luck or chance and you will decide the fate of your game. So, right from the beginning, each and every move of yours should be carefully planned and executed with specific chess tactics and chess strategies in mind.
Assuming that you are playing with white pieces against your opponent, at the start of the game, you have to choose between any of the ten pieces to make the first move. Did you get that what those 10 pieces are? - eight pawns and two knights. The ideal move would be to move the king pawn two squares - from e2 to e4, or the queen pawn - from d2 to d4. This move is considered to be good because it opens up the Queen and the bishop. Secondly, you can have a fair share of the centre of the board comprising the squares d4, e4, d5, and e5. If you move your pawn in front of the king rook or king bishop - i.e. g2 to g4 or h2 to h4, that will not serve any effective purpose. In turn, that may turn out to be bad when you castle at a later stage as your king might be exposed by a opened pawn file.
Having better control over the centre of the board will always be advantageous. In this regards, knights should also be considered for movement towards the centre such as Nc3 or Nf3, instead of Na3 or Nh3. The simple reason is that the more the knight is in centre, the more squares it can control. The more the knight is in the wings, the less its control over the squares. For eg., the knight in say e4 can have control over eight squares around it, but the knight in a file can have effective control over three squares only. So, it is advisable that the knights are directed towards the centre of the board.
The most important point worth considering or noting in mind is that each and every move you make should have some sort of purpose - either to advance or allow for development of other pieces as part of a minor tactic. Moving a piece for the sake of moving and awaiting other person's moves is not good. In other words, each move should either develop a piece or increase the mobility of piece by opening up the files, ranks or diagonals.
One of the principles of opening, which hardly even grandmasters find it difficult to follow, is "move every piece once before you move any other piece twice". While it is not possible always because of the specific tactics being employed, one should avoid moving the same piece more than once at the cost of developing other pieces.
Bring out the Bishop and the Knight on the kingside as early as possible, thereby creating room for castling on the King side.
Once castling is done and the pieces in the queenside are developed adequately, then plan for attacks on the opponent's king. Premature attacks on the king without proper development of pieces and a fair share on the centre of the board will not be advantageous.
Assuming that you are playing with white pieces against your opponent, at the start of the game, you have to choose between any of the ten pieces to make the first move. Did you get that what those 10 pieces are? - eight pawns and two knights. The ideal move would be to move the king pawn two squares - from e2 to e4, or the queen pawn - from d2 to d4. This move is considered to be good because it opens up the Queen and the bishop. Secondly, you can have a fair share of the centre of the board comprising the squares d4, e4, d5, and e5. If you move your pawn in front of the king rook or king bishop - i.e. g2 to g4 or h2 to h4, that will not serve any effective purpose. In turn, that may turn out to be bad when you castle at a later stage as your king might be exposed by a opened pawn file.
Having better control over the centre of the board will always be advantageous. In this regards, knights should also be considered for movement towards the centre such as Nc3 or Nf3, instead of Na3 or Nh3. The simple reason is that the more the knight is in centre, the more squares it can control. The more the knight is in the wings, the less its control over the squares. For eg., the knight in say e4 can have control over eight squares around it, but the knight in a file can have effective control over three squares only. So, it is advisable that the knights are directed towards the centre of the board.
The most important point worth considering or noting in mind is that each and every move you make should have some sort of purpose - either to advance or allow for development of other pieces as part of a minor tactic. Moving a piece for the sake of moving and awaiting other person's moves is not good. In other words, each move should either develop a piece or increase the mobility of piece by opening up the files, ranks or diagonals.
One of the principles of opening, which hardly even grandmasters find it difficult to follow, is "move every piece once before you move any other piece twice". While it is not possible always because of the specific tactics being employed, one should avoid moving the same piece more than once at the cost of developing other pieces.
Bring out the Bishop and the Knight on the kingside as early as possible, thereby creating room for castling on the King side.
Once castling is done and the pieces in the queenside are developed adequately, then plan for attacks on the opponent's king. Premature attacks on the king without proper development of pieces and a fair share on the centre of the board will not be advantageous.
Chess Basics: How to avoid defeat in chess
Cbess is a game played betweeen two players, where one player emerges victorious and the other player loses the game. In other words, one person will say "checkmate" to the other or vice versa. If you cannot say checkmate to your opponent, and have every possibility of losing the game, can you avoid defeat? Yes - it is possible to settle for a draw with your opponent, if any of the following three instances occur :
1. Perpetual Check
2. Stalemate
3. Not enough material
Perpetual Check
Perpetual check is referred to an instance that you threatens the opponent's King with a series of checks, but he moves out of check to a safer square, and you could not convert that check to a checkmate. If the deadlock continues in such a manner, then the game is mutually agreed to have been concluded with no person claiming victory over the other.
If you are in the losing side and has only one King in comparison to more pieces for the opponent, your strategy should be not to fall in trap of the opponent and ensure that you escape every threat and move to safety. In this way, you can avoid a defeat in the hands of your opponent.
Stalemate
A player is said to be in stalemate condition, if, in his turn to make a move and the his king is not in check, he has no legal moves to make. In other words, if the king could not move to any of the surrounding squares which would put him in check, then the king is said to be in stalemate. The stalemate is not equivalent to a loss, since the opponent cannot say "checkmate". As such, stalemate is as good as a draw. In an indirect way, it will be a loss for the other because he cannot offer a direct checkmate on the king, while pushing him to a state where he cannot make further moves.
There is one caveat here. Stalemate can happen only if the King, when not in check, has no squares to move and any of the other pieces, if available, also are not able to move to any squares. If there are other pieces that can be moved, then the situation of stalemate does not arise. You have to move the other piece, even if means you have to lose them. Stalemate can arise only if your king, when not in check, cannot move to any legal square, and other pieces, if available, are blocked or immobile.
Not enough material
A win situation in chess cannot arise if you or your opponent does not have enough material to checkmate the other. Assume that you have only King and the other party also has only King on the board. In such a situation, there is no possibility of a solution. Or even, if you have only a King and a Knight, in comparison to only the king at the disposal of the opponent, there is no question of victory. Similarly, if you have only the King and Bishop, as against the king for the opponent, you cannot enforce a checkmate. Even if thee is one single pawn etc., there is a ray of hope that the pawn can be promoted to a queen. But in the absence of a pawn, checkmate cannot be effected and the players have to settle for a draw, or in other words, avoid a defeat.
1. Perpetual Check
2. Stalemate
3. Not enough material
Perpetual Check
Perpetual check is referred to an instance that you threatens the opponent's King with a series of checks, but he moves out of check to a safer square, and you could not convert that check to a checkmate. If the deadlock continues in such a manner, then the game is mutually agreed to have been concluded with no person claiming victory over the other.
If you are in the losing side and has only one King in comparison to more pieces for the opponent, your strategy should be not to fall in trap of the opponent and ensure that you escape every threat and move to safety. In this way, you can avoid a defeat in the hands of your opponent.
Stalemate
A player is said to be in stalemate condition, if, in his turn to make a move and the his king is not in check, he has no legal moves to make. In other words, if the king could not move to any of the surrounding squares which would put him in check, then the king is said to be in stalemate. The stalemate is not equivalent to a loss, since the opponent cannot say "checkmate". As such, stalemate is as good as a draw. In an indirect way, it will be a loss for the other because he cannot offer a direct checkmate on the king, while pushing him to a state where he cannot make further moves.
There is one caveat here. Stalemate can happen only if the King, when not in check, has no squares to move and any of the other pieces, if available, also are not able to move to any squares. If there are other pieces that can be moved, then the situation of stalemate does not arise. You have to move the other piece, even if means you have to lose them. Stalemate can arise only if your king, when not in check, cannot move to any legal square, and other pieces, if available, are blocked or immobile.
Not enough material
A win situation in chess cannot arise if you or your opponent does not have enough material to checkmate the other. Assume that you have only King and the other party also has only King on the board. In such a situation, there is no possibility of a solution. Or even, if you have only a King and a Knight, in comparison to only the king at the disposal of the opponent, there is no question of victory. Similarly, if you have only the King and Bishop, as against the king for the opponent, you cannot enforce a checkmate. Even if thee is one single pawn etc., there is a ray of hope that the pawn can be promoted to a queen. But in the absence of a pawn, checkmate cannot be effected and the players have to settle for a draw, or in other words, avoid a defeat.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Tips for making effective chess moves
Careful planning is vital for any chess strategy to succeed. One can plan an effective attack by judiciously making the moves that will yield the desired results. Many a times, one vital move will change the entire course of the game and tilt the balance.
Moves, which can create such a vital impact on the course of the game should have the following qualities, such as
- potential for further development
- capable of threatening attacks
- create a fork
Apart from the moves that create a vital impact, moves that result in
- castling, and
- discovering checks
will also be very effective.
Let us discuss each of the above five moves.
Potential for further development
In the early stages of the game, this is the single most important consideration. The value of a piece increases if it can travel further across the board, or has the potential to reach many other squares. This is why one of the most popular openings involve moving the king's pawn. That single move opens a path for both the queen and the bishop! Remember that when the game starts, all pieces are helplessly trapped behind a row of pawns. "Developing" pieces is what unlocks their potential.
Capability to threaten attacks
Sometimes a single move can throw an opponent into defensive mode - stopping the advance of crucial pieces while they shore up their defenses. A pawn doesn't even have to reach the eighth row and become an attacking queen. Just that possibility will trigger a fierce series of preventive moves. The same is true for any piece moved into a strategic position. If nothing else, it ties up the opponent's pieces with countering new possible attacks.
Creating a fork
Threatening an opponent's piece usually just results in a defensive counter-move which protects that piece. But the solution is simple: threaten two pieces. Moving a knight to the middle of the seventh row can simultaneously threaten a rook and a queen on the king's side - or both the rook and the king on the queen's side. The capturing piece is often captured in turn, but it's still possible to come out ahead if the opponent loses a more valuable piece. In some cases, it's even possible to fork two pieces with a pawn!
Castling
Castling is the only chess move where two pieces change position on the same turn. It usually protects the king, moving it behind the undeveloped outer pawns, and brings the rook closer to the center where it can attack the middle of the board. Once all knights and bishops have been moved from the back row, castling also places the two rooks into "communication," allowing one to protect the other. Maneuvering one rook behind another creates the possibility of a very powerful two-piece attack.
Discovering checks
One of the most thrilling combinations in chess is a "discovered check," where moving one piece clears the path of attack for a second piece which places the opponent's king in check. The opposing player must then eliminate the threat of check on their next turn, which usually leaves the moved piece free to make a second move on the following turn. Using the extra turn wisely can sometimes allow the capture of a valuable piece, or at least a chance to secure an advantageous position.
Moves, which can create such a vital impact on the course of the game should have the following qualities, such as
- potential for further development
- capable of threatening attacks
- create a fork
Apart from the moves that create a vital impact, moves that result in
- castling, and
- discovering checks
will also be very effective.
Let us discuss each of the above five moves.
Potential for further development
In the early stages of the game, this is the single most important consideration. The value of a piece increases if it can travel further across the board, or has the potential to reach many other squares. This is why one of the most popular openings involve moving the king's pawn. That single move opens a path for both the queen and the bishop! Remember that when the game starts, all pieces are helplessly trapped behind a row of pawns. "Developing" pieces is what unlocks their potential.
Capability to threaten attacks
Sometimes a single move can throw an opponent into defensive mode - stopping the advance of crucial pieces while they shore up their defenses. A pawn doesn't even have to reach the eighth row and become an attacking queen. Just that possibility will trigger a fierce series of preventive moves. The same is true for any piece moved into a strategic position. If nothing else, it ties up the opponent's pieces with countering new possible attacks.
Creating a fork
Threatening an opponent's piece usually just results in a defensive counter-move which protects that piece. But the solution is simple: threaten two pieces. Moving a knight to the middle of the seventh row can simultaneously threaten a rook and a queen on the king's side - or both the rook and the king on the queen's side. The capturing piece is often captured in turn, but it's still possible to come out ahead if the opponent loses a more valuable piece. In some cases, it's even possible to fork two pieces with a pawn!
Castling
Castling is the only chess move where two pieces change position on the same turn. It usually protects the king, moving it behind the undeveloped outer pawns, and brings the rook closer to the center where it can attack the middle of the board. Once all knights and bishops have been moved from the back row, castling also places the two rooks into "communication," allowing one to protect the other. Maneuvering one rook behind another creates the possibility of a very powerful two-piece attack.
Discovering checks
One of the most thrilling combinations in chess is a "discovered check," where moving one piece clears the path of attack for a second piece which places the opponent's king in check. The opposing player must then eliminate the threat of check on their next turn, which usually leaves the moved piece free to make a second move on the following turn. Using the extra turn wisely can sometimes allow the capture of a valuable piece, or at least a chance to secure an advantageous position.
Simple tips to improve the middle game
The real action in chess takes place in the middle game, which is often, the lengthiest part of the game. Most of you will agree that as you start playing chess and gained a certain degree of skill, the opening part of the game is routine one with most of the moves either memorized or mastered, depending upon the style of your play.
The middle game in chess is the battle. Though the opening sets the stage for how the battle plays out, there are specific choices to be made as to how to approach the protracted struggle.
There are two different ways of approaching chess, and the emphasis of the middle game depends upon a player's approach. One of the methods is to create a positional strong-hold early on and play a careful, progressive game that exploits the weakness in your opponent's position, slowly pushing a material advantage until you gain absolute dominance. The other method is to be more experimental, where the chess strategies and tactics have been exploited to the core to gain an upper hand over the opponent.
The difference between the two approaches is that of an advancing army compared to tactical guerrilla warfare. A great chess mind can conquer the middle game through positional advantage alone, even if they may seem impossibly outstripped in material. Controlling the center of the board is the goal in chess, but there are specific squares that a great player will seek to conquer.
For the experimental middle game, these guidelines apply:
1. Position over material.
2. Give until it hurts.
3. Do not trap your king.
4. Be fearless.
Position over material: By this guideline, the position is given more importance than the material in that position. It has been a misconception that losing Queen would tantamount to losing the game. This guideline is meant to overthrow that misconception. No piece or material is important than its position. If your pieces are cramped and/or could not make the desired advances, then they are futile. One should be aware that there are opportunities that arise for those willing to sacrifice a rook for a pawn. As a player, one must have the skill to execute the trap once it is set, without giving more importance to the material and see each piece for it's capabilities alone. It is a fact that the position of the lowliest members of chess rank, the pawn, often determines the outcome of a game.
'Give until it hurts': As a chess player, you should not waste valuable moves protecting pieces that are not intrinsic to your game plan. Once you see how to trap your opponent, determine which pieces are necessary, and allow others to be sacrificed by way of distraction, and to give your opponent a false sense of confidence.
'Do not trap your king': The purpose of the game is to capture the opponent's King. It also means that your king should not be allowed to be captured by the opponent. You must protect your king. As such, be aware of threats to your monarch, and do not hedge him into a position where he can not escape. The experimental game requires attention to many pieces, so freedom of movement for your king is more important than a great fortress of pieces to protect him. You do not want to tie up all your material for defensive purposes.
Be fearless: Finally, the brilliant middle game is not by nature consistent. You can not be a perfectionist and improve at the same time. Leave perfectionism for the safe, advancing middle game players. Do not be afraid to fail, or you will find yourself too stunted to succeed.
The middle game in chess is the battle. Though the opening sets the stage for how the battle plays out, there are specific choices to be made as to how to approach the protracted struggle.
There are two different ways of approaching chess, and the emphasis of the middle game depends upon a player's approach. One of the methods is to create a positional strong-hold early on and play a careful, progressive game that exploits the weakness in your opponent's position, slowly pushing a material advantage until you gain absolute dominance. The other method is to be more experimental, where the chess strategies and tactics have been exploited to the core to gain an upper hand over the opponent.
The difference between the two approaches is that of an advancing army compared to tactical guerrilla warfare. A great chess mind can conquer the middle game through positional advantage alone, even if they may seem impossibly outstripped in material. Controlling the center of the board is the goal in chess, but there are specific squares that a great player will seek to conquer.
For the experimental middle game, these guidelines apply:
1. Position over material.
2. Give until it hurts.
3. Do not trap your king.
4. Be fearless.
Position over material: By this guideline, the position is given more importance than the material in that position. It has been a misconception that losing Queen would tantamount to losing the game. This guideline is meant to overthrow that misconception. No piece or material is important than its position. If your pieces are cramped and/or could not make the desired advances, then they are futile. One should be aware that there are opportunities that arise for those willing to sacrifice a rook for a pawn. As a player, one must have the skill to execute the trap once it is set, without giving more importance to the material and see each piece for it's capabilities alone. It is a fact that the position of the lowliest members of chess rank, the pawn, often determines the outcome of a game.
'Give until it hurts': As a chess player, you should not waste valuable moves protecting pieces that are not intrinsic to your game plan. Once you see how to trap your opponent, determine which pieces are necessary, and allow others to be sacrificed by way of distraction, and to give your opponent a false sense of confidence.
'Do not trap your king': The purpose of the game is to capture the opponent's King. It also means that your king should not be allowed to be captured by the opponent. You must protect your king. As such, be aware of threats to your monarch, and do not hedge him into a position where he can not escape. The experimental game requires attention to many pieces, so freedom of movement for your king is more important than a great fortress of pieces to protect him. You do not want to tie up all your material for defensive purposes.
Be fearless: Finally, the brilliant middle game is not by nature consistent. You can not be a perfectionist and improve at the same time. Leave perfectionism for the safe, advancing middle game players. Do not be afraid to fail, or you will find yourself too stunted to succeed.
Playing Chess will help students outshine others
Chess is one of the oldest games that has stood the test of time and technology and still fascinates the old and the young alike. How is that possible? A cursory analysis of this aspect leads us to a conclusion that this board game is not one involving chance or luck. A chess player finds himself in a situation that is the result of his or her own decisions. As such, he or she cannot blame anyone else for the way things go in a game and therefore must take responsibility for his or her actions.
It is this great quality of the game that is responsible for its popularity. Students are strongly advised to take up this game seriously so that they will learn invaluable lessons that will make their life much more eventful and better than others who do not play chess. Learning the game is not very difficult. Any person interested in the game can learn the game by undersanding the elements of chess in no time. But the important part in the game is in playing it, understanding the various chess strategies and tactics, and applying it with a logical mind.
Young students should be encouraged to learn and play chess as the game helps in their studies to a greater extent.
By playing chess, students will learn to
- concentrate
- think before act
- imagine
- assess the alternatives
- prioritize the best alternative
- evaluate the results
- plan and execute
- cultivate fighting spirits.
All the above qualities will help students to fare better in their academic studies. Research has shown that playing chess has resulted in led to a beter self-image, and higher level of motivation among the students, and they have outshined other students.
It is this great quality of the game that is responsible for its popularity. Students are strongly advised to take up this game seriously so that they will learn invaluable lessons that will make their life much more eventful and better than others who do not play chess. Learning the game is not very difficult. Any person interested in the game can learn the game by undersanding the elements of chess in no time. But the important part in the game is in playing it, understanding the various chess strategies and tactics, and applying it with a logical mind.
Young students should be encouraged to learn and play chess as the game helps in their studies to a greater extent.
By playing chess, students will learn to
- concentrate
- think before act
- imagine
- assess the alternatives
- prioritize the best alternative
- evaluate the results
- plan and execute
- cultivate fighting spirits.
All the above qualities will help students to fare better in their academic studies. Research has shown that playing chess has resulted in led to a beter self-image, and higher level of motivation among the students, and they have outshined other students.
Understanding pawns and their structure
In the game of Chess, the role played by pawns is of equal importance in comparison with other pieces. Though the value of the pawn in the least among the pieces, they do play an important part in a successful chess strategy.
Let us try to understand the various types of pawn structures and their relative importance in chess tactics.
Pawn Islands: Pawns are placed in front of the other pieces in the second rank for white pieces and in the seventh rank for black pieces, when viewed from white side. All the files - a to h - have one pawn each in either color. A pawn island refers to the situation where a set of pawns are isolated from other pawns.
Let me give an example of a pawn island. If you have pawns on every file except the 'b' file and the 'f' file, then you will have 3 pawn islands viz., "a", "c to e", and "g and h".
Open Files : In the above example, you have noticed that pawns are missing from the files 'b' and 'f'. These two files are referred to as Open Files. These open files will offer an opportunity for the rooks to exert pressure on your pieces.
Isolated Pawn : A pawn which has no support from other pawns is referred to as an isolated pawn. Quoting from the above example, the pawn at "a" file is referred to as an isolated pawn.
Doubled Pawn : A doubled pawn is where one pawn is behind another on the same file.
This will be deemed a weakness if there are is no pawn on any one of the sides of the doubled pawn structure, and the two pawns in one file will be referred to as island pawns. However, if there is any pawn adjacent to the doubled pawn structure, then it is not so weak.
Open Pawn Structure : In a chess board, when the pawns of both the players have been largely eliminated due to exchanges, leaving more space and agility to the other minor and major pieces, then such a situation is referred to as Open Pawn Structure, and will be very useful for long-range chess pieces such as rooks and bishops. However, knights cannot take effective advantage of an open pawn structure due to their restricted odd movements.
When faced with such a situation, it is essential that you should keep the pawn setup in mind when looking at piece exchanges. If it is open, or will be, then you should look at swapping one of your knights for an opponent's bishop, leaving you with the best piece for the situation.
Closed Pawn Structure: In contrast to an open pawn structure, if the chess board is crowded with more pawns, and also the opportunities for further movement of the pawns forward is limited or denied, then such a set up is referred to as a Closed Pawn Structure. Long-range pieces such as Bishops and Rooks will find it difficult to move in a closed pawn structure, while knights will find more space to move around. When faced with a closed pawn structure, it is advisable to retain the knights and exchange your bishops for opponent's knights, thus giving more advantage over the opponent.
An understanding of the pawns and their structure in the board will have a role to play in adapting a good chess strategy that will lead to victory over the opponent.
Let us try to understand the various types of pawn structures and their relative importance in chess tactics.
Pawn Islands: Pawns are placed in front of the other pieces in the second rank for white pieces and in the seventh rank for black pieces, when viewed from white side. All the files - a to h - have one pawn each in either color. A pawn island refers to the situation where a set of pawns are isolated from other pawns.
Let me give an example of a pawn island. If you have pawns on every file except the 'b' file and the 'f' file, then you will have 3 pawn islands viz., "a", "c to e", and "g and h".
Open Files : In the above example, you have noticed that pawns are missing from the files 'b' and 'f'. These two files are referred to as Open Files. These open files will offer an opportunity for the rooks to exert pressure on your pieces.
Isolated Pawn : A pawn which has no support from other pawns is referred to as an isolated pawn. Quoting from the above example, the pawn at "a" file is referred to as an isolated pawn.
Doubled Pawn : A doubled pawn is where one pawn is behind another on the same file.
This will be deemed a weakness if there are is no pawn on any one of the sides of the doubled pawn structure, and the two pawns in one file will be referred to as island pawns. However, if there is any pawn adjacent to the doubled pawn structure, then it is not so weak.
Open Pawn Structure : In a chess board, when the pawns of both the players have been largely eliminated due to exchanges, leaving more space and agility to the other minor and major pieces, then such a situation is referred to as Open Pawn Structure, and will be very useful for long-range chess pieces such as rooks and bishops. However, knights cannot take effective advantage of an open pawn structure due to their restricted odd movements.
When faced with such a situation, it is essential that you should keep the pawn setup in mind when looking at piece exchanges. If it is open, or will be, then you should look at swapping one of your knights for an opponent's bishop, leaving you with the best piece for the situation.
Closed Pawn Structure: In contrast to an open pawn structure, if the chess board is crowded with more pawns, and also the opportunities for further movement of the pawns forward is limited or denied, then such a set up is referred to as a Closed Pawn Structure. Long-range pieces such as Bishops and Rooks will find it difficult to move in a closed pawn structure, while knights will find more space to move around. When faced with a closed pawn structure, it is advisable to retain the knights and exchange your bishops for opponent's knights, thus giving more advantage over the opponent.
An understanding of the pawns and their structure in the board will have a role to play in adapting a good chess strategy that will lead to victory over the opponent.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Seven tips for a novice to become an expert in chess
Chess is one of the oldest games played in this world and has withstood the test of time. The game is as fascinating as it was 300 years ago, and the new innovations in computer technology have only increased the fascination for the game. The beauty of the game lies in the variations it offers. It is a mind game between two players. A lot of books, materials and advice are available for any person to learn and play chess. But, there is no clear cut set pattern to the game, apart from the basic rules and elements of the game that one should be aware of to play chess. In actual play, each and every move is a challenge in itself. The more you learn in the game of chess, the more will be your thirst and one cannot simply swim over the ocean of the game. Many beginners, in their initial stage, make some trivial mistakes and their aspirations for higher levels in chess soon vanishes. That is more so in case you, as a beginner, do not get more opportunities to say "check mate" to your opponent.
If you avoid making mistakes, the chances are that your percentage of victories will gradually rise and so will your interest to learn more and excel.
Some of the suggestions or steps that should be borne in mind while playing chess are listed here :
Tip #1: Think twice before making a move. If it were to take a little extra time, no issues about that. Normally beginners tend to make the mistake of acting in haste. You should avoid that at all costs, so that the probability of mistakes is reduced to the minimum.
Tip #2: Plan a series of chess strategies and tactics in advance. Tactics and Strategy are not one and the same. Tactics is to achieve a short term target such as capturing the opponent's queen or controlling centre. Strategy is one which will pave you to success. A series of tactics might result in one strategy. As such, you should have to plan atleast three moves in advance. Once you master this, the first step becomes easier as you continue playing.
Tip #3: Make castling as early as possible
Tip #4: Never sacrifice your piece for one whose value is relatively less than the one sacrificed. That is, do not lose your rook to capture a pawn or a knight.
Tip #5: Always try to protect your Queen. Again, if given a choice whether to sacrifice a bishop or a knight, prefer a knight for sacrifice and retain the bishop.
Tip #6: You should develop pieces in both sides - that is queenside as well as kingside. If you advance pieces at only one of the two sides, your defense might be exposed. As such, it is essential that effective defense should be there to protect your king and other pieces in the board.
Tip #7: Do not act in haste and carry out attacks over the opposition King. Plan your stragies and moves, have a solid defense and wait for the opponent to make mistakes before initiating attacks.
If you make use of these above tips and implement judiciously, you are sure to say "check mate" more frequently and your overall skill in the game will improve vastly.
If you avoid making mistakes, the chances are that your percentage of victories will gradually rise and so will your interest to learn more and excel.
Some of the suggestions or steps that should be borne in mind while playing chess are listed here :
Tip #1: Think twice before making a move. If it were to take a little extra time, no issues about that. Normally beginners tend to make the mistake of acting in haste. You should avoid that at all costs, so that the probability of mistakes is reduced to the minimum.
Tip #2: Plan a series of chess strategies and tactics in advance. Tactics and Strategy are not one and the same. Tactics is to achieve a short term target such as capturing the opponent's queen or controlling centre. Strategy is one which will pave you to success. A series of tactics might result in one strategy. As such, you should have to plan atleast three moves in advance. Once you master this, the first step becomes easier as you continue playing.
Tip #3: Make castling as early as possible
Tip #4: Never sacrifice your piece for one whose value is relatively less than the one sacrificed. That is, do not lose your rook to capture a pawn or a knight.
Tip #5: Always try to protect your Queen. Again, if given a choice whether to sacrifice a bishop or a knight, prefer a knight for sacrifice and retain the bishop.
Tip #6: You should develop pieces in both sides - that is queenside as well as kingside. If you advance pieces at only one of the two sides, your defense might be exposed. As such, it is essential that effective defense should be there to protect your king and other pieces in the board.
Tip #7: Do not act in haste and carry out attacks over the opposition King. Plan your stragies and moves, have a solid defense and wait for the opponent to make mistakes before initiating attacks.
If you make use of these above tips and implement judiciously, you are sure to say "check mate" more frequently and your overall skill in the game will improve vastly.
Lessons for Life from the game of Chess
Chess is one of the most fascinating board games, which can be played by any person once he or she knows the basic elements of chess and learns the rules of the game.
One interesting aspect is that the game of chess teaches you some very important lessons with regard to your life. In other words, chess teaches you how to deal with your life. Sounds interesting - is it not?
In the game of chess, if you make a move, you cannot take it back. This is the very basic rule of the game. If you correlate the same rule with your life, you will find that once you take a decision or do one thing in life, you cannot take it back. You have to face the consequences, good or bad, resulting from your action, just as the consequences of move in a game.
Let me put it the other way. In the game of chess, you have to face problems at every move. You should, as such, plan your moves and decide the strategy for achieving the goal of saying "check mate" to the opponent. Similarly, in the real life, one has to face a number of problems at every point of time. In that way, chess and life are full of problems waiting for solution from you.
While playing chess, you will make a move only after analyzing the consequences of the move, decide whether it is the correct alternative move available at your disposal that would give the desired result. When faced with a problem, you will assess your limited resources capable of overcoming the problem and make the best available alternative. Similarly, when you are faced with a crisis or a problem in your life, the habit cultivated in the game of chess, which is to weigh and consider all possible options, will come to your rescue. Your actions will not be driven by haste and you will start analyzing the problem. This is one great trait which the game of chess teaches us. Anything done in haste will not yield the desired results.
So, playing chess will definitely help you in dealing with life and taking decisions or making moves with a calm, clear and focused mind.
One more important trait that chess teaches us in life is Patience. Patience, as you know, is a virtue. In the game of chess, you make your moves, plan your tactics and apply different chess strategies depending upon the moves of the opponents. If the opponent is a tough nut to crack, you deploy various alternative strategies and wait for the opponent to make the mistake or fall into your trap. You need to plan accordingly - at least 2 or 3 moves ahead - and above all wait for the other person to make the mistake. Constant involvement in the game of chess will, unknowingly, cultivate in you the important aspects such as planning, strategic execution, reacting to opponent's moves, quickly and effectively changing tactics, and above all believing in your skills and biding your time patiently till the other person makes the mistake.
You are only playing a game of chess, but, unknowingly, you will be cultivating all these great qualities - such as planning, defending, reacting to problems in best possible manner, and being patient.
As such, chess is definitely bound to enhance the quality of your life. One more interesting aspect of chess. Chess is also referred to a war game, a game of war between two countries having equal arms and ammunition. It is foolish to go to a war without any strategy, and so, by playing chess, you prepare yourself to play the game of life, which is full of uncertainity, with a measure of confidence.
One interesting aspect is that the game of chess teaches you some very important lessons with regard to your life. In other words, chess teaches you how to deal with your life. Sounds interesting - is it not?
In the game of chess, if you make a move, you cannot take it back. This is the very basic rule of the game. If you correlate the same rule with your life, you will find that once you take a decision or do one thing in life, you cannot take it back. You have to face the consequences, good or bad, resulting from your action, just as the consequences of move in a game.
Let me put it the other way. In the game of chess, you have to face problems at every move. You should, as such, plan your moves and decide the strategy for achieving the goal of saying "check mate" to the opponent. Similarly, in the real life, one has to face a number of problems at every point of time. In that way, chess and life are full of problems waiting for solution from you.
While playing chess, you will make a move only after analyzing the consequences of the move, decide whether it is the correct alternative move available at your disposal that would give the desired result. When faced with a problem, you will assess your limited resources capable of overcoming the problem and make the best available alternative. Similarly, when you are faced with a crisis or a problem in your life, the habit cultivated in the game of chess, which is to weigh and consider all possible options, will come to your rescue. Your actions will not be driven by haste and you will start analyzing the problem. This is one great trait which the game of chess teaches us. Anything done in haste will not yield the desired results.
So, playing chess will definitely help you in dealing with life and taking decisions or making moves with a calm, clear and focused mind.
One more important trait that chess teaches us in life is Patience. Patience, as you know, is a virtue. In the game of chess, you make your moves, plan your tactics and apply different chess strategies depending upon the moves of the opponents. If the opponent is a tough nut to crack, you deploy various alternative strategies and wait for the opponent to make the mistake or fall into your trap. You need to plan accordingly - at least 2 or 3 moves ahead - and above all wait for the other person to make the mistake. Constant involvement in the game of chess will, unknowingly, cultivate in you the important aspects such as planning, strategic execution, reacting to opponent's moves, quickly and effectively changing tactics, and above all believing in your skills and biding your time patiently till the other person makes the mistake.
You are only playing a game of chess, but, unknowingly, you will be cultivating all these great qualities - such as planning, defending, reacting to problems in best possible manner, and being patient.
As such, chess is definitely bound to enhance the quality of your life. One more interesting aspect of chess. Chess is also referred to a war game, a game of war between two countries having equal arms and ammunition. It is foolish to go to a war without any strategy, and so, by playing chess, you prepare yourself to play the game of life, which is full of uncertainity, with a measure of confidence.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Ignore pawns at your peril
It is but common for a novice in Chess not to give more importance to the pawns in the game of chess. Most of the people think about the usage of pawns only when they happen to lose their queen or in a precarious or losing situation, with the intention of using those pawns to convert to Queen piece. As long as you do not give the required importance to the pawns, you will continue to be only a novice in the game of chess.
Putting all the resources, except the King, for the optimum use is a very important aspect or strategy that needs to be understood and mastered to improve the skill on the game.
A pawn is considered to be the least valued piece in the game of chess. The valuation has been made based on the capabilities of the pawn in relation to other pieces. While other major and minor pieces can move front as well as back, provided there are no pieces in between the squares and knight can even jump over the pieces, the pawn cannot do so, it can move at best two squares forward for the first time and subsequently only one square only. They cannot move backward.
One more additional feature of these pawns is that they can capture the pieces only diagonally in the forward direction. They cannot capture any piece directly but only diagonally. If you can shrewdly handle your pawn and take it to the last rank of the opponent area, then that pawn becomes queen, and you know the capabilities of a queen.
The effective usage of the pawns lies more so in interesting formations. Let me dwell some light on such pawn formations, that will help you acquire the necessary skill and expertise in the game of chess.
It is very essential that pawns are deployed effectively to have control over the game. For a shrewd chess player trained in the classical mould, controlling the centre of the game, the four squares at the centre, d4, d5, e4 and e5, is very very essential. Pawn formations can help you achieve this and have effective control or fair share of the central part of the chessboard.
The pawn formation you create at the beginning of the game may indeed last until the end game and this is testament to the importance of getting it right. You cannot afford to push your pawns too far forward unless you are certain this will benefit your attack and they are not needed in defense. Of course when it comes to the end game, it is usually the player with the best pawn formation who manages to get one promoted.
Obviously you will not get everything your own way as your opponent will be using the exact same chess strategy and it will be a race to see who gets their pawn formation developed first. As always White has the advantage of the first move and therefore Black's role is to keep up and try to turn defense into attack. Weaknesses in pawn structures resulting from backward, isolated or doubled pawns are more often than not permanent. They should be avoided if at all possible. A weakness in the pawn formation around the King can be fatal. Many sacrifices during chess games are for the sole purpose of smashing the pawn structure in this area as it is very hard to defend the King without pawns. The main point is. At the start of a game of chess your pawn formation will determine the way the game will be played. If it is done correctly, your pieces will be free to move. Your opponents pieces will struggle to find effective attacking squares. Your pawns will form a line of defence right across the chess board.You will stifle your opponents chess strategy and ultimately you will win the game.
Putting all the resources, except the King, for the optimum use is a very important aspect or strategy that needs to be understood and mastered to improve the skill on the game.
A pawn is considered to be the least valued piece in the game of chess. The valuation has been made based on the capabilities of the pawn in relation to other pieces. While other major and minor pieces can move front as well as back, provided there are no pieces in between the squares and knight can even jump over the pieces, the pawn cannot do so, it can move at best two squares forward for the first time and subsequently only one square only. They cannot move backward.
One more additional feature of these pawns is that they can capture the pieces only diagonally in the forward direction. They cannot capture any piece directly but only diagonally. If you can shrewdly handle your pawn and take it to the last rank of the opponent area, then that pawn becomes queen, and you know the capabilities of a queen.
The effective usage of the pawns lies more so in interesting formations. Let me dwell some light on such pawn formations, that will help you acquire the necessary skill and expertise in the game of chess.
It is very essential that pawns are deployed effectively to have control over the game. For a shrewd chess player trained in the classical mould, controlling the centre of the game, the four squares at the centre, d4, d5, e4 and e5, is very very essential. Pawn formations can help you achieve this and have effective control or fair share of the central part of the chessboard.
The pawn formation you create at the beginning of the game may indeed last until the end game and this is testament to the importance of getting it right. You cannot afford to push your pawns too far forward unless you are certain this will benefit your attack and they are not needed in defense. Of course when it comes to the end game, it is usually the player with the best pawn formation who manages to get one promoted.
Obviously you will not get everything your own way as your opponent will be using the exact same chess strategy and it will be a race to see who gets their pawn formation developed first. As always White has the advantage of the first move and therefore Black's role is to keep up and try to turn defense into attack. Weaknesses in pawn structures resulting from backward, isolated or doubled pawns are more often than not permanent. They should be avoided if at all possible. A weakness in the pawn formation around the King can be fatal. Many sacrifices during chess games are for the sole purpose of smashing the pawn structure in this area as it is very hard to defend the King without pawns. The main point is. At the start of a game of chess your pawn formation will determine the way the game will be played. If it is done correctly, your pieces will be free to move. Your opponents pieces will struggle to find effective attacking squares. Your pawns will form a line of defence right across the chess board.You will stifle your opponents chess strategy and ultimately you will win the game.
Put your thinking hat on to play Chess
If you think Chess is one of those games played for passing time or for fun, please rethink once again. Chess is not a game for people who cannot think or think wisely. The word "checkmate" uttered by the player against the opponent is the last word in the game and one has to have a lot of pure concentration, clear-cut strategy and focus to say this magic word every time to your opponent.
Chess is definitely a very interesting and fascinating game and needs a lot of thinking. That further explains the reason why a large number of chess clubs or schools have sprang up, each vying to teach the games. There are after all only 16 pieces each for both the players and only 64 squares to manuovere around. It is only because chess involves thinking, applying mind, concentrating on the moves and focusing on the board.
Chess is a game played basically between two players. But if you look a little closer, chess is a game of two minds. You against your opponent. No chance or favour is given to a particular layer. As such, it is your fault if you make a mistake. If you do not think out your strategy in chess, then you will be robbed of the pleasure of saying the golden words "check mate" to your opponent over a game of chess.
One more corollary for chess is that you need to have the power to think and act wisely to play a game of chess. Your involvement and skill level in the game of chess, which needs to be developed over a period of time involving constant practice and deep understanding of the ideas, will pave the way for enriching your knowledge and thinking. The strategies you adopt to win over your opponent in a chessboard will come to your rescue in one way or other in real life situations.
And it is for this precise reason, the game of chess is often referred to a war between two countries or counties or provinces - in whatever you want to imagine - each having equal arms and ammunition at their disposal.
Play the game with your thinking hat on and you will get a chance to utter those golder words very frequently.
Chess is definitely a very interesting and fascinating game and needs a lot of thinking. That further explains the reason why a large number of chess clubs or schools have sprang up, each vying to teach the games. There are after all only 16 pieces each for both the players and only 64 squares to manuovere around. It is only because chess involves thinking, applying mind, concentrating on the moves and focusing on the board.
Chess is a game played basically between two players. But if you look a little closer, chess is a game of two minds. You against your opponent. No chance or favour is given to a particular layer. As such, it is your fault if you make a mistake. If you do not think out your strategy in chess, then you will be robbed of the pleasure of saying the golden words "check mate" to your opponent over a game of chess.
One more corollary for chess is that you need to have the power to think and act wisely to play a game of chess. Your involvement and skill level in the game of chess, which needs to be developed over a period of time involving constant practice and deep understanding of the ideas, will pave the way for enriching your knowledge and thinking. The strategies you adopt to win over your opponent in a chessboard will come to your rescue in one way or other in real life situations.
And it is for this precise reason, the game of chess is often referred to a war between two countries or counties or provinces - in whatever you want to imagine - each having equal arms and ammunition at their disposal.
Play the game with your thinking hat on and you will get a chance to utter those golder words very frequently.
Four simple tips for improving your chess skills
Chess is a game that requires a lot of strategy and skill. The game has been around for more than three centuries and played across the world by millions of people. In order to enjoy the game in its entirety and seek the pleasure of winning, one needs to constantly improve the skills.
Though there are only 64 squares in the board and your opponent has only equal number of pieces as you have, the various ways and sequences in which the game is developed and the ultimate aim of capturing the opponent's king is achieved, is the real challenge of the game. The more you learn, more is left to be learnt in this game. Don't get panic when I say this. If your basics are right and you have a very clear understanding of the basics and general things, it is easy to improve your skills and develop as a better player.
Let me share with you some simple tips that will help you master the skills in chess:
1.Fork
One of the main ideas in chess is a Fork. Generally, by judiciously using the fork, your are presenting your opponent with two problems simultaneously. Since each player can only move once per turn, your opponent only have time to solve one of the threats you have made.
On your next trip you can use the other. Perhaps your first step in control of his king and attacked by another of his plays in the same time, or maybe you have a threat to one of his pieces and create a threat. The result is the same: Your opponent has his next step which is your threat against his king, and then take the second piece you threaten.
2. Provide adequate cover for your pieces
Though it may not be feasible and practical at all times, it is always advisable that each and every piece of yours is provided with adequate support. Before making your moves, please ensure that the square to which you propose to move is not threatened by the opponent. It might be a part of the strategy to lure the opponent with a unprotected piece in specific cases. But, in general, ensure that there is minimum threat of attack to your pieces, however valuable or invaluable it is.
3. Attack the unarmed pieces
As a corollary to the above tip, look out for pieces of the opponent that are not provided with adequate support. It is common for players to leave unprotected pieces here and there until they are attacked, they are safe enough. But these unprotected pieces are the best targets especially for applying forks.
Let's assume that your implementation queen fork, attacking opponent's king and one of its rooks in the same time. He moves his king. Now you can get the rook, if it is unprotected.
You must be aware of the unprotected pieces on the board at any time. If your opponent has left any piece unprotected, see whether it a lure for a possible tactical strike and take evasive actions before attacking that piece. If you have any unprotected piece of yours in the board with no tactical strategy, then it is a sign of your weakness and the opponent will pounce on you.
The rule is simple - don't leave any of our pieces unprotected at any point of time. By doing so, you will improve your defensive skills well. It is easy to attack but very difficult to have your best defense to combat opponent's attack.
4. Dictate opponent's Moves
Control, check and mate threats are such moves which force your opponent to move only the pieces attacked and not other pieces. Always do not allow the opponent to take the initiative. In other words, you shall allow your opponent to choose from a small set of possible answers. These are some of the basic but essential tips of tactical chess that allow you to dictate opponent's moves, and thus help you control the Board two or three or more moves from now.
Though there are only 64 squares in the board and your opponent has only equal number of pieces as you have, the various ways and sequences in which the game is developed and the ultimate aim of capturing the opponent's king is achieved, is the real challenge of the game. The more you learn, more is left to be learnt in this game. Don't get panic when I say this. If your basics are right and you have a very clear understanding of the basics and general things, it is easy to improve your skills and develop as a better player.
Let me share with you some simple tips that will help you master the skills in chess:
1.Fork
One of the main ideas in chess is a Fork. Generally, by judiciously using the fork, your are presenting your opponent with two problems simultaneously. Since each player can only move once per turn, your opponent only have time to solve one of the threats you have made.
On your next trip you can use the other. Perhaps your first step in control of his king and attacked by another of his plays in the same time, or maybe you have a threat to one of his pieces and create a threat. The result is the same: Your opponent has his next step which is your threat against his king, and then take the second piece you threaten.
2. Provide adequate cover for your pieces
Though it may not be feasible and practical at all times, it is always advisable that each and every piece of yours is provided with adequate support. Before making your moves, please ensure that the square to which you propose to move is not threatened by the opponent. It might be a part of the strategy to lure the opponent with a unprotected piece in specific cases. But, in general, ensure that there is minimum threat of attack to your pieces, however valuable or invaluable it is.
3. Attack the unarmed pieces
As a corollary to the above tip, look out for pieces of the opponent that are not provided with adequate support. It is common for players to leave unprotected pieces here and there until they are attacked, they are safe enough. But these unprotected pieces are the best targets especially for applying forks.
Let's assume that your implementation queen fork, attacking opponent's king and one of its rooks in the same time. He moves his king. Now you can get the rook, if it is unprotected.
You must be aware of the unprotected pieces on the board at any time. If your opponent has left any piece unprotected, see whether it a lure for a possible tactical strike and take evasive actions before attacking that piece. If you have any unprotected piece of yours in the board with no tactical strategy, then it is a sign of your weakness and the opponent will pounce on you.
The rule is simple - don't leave any of our pieces unprotected at any point of time. By doing so, you will improve your defensive skills well. It is easy to attack but very difficult to have your best defense to combat opponent's attack.
4. Dictate opponent's Moves
Control, check and mate threats are such moves which force your opponent to move only the pieces attacked and not other pieces. Always do not allow the opponent to take the initiative. In other words, you shall allow your opponent to choose from a small set of possible answers. These are some of the basic but essential tips of tactical chess that allow you to dictate opponent's moves, and thus help you control the Board two or three or more moves from now.
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