Secret Chess Strategies

Want to improve your chess game? 

Chess is one of the most complex of board games. It takes a little time to learn the patterns of how each piece moves, but once you’ve got that down, all you need is a partner to engage in this superior game of strategy. It’s good to practice with someone who’s at about your level of skill (2100+ for 2100+ and 2500+ for 2500+), as you’ll both have an opportunity to learn without getting trashed every time in a few moves.

On the other hand, once you’ve reached a certain level of proficiency, you’ll want to confront more formidable opponents. If you lose, you’ll certainly know why and be better prepared for the next game. Here is a conceptual overview of chess strategies, why they work and when they might not prove to be be such an easy play.

You have sixteen pieces, with the traditional value of each piece listed in descending order: the King, Queen, two each of rooks, bishops and knights, along with eight pawns. That said, experience will teach you that different individuals always develop favored pieces. While one person will do anything to protect the Queen, another player may have no such loyalty to a given piece. Basic to a good chess strategy is knowing your opponent.

For example, you find a new chess pal and invite that person for a game. With a little careful observation, you’ll see which pieces they value over others. The chess player who adheres to the slash-and-burn philosophy may give up the Queen and trounce you in the process. Another player may be adept with the Knight, which incidentally, can land you in some untenable positions. Knowing the pieces your opponent values can shape your own effective chess strategies, based on his preferences.

The person who values all their pieces may be a dangerous opponent. Such people may be accomplished chess strategists who plan a couple of dozen moves in advance. That rook, laying in the weeds until the battle is fully engaged, can spell a terminal end for you. The knight, languishing in the center of the board in an apparently useless position, can prove disastrous to you in the end game.

No matter who you’re playing, take the time to question and analyze why your opponent made that last move (as always grandamster do). What board spaces does that move protect? Which spaces are made vulnerable? What move might your opponent have in mind to enhance the last move? Is it a sneak attack? If one of your pieces are thus placed in jeopardy, think beyond. Can you move a knight, such that you get a ’split’, a situation where you have your pick of two of your opponent’s pieces?

More than any other single factor, effective chess strategies require that you understand your opponent’s mind set. There are books on the subject, but in truth, there are thousands of chess strategies you might encounter. That’s what makes the game so much fun. Being a grandmaster is not funny.