It has been said that chess is an art and not just a game. Whether you are an expert, a master of strategies, a guru of techniques, or only a beginner, there is always something fresh and innovative, which you can try. The secret is to be good at planning, sharp and quick witted and able to discern your opponents moves. This is the beauty of chess. It never becomes boring, because the challenge is always there. The variety of moves in the game is almost endless, which is not the case with most board games.
In the game of chess, there is no such thing as chance, Lady luck, or Kismet. Chess is all about skill, concentration, manoeuvring, and that little something extra that we call intuition. The ability to think and plan ahead of your competitor is of vital importance.
The old Greek saying; "know thyself", applies very much to the game of chess. Perhaps I should say not really the game but the player. To know yourself; to have true understanding of who you are is a prerequisite to becoming what you want to be. In this case, it is becoming a top player. However, being a top player isn't just a matter of making decisions, but knowing how you make them, why you make them and having the courage to make them! You need the ability to take risks and not be overly cautious. Fix your mind on the game and nothing else. If you 'snooze you lose'! Of course there are some that like to play defensively and this is OK too.
When in motion, your focus needs to be concentrated on the positioning of your pawn. This is where most of the ground play will take place and this is where you need to play defensively at least for a time. Be alert and look for openings where you can break through. Try as much as possible not to exchange pieces. Block and wait. Sooner or later, you will have an opportunity to go on the attack! If you can live with the idea of taking a chance in order to gain the advantage, then let your play be aggressive by reinforcing your pieces. If you are playing this kind of strategy, you must put your hope in the knights.
You can see here how your knights can engineer an open position for your bishops and Queen. Distractions can be used through your pawns in order to attack. This strategy is used often and successfully by many chess "gurus", and you would be wise to follow suit. Having said that, you should try to play the game just the way your personality flows. We are not all the same. Some like bitter some like sweet. If you are a risk taker, like living on the edge and enjoy the thrill of adventure, then simply be yourself!
Make a militant opening move and try to shore up the centre of the board. Don't worry about swapping over pieces but be careful to preserve your rooks and Queen for later.
This particular method whereby one exchanges pieces aggressively is termed the "Butcher Method". It forces your adversary to dislodge his king, and then benefits through assailing the place where the king is positioned.
My advice is to practice the basics of chess to the best of your ability, and refine your game by playing more experienced opponents as often as possible. The old saying "iron sharpens iron" is never truer than in the game of chess.
Study the famous strategies played by the grand Masters of chess and think about their thought processes. Then go out and do likewise if you can!
Do not make the mistake of simply copying others, no matter how good they are. Do not neglect to develop your own particular style, moves, methods and strategies. Keep foremost in your mind this thought; if you know yourself--and believe in yourself--you will have insight into your opponent too. That is a key to victory in the game of chess.
