Game Chess Strategies

If you are a chess student or even an experienced player, the power of the Internet to improve your game cannot be denied.

However, anyone who has typed "chess strategies" or "chess tactics" into a search engine will agree with me that the results can be confusing. Where do I start? What kind of chess strategies websites are out there? Are any of them useful? Which chess strategies information is accurate, and which of it is misleading, incorrect, or erroneous? Which chess products are worth buying?

Well, there are a few crucial pieces of information that I'd like to give you to simplify your search for chess strategies. This information will enable you to use the Internet to the maximum, so you can find the exact chess strategies information that you need to increase your chess rating.

The first thing to remember, is to do a quick bit of research on the author of the text you are reading. Have they posted their chess rating? If they are a coach, how long have they been coaching? Have their students demonstrated success at the chess board? Don't believe everything you read on the internet.

The second thing to do is to do a quick search at the chess exchange forum for the writer's name or the resource that you are recommending. I've found the chess exchange forum to be a great resource. There are a large number of experienced players posting chess strategies, chess tactics, and tips on this forum. Again, you can't believe everything you read, meaning, just because someone said it on a forum doesn't mean it is 100% accurate. However, if a majority of forum posts are positive about the resource or author in question, you can usually trust the majority consensus. You can also click on the forum poster's profile (usually if you click on their name to the left of the post) where they often provide their experience level, chess rating, and other information. This information can help you evaluate the validity of their post. (You can access the Chess Exchange Forum by going to my chess strategies site, scrolling to the bottom of the page, and clicking the "resources" link.)

I've also found the chess exchange forum to be a great place to discover new resources for chess improvement, as well as a great place to ask chess strategies related questions. The forum contributors are very generous with their time. They will often discuss your questions at length, providing great answers that you won't find anywhere else (especially for free).

The third way to leverage the Internet to improve your chess game is to simply play chess online! One of the best places to play is the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS). FICS requires that you install a small program on your computer in order to play, but it is well worth it. This allows you to gain experience at the chess board whenever you have a free moment: lunch break, late at night, after work. Study is important, but in order to improve you must actually play chess against real opponents! (You can find more information about the Free Internet Chess Server by going to my chess strategies website, scrolling to the bottom of the page, and clicking the "resources" link.)

Online chess coaching is the forth way to utilize the Internet to gain valuable chess strategies and chess tactics. A simple Google search can bring up many chess coaches who will charge you a fee to analyze your games and coach you to improve. Often you can email them your previous chess games, and they will respond with a written analysis of the games, including tips for how to improve. Again, remember what I've shared already about evaluating information you read on the internet, and apply those principles to choosing your chess coach. The chess exchange forum is a great place to research and contact prospective chess coaches.

The last way to use the Internet to improve your chess game is by downloading chess software. There are a few pieces of chess software that are crucial to have:

ChessBase. The ChessBase format is quickly becoming a standard on the Internet. Many resources, annotated games, tutorials, etc... are being produced in this format. ChessBase has a full version that you can purchase online, but they also provide a free, pared down version which is more than enough to open and view resources that are in ChessBase format. (Download ChessBase by going to my chess strategy website link provided above, scrolling to the bottom of the page, and clicking the "resources" link.)

Finally, a Good Chess Engine is also essential for improving your game. A chess engine refers to the part of a chess program that deals with the intelligence of game play. Chess engines can analyze games, moves, mistakes, and more. Most chess engines use the common approach of attempting all possible moves from a given position and then choosing the best one with the help of a search. (Access a long list of chess engines by going to my chess strategy website link above, scrolling to the bottom of the page, and clicking the "resources" link.)

Bio: Chad Kimball has been playing chess since he was a young boy, and is now an editor and publisher, publishing chess instruction books and courses on the Internet. He is responsible for bringing an exciting resource to the Internet: "The Grandmaster Strategy Training Library."

This Video Training Kit contains 22 Videos and 2,213 Pages of Winning Chess Strategies for the price of a single chess tips book at the bookstore. These 22 videos and 14 books enable you to confidently sit down at the chessboard, knowing that you are prepared with years of tested strategies to DEFEAT your opponent. Click here for more information about this exciting chess resource: chess strategies.

Solving Chess Problems With Math Facts

Chess Board Game winning strategies depend on math facts. Math facts are used to solve chess problems. This is the fifth principle of basic math concepts we have discussed relating to chess strategy and math concepts. It is one that is so simple that everyone is aware of, but do not realize how little strategists apply it and how little it is believed. You cannot make math concepts work, you cannot make math concepts fail. They are because they are. They cannot change, they cannot fail. The only thing that can fail is our use of them. To love math, to see the value of math, to appreciate math application involves your emotional concept, your desire to play chess and your desire to win at a chess board game.

Learn to love math. Develop a healthy appreciation of math facts. Whatever you love you do well in. It is also true that some people love numbers and concepts while others enjoy letting someone else work with numbers. If you learn the concept that there are many methods of doing math it will help you to value math and therefore develop a love for applying math concepts. Guaranteed you will appreciate math when you see how it gets you wins.

See the value of math. Math shows you how to think logically. Math gives you fact. When your strategy is based on fact and logic, therefore truth, it benefits you not a little. When you see how math helps you develop winning strategies in your chess board game, you will use it more and more. Learn all the moves of each chess piece. Know the limitations as well as the endless possibilities of each chess piece move. When you learn to value math will not lose your love of math facts. Build on what you know and keep learning. Improve in your addition, subtraction math skills and learn how to apply geometry and algebra in your chess game.

Appreciate the application of math facts. Understand that what you do not use, you do lose. An example of this is learning when the pawn chess piece can move two spaces and when it can only move one space. Learn the direction the pawn can move in and when it can move in a different direction. Learn what the pawn can do to return chess pieces to your chess board game. Learn why it is called a pawn. Knowing these math facts, rules and concepts can give your strategy game a new dimension. Learn to solve your chess problems easily with the math operations.

Get emotionally involved. A chess player gets enthusiastic when he is learning to win. There is in all persons and every age the desire and the need to feel value, to be confident that there is something you are good at. Playing chess can bring the positive and unfortunately the negative aspect of this concept. Make sure you have the positive emotion, the thrill of learning and competing also, without allowing yourself to dwell on a poor result of any game. Chess problems should encourage a chess player to use his developing math skills to work more effectively. Keep on focusing on developing your chess strategy through good math concepts, through truth and fact. You will always know you did a good job.

Want to play chess. Many of us do not care about mental math games, or care if we play a strategy game. The potential for winning and developing character through playing a strategy game is tremendous. If you are a potential chess player develop a mindset winning, do not get caught up in fearing to fail. Get over it, realize that you will fail at times, but use chess problems as a stepping stone to make changes in your thinking so you will have a desire to do your best, develop the best game strategy that you can, and start winning. Many players really believe they cannot win. That is not applying good math concepts or even life principles because it is not based on truth. There will be players that are better than you, but not everyone and not every time. Think about that.

Want to win. It sounds too crazy to even mention, but many of us are so beat down that we have no desire to win. If you find someone like that, get behind them and share basic math concepts, basic life principles. Be the example that another player needs to change his mindset and start winning. Do it, even if he beats you. Teach someone else and you will feel better than you have ever felt in your life. It works well to have either a mentor or a work at this as a team. All you really need is to have someone say they believe you can do this. Well, we believe you can learn chess well enough to enjoy it by doing your best. If you do your best, you always do win, no matter how the chess board game ends up.

Of course, in conclusion, solving chess problems with math facts can be applied in every aspect of life. That is why they are basic math facts, basic life principles. Try to base your chess strategy and your mindset on truth, and see what happens to your chess board game, and maybe even your life. We have seen it happen over and over again when truth is applied, lives and mindsets change. We hope that it will do the same for you. Learn some basic chess strategy; solve your chess problems with math facts and start winning. It really is easy to have fun playing chess.

Dee Jayne and her business involve her family totally. She is devoted to family relationships and enjoys learning along with her family all about business. She loves to involve her family in writing great content rich in life experience. Be inspired by her genuine love for what she stands for and the rich heritage she has in sharing her love of knowledge and education. Discover a whole new dimension to playing and learning chess with our Decorative Stone and Marble Chess Sets.

Chess Strategies For A Winning Game

Chess is often thought of as a complex game, but can really be easily learned. The key to becoming a better player is to never get stuck on one level of play. Always be adding to your game by learning and trying new strategies. Here's a few tips to start you off.

What's A Good First Move?

Want to get the most freedom of your pieces right off the bat? Move the pawn in front of your king forward. While this may seem like it is leaving the king in a vulnerable position, it is also freeing up the queen and bishop to wreak havoc on your opponent!

Get Them In Checkmate In Just 4 Moves

In this series of moves, the bishop and queen are used to get your opponent into checkmate in just 4 moves. For your first move, move the pawn in front of the queen forward by 2 spaces. Your opponents move is next. Then move the bishop diagonal 3 spaces. After the next turn of your opponent, move your queen to the diagonal 2 spaces and let it sit in front of the pawn. Now, depending on your opponents next move, you can zip the queen straight up to his pawn, capture it and get the king in checkmate! Then king cannot capture the queen as he will then be captured by your bishop, he cannot move away from the queen as he is blocked by his own pieces.

Sacrificing Pieces

While nobody likes to lose a key piece, there are times, however when it makes sense to sacrifice one of your pieces. If an opponent's piece is taking up a spot that you need open, putting one of your pieces in a position to lure his piece out to capture you is one way to move your game forward. Since you will be losing a piece, be sure to check the board carefully to make sure this really will result in the move you wanted!

Put Your Pieces In Play

The pieces in your back row are key to winning the game so you must move them out at first chance. At first you may reluctant to use your more powerful pieces for fear that they will be captured. Put them into play! The sooner you get those pieces out the sooner you will be able to invoke a strategy that will result in checkmate!

Best Chess Strategy

Chess is a conceptual strategy board game for two players. It is played on a square board of eight rows and eight columns. The rows are known as ranks and the columns are known as files. This results in sixty-four squares of alternating color. Each player starts the game with sixteen pieces, which are gradually eradicated in time (captured and removed from the board by opposing pieces) as the game proceeds. The main objective of the game is to checkmate the opponent. This usually takes place when no further move can prevent the king from being captured. Chess has since long reigned as one of the world's most popular games. It has been described not only as a game but also as an art and a science, which requires a lot of thinking and patience. Chess strategies are extremely important as it helps players understand the finer aspects and features related to the game of chess.

A game of chess is divided into three segments, the chess opening, the middle game, and the end game. An appropriate analysis of the openings is also considered to be extremely vital in conceptualizing an effective strategy. Players should be well conversant with the subtleties and beauties of the many and compound variations in the different chess openings. Often it is the starting move, which determines the move and strategy to be followed. The middle game refers to the phase of the game that takes place after the opening and usually merges somewhat with the endgame. During this time, an effective strategy revolves around players attempting to reinforce their positions while weakening their opponent's. The endgame is that point of the game when there are only some pieces left on the chessboard. Here the strategies used in the beginning and the middle comes to use.

In chess, detailed knowledge of the moves and how to play under certain given conditions play a crucial role in determining the game strategy to be followed. An efficient strategy acts as a guideline in ensuring a good game of chess.

Chess Strategies For Beginners

When you buy your kids a wooden chess set or an electronic chess set, you are buying them an important piece of culture, history, and mental stimulation. But whether they're playing on a traditional wooden chess set against another human being or an electronic chess set against an artificial intelligence, they will need to know some basics of chess strategy. The same goes for you if you are getting into this great game for yourself.

Strategy is of paramount importance to playing chess. This is not a game that can be improvised (at least not in full), and if you want to win you cannot simply depend upon luck. Any improvisation in chess really should only come from responses to your opponent's moves. You want to have a mapped-out strategy in place before the game even begins. If you are a chess beginner, you will in time develop your own style of play, but that doesn't mean you ignore some of the most basic, elemental chess strategies that have been developed over hundreds of years and been proven to work for all players.

Let's look at some of the most basic chess strategies which you can begin applying immediately.

• Make highly effective use of your pawns. Don't just use them as sacrifices and don't just try to get them out of the way. Keep your opponent's power pieces threatened or "clogged up" with wise pawn use. At the same time, capture your opponent's pawns ruthlessly--don't tell yourself "oh, they're just pawns". Make it a point to wipe them out.

• Start using your knights very, very early in the game--you may even want to develop an opening where your very first move uses a knight instead of a pawn.

• Castle as early as possible in the game.

• Some chess masters say you should never deliberately sacrifice a bishop to capture a knight. Others say that a bishop should capture a knight whenever possible even if that means the bishop will be captured by the opponent's next move. Be mindful of both of these ideas and see which one works better for you as you develop your own style.

• Always attempt to set things up so that your opponent will pay a price for capturing one of your pieces. The cost to him should be heavy. I.E. if your opponent takes your rook, make it so that you will immediately capture one of his power pieces such as his bishop, knight, or rook (or queen if possible, of course). Don't let one of your power pieces get taken when all you'll make your opponent pay with is a pawn.

• As an unwritten rule, the best piece to use to attempt to capture the opponent's queen is a knight. Absolutely never sacrifice your own queen except where you will capture the opponent's queen as a result. Never hesitate to sacrifice any of your pieces to capture the opponent's queen--except for your own queen.

• Attack your opponent ruthlessly, but only make moves that are carefully thought-out first. Be aggressive, but also be patient. Impatience in chess is a death trap.

• In general, the best way to use your rooks is to align them vertically. I.E. for example, have one rook at D2 and the other at D6 at the same time.

These strategic tips work on any type of chess set! The material doesn't matter, just the mentality!

6 Tips on Building a Chess Strategy

When coming up with a strategy to playing any game you need to keep important things in mind. This includes knowing where each piece can and cannot move to and many other key things. In this article I will give you key things to note when coming up with an effective chess strategy.

When the game starts, do no hold back and save your pieces for the end. Get them out aggressively keeping in mind the reason behind that move. As you play, keep on developing your pieces to reach your goal which could be cornering a king or queen.

The pawns are your guards in chess; they protect your queen and other important pieces therefore if you don't protect them you will lose all of them. When this happens you have no security and you end up losing the game. With this in mind, protect these weak pieces which in turn will keep your queens safe because two queens are stronger than a single queen.

To be able to move and capture most pieces, take control of the four centermost spaces. If your pieces are in this area you have an advantage over your opponent and you can easily move to his side and attack his Queens or Kings.

In a tricky game like chess you will need to plan ahead of your opponent. Even before it's your turn to play ask yourself what if my opponent moves here? What will be my next move? Make sure you also have a plan B in case he goes the other way. Analyzing the game ahead of time and remembering his previous moves will keep on top of the game.

When playing, you have to know which pieces are most valuable in terms of points. The pawns which hold the least value are equivalent to 1 point. Bishops and knights are equivalent to 3 points each. The rooks are 5 points while the most valuable Queen is equivalent to 9 points. In this game the king does not hold any point because he cannot be sacrificed.

Most people usually focus on getting the opponents piece. Little do they know that it is a set up, or that move will give your opponent an advantage. To avoid this, search the whole board while analyzing why he left that piece for you to take. If you notice the trap he has set, leave the piece where it is because it is not worth it.

If you realize you are doing well and all your pieces are in good position or you have been cornered in every possible way do not relax. For you to eventually win you will need to move those pieces from the good position to the end therefore you need to think. Relaxing and thinking you are in control is a recipe for losing. Think of where you could move because when you relax the mind cannot spot opportunities.

Chess Strategy Tips

Chess is an amazing game that requires skill and concentration. Many people play chess just for the fun of it but others play for the competition. There are many chess tournaments designed to give players a chance to show off their skills. The game looks simple and is played on a square chessboard with an eight-by-eight grid containing 64 squares.

Each player has sixteen pieces to play with at the beginning of the game. Normally, one set is white and the other is black to keep them separated. The goal of the game is to get the opponents king in what is called "checkmate", which means it is under attack and there is no where to move to be safe.

It sounds simple but without the right strategies you can find yourself in checkmate more often than being the one who wins the game. Here are a few tips and strategies that can help you win more often.

·        Take the time to learn what the pieces are and how much each one is worth. Sometimes you have to give up men in order to take men and if you give up men of lesser value than what you take you will be ahead of the game.

·        Plan out your strategy in order to protect your king. The goal of the game is to protect your king and get checkmate on your opponent's king. If you keep this in mind from the beginning it will help you plan out your moves better.

·        Watch each move that your opponent makes and think about how each one will benefit them. This will help you to counter their moves because you will be able to see through their strategy.

·        You can get an upper hand on the game if you take control early in the chess game. Controlling the center four squares will usually prove to be very beneficial. Keep this in mind when planning out your strategy.

·        Learn when it will be beneficial to loss pieces for the good of the game. For example, if you can give up a piece in order to take one from your opponent that is worth more in value, it would be worth the sacrifice.

·        Before moving any piece consider how moving it will affect that particular piece later in the game. If the piece is already in a good position, then you may want to reconsider and move another piece.

·        Be alert and pay attention to the game at all times. If you get careless it could cost you the game. Sometimes it only takes one bad move to give your opponent the advantage.

Using these chess strategy tips can help to improve your game and give you an advantage over your opponent. Of course, nothing beats practice so, play every chance you get and you will see a big improvement in your game.

Chess Strategies You Need to Know

Chess is a fantastic game that can go in any direction. In fact, it is unlikely that you will ever play the exact same game twice as the possibility for variation is virtually endless! Having said that though, there are some chess strategies that you should keep in mind as you develop you skills as a player.

Firstly, when starting your game focus on developing your pieces so as to take control of the center of the board and free up your bishop's lines of attack. This means you will not move an A or H pawn on the first few moves. If you do start your game by moving an edge pawn, your opponent will know you are an amateur.

Secondly, always remember the importance of tempo and beat. No, this isn't a music lesson. To understand this concept better, consider this: How would you feel if your opponent got to do 2 or 3 moves in a row? Besides being totally unfair and against the rules, he could inflict some serious damage! Therefore, if you waste moves by moving pieces ineffectively, you will lose tempo and beat, allowing your opponent to get ahead of you in development. This concept of tempo and beat is so important that professional players will happily sacrifice a piece in order to get ahead of their opponents in this regard.

Another important chess strategy is to consider your opponent's reasons for moving certain pieces. Never allow yourself to become so absorbed in your own development that you forget to protect yourself from your opponent's advancement. It is important to defend and attack at the same time.

Many professional players try to take the initiative in attacking, rather than defending. The player who is attacking is the leader and dictator of the game. It isn't a nice feeling to be on the defensive all the time! Once you gain the initiative in attacking, do all you can so as not to lose that advantage - even if you have to sacrifice a piece or two. All things are relative though, and it is important to make sure that any sacrifice is worth it.

A final piece of advice is that if you want to improve your chess game, borrow a couple of chess books from the library and learn some of the well-known openings. Even if you are a newbie, you can give the impression that you are a seasoned professional (initially anyway!) if you can follow through on the first 4-8  moves of an established chess opening.

If you would like to see another great resource on chess strategies, check out my website! I have a bunch of great chess strategies that will improve your game immensely.

Learn Chess - Strategy

Chess strategy is simply the act of thinking ahead and planning your moves. In a well thought out strategy, every move is planned in advance and no move is made simply for short term gain. For example, unlike checkers, if a player exposes a piece to attack you are under no obligation to take that piece if it does not advance your strategic position. Strategy can be divided into three distinct goals, each played at different times within a chess game. They are:

    The opening game. The opening game starts with the very first move and aims to progress the game quickly to a point where major pieces are protected and you have strategic advantage such as the protected acquisition of the middle board. The opening game normally consists of a memorized strategies called chess openings. The strategies must be adapted as the opponent plays their moves. Therefore there are hundreds (if not thousands) of chess openings that may be memorized and played. Recognizing the opportunity for enacting a rehearsed or memorized chess opening is key to winning the opening game.
    The middle game. The middle game starts at the completion of the opening game (of course), which is normally about 10 turns in. The aim of the middle game is to gain material advantage by taking your opponents pieces. This is normally achieved through use of tactics. The middle game is also the time where strategy is enacted to progress the game to the end game. The player with the highest material advantage is not always the winner, and therefore pieces should only be taken if they bring the game closer to the end game.
    The end game. The end game is where the king is directly under attack in order to bring about checkmate or stalemate if checkmate is not possible. The end game may also include tactics or strategies designed to allow pawn promotion.

Within each game, there are number of well known strategies that may be played to achieve each goal. Common strategies are learned from researching tournaments or other players at which point they enter the public domain and may therefore be used by other players. There are many online databases and video resources detailing thousands of known strategies. As a player becomes better at chess, they will acquire more strategies for use within the game.

Amongst other things, rehearsed strategies can be used for:

    Breaking down an opponents defenses.
    Bringing about checkmate.
    Overcoming an attack.
    Launching an attack.

Beginner Chess Strategy

If you are among the number of those looking for a beginner chess strategy, then look no further. Compiled here are some of the most important chess strategy concepts that anyone just learning to play chess should know. Keep in mind that beyond these, there is a series of other things you can do as well. With that in mind, we can proceed into the basics.

One of the best pieces of beginner chess strategy concepts that can be offered is that you need to take your time. All too often, people just make a move quickly to progress in the game. You need to look at the board and understand not only what benefit there is to the move that you are making, but all the repercussions that could occur by making it. On top of that, unless you are psychic, you don't know what moves your opponent will be making and it is important you adjust your chess strategy to their movements as well.

While you are doing this process, after each turn plan your next few moves in connection to what you would do if you opponent makes a specific move. This entails you playing from both sides of the board in your mind. While it might seem like a very time consuming task, it will help you to have an edge over the player that plays move by move. In fact, this could prove to be an essential beginner chess strategy tip that you take to heart. Just don't allow yourself to be led into a specific route by your challenger.

Keeping what you know now in mind, we move on to another important piece of chess strategy. Never attack your opponent until the time is right. You need to ensure that during the game play process you only place minor piece in jeopardy. That way you have them later in the game when you need them most. Keep in mind that even though you get an "easy attack" it might be all part of the other players strategy.

Despite popular belief there is another important piece of beginner chess strategy that should be offered. Many advanced players will suggest you sacrifice a knight or even your queen to move ahead in the game. That couldn't be further from the truth. You will find that both these pieces are essential to game play and at best, you should only sacrifice pawns at times when it is needed for a bigger attack. That way you keep the edge on the game that is being played. Just remember, your challenger will likely understand this point as well.

If you follow the beginner chess strategy tips that have been provided, you will be able to find more success in the games you play. Keep in mind that as you become more advanced, you will learn pick up different strategy plays that will keep your opponent on their toes, which is one of the best things you can do.

Learn Chess Strategies With Chess Books

Chess is a wonderful game and if you are not already an avid player then there are a multitude of chess books available to suit any beginner. There are chess books for children to teach them the fine art of the game of chess, or perhaps a chess book about the history of chess itself, books relating to strategy, books relating to chess boards and types of chess pieces. There are a multitude of books about how to improve your chess game and these are sought after by seasoned players.

The chess books for children you will find are written in such a way that it is very easy for children to follow. The books will give information start from setting up the chess board to placement of the pieces and the starting moves of the game. There will generally be listings included of the names of each piece and their relevance to the game as well as the moves that are allowed by each piece. Then the books will follow through to the basic moves and strategies that a child can quickly and easily pick up until they are ready to move on to more advanced practices of the game.

There are various studies that have been conducted in numerous countries that show that the game of chess builds various skills in children such as their concentration among many others. The game of chess for children is often initially thought to be difficult but many children get great enjoyment from the game. It is found in many cases that when they can follow a good chess book and understand the principles deployed in playing the game they find that they enjoy the game much more. The strategies they learn improve and their ability to think and plan improves as their knowledge of the game is raised. Parents of course will find that when their child does play the game of chess they often have improved thinking and planning skills. Children learn to think more logically at least in relation to the game as well as planning their game more efficiently as they gain more knowledge. Despite the fact that they are learning new skills, when they learn from a chess book they are also using their reading skills and there are many times when children do not read enough. Purchasing a good book for your child to learn chess has multiple benefits. Chess for children is a great idea as it is something that can be played anywhere and think of the fun you can have with your child if you are able to sit together and enjoy the game.

There are other books designed for advanced players that will go through very specific formats for trying out new chess strategies with reference on defensive and offensive moves that are possible to attempt. As well as going through previous chess games to show strategic play that others have already found and mastered and these books offer a great insight to the player into ways they can change their game. There are of course no books that will ensure you are a winner every time but there are many chess books that give great tips and insights into the ways others may be planning their moves and this of course assists the players in planning well in advance for basic and even often not so basic strategies their opponents are playing.

Some chess books are written solely in relation to the tactics that can be used in the game. When a seasoned player, who is having difficulty being the victor, can learn a new skill such as identifying frequently-occurring tactical moves they are more likely to succeed in defeating their opponent. There are many books that help in this regard and serious players find these chess books very useful in improving their overall victory count. Whatever your requirement if it is for yourself or your children you will find there is a suitable chess book out there that covers the task you are trying to complete.

Michiel Van Kets writes articles for Regency Chess Company, formed in 2008 by Julian Deverell and Darren Whiteman and based in Bath, United Kingdom. Regency Chess is a specialist chess retailer that supplies high quality chess products at a reasonable price that reflects the materials and craftsmanship used to make them and presents them on the Internet in a form that customers can easily understand and compare. Find information on chess boards chess pieces and chess books.

Chess Strategy and How to Learn It

Do you want to learn chess strategy? Most beginning chess players do not worry about learning the strategies involved with the game or any complex move combinations because the important thing in the beginning is to learn how the pieces move and what the rules are. But, once you have mastered the basics, or at least feel comfortable with them, you will probably want to learn some chess strategy. Chess strategy can take your game to another higher level and you will be able to hold your own against better more experienced players and make it even more intellectually stimulating.

Are you involved in a chess club in your local area? Or, have you been learning from a friend or family member? One of the best ways to learn chess strategy is to learn from more experienced players. Head down to your local chess club, and ask some of the better players if you can watch a match or if they would be willing to teach you as you play them. Playing in chess tournaments or watching match tournaments is another way to learn chess strategy. The interaction is great because you can get immediate feedback and ask questions as you go.

Books are another resource for learning chess strategy. There are actually quite a few books written especially on this topic. Some are written in a style that is more suitable for beginners while others are for more advanced players. Find one that suits your style and skill level and read it over. You can possibly check one out from the library. With a book you can pick it up and put it down and read over parts that you don't understand until you do understand them.

Chess strategy can also be learned by playing a computer chess game or playing online. Whether you choose to play against the computer as an opponent or another player you will learn from the strategies that they employ. Online chess sites often have message boards and chat rooms in which you can discuss strategy with players from all skill levels and abilities.

Chess is one of the original "war games." It is based on strategy and maneuvers. Just as a general would not lead his troops out into battle without a plan and strategy for moves and counter moves, a chess player does not go into a match without a strategy to emerge a winner.

Introduction To Chess Strategies

Introduction To Chess Strategies
Strategies are often confused with Tactics, and vice versa. But there are distinct differences between the two... Tactics take advantage of short-term opportunities that unfold during the game. For instance, you may spot that your opponent has left a more-valuable Piece in front of a less-valuable Piece... You scan the board and notice that the less-valuable Piece isn't properly guarded, so you decide to use a Skewer Attack, to force the more-valuable enemy Piece to step aside, allowing you to capture the vulnerable Piece behind. Strategies, on the other hand, help you formulate a Plan for how you intend to tackle your opponent's army throughout the entire game.

Now, of course, you don't know exactly what your opponent will do, prior to starting the game. So, you must be prepared to adapt your Plans and, if necessary, alter your Strategies mid-game. The following group of Strategies should be used to give your a rough idea of what to do, or how to react, to deal with whatever your opponent throws your way. You cannot allow yourself to stay rigid, with just one single Plan or Strategy... You must be able to adapt to the ebb and flow of the game. As Bruce Lee once remarked, "Water seems weak, but it can penetrate rock... Be like the nature of water."

Chess Strategy #1: Making the Most of a Material Advantage
If you find yourself ahead in force - that is, you've capture more of the enemy that you've lost - then you have a Material Advantage. When you have the benefit of more troops to call upon than your opponent, you will have more options, than when both sides are equal in force. The options we speak of include having a greater variety of troops to handle defensive duties; plus, you're able to sacrifice material, in order to defend your position, while still retaining a fighting edge. Both of those options are examples of how to make the most of a Material Advantage.

Chess Strategy #2: Stopping Enemy Counterplay
In combat, if a man can't stand, he can't fight...
In Chess, if you restrict your opponent's ability to build an attack, they will become less of a threat, allowing you to go about your business, as planned. The first thing you need to do is spot your opponent's Tactical Threats... Study the board, before making your move and look to see where your opponent's pieces are pointing. Are your troops in a vulnerable position that's inviting a Tactic to be played against you? Check to see whether you're at risk from Skewers; Pins; Forks;Discovered Attacks; etc. The second thing you need to do is to keep your opponent helpless... Position your Pawns so they're guarding critical squares and/or providing support points that back up your Pieces, in both advanced and defensive positions.

Chess Strategy #3: Understanding Where the Pieces Go
Each Piece has its own strengths and weaknesses. We must send them where their strengths can be most effectively used. Knights are short-range Pieces; they need support points (provided by Pawns) in order to get close-enough to their targets. Knights need to be on the 6th Rank, when attacking the enemy's camp; while, Ranks 1 and 2 are for defensive duties. Ranks 3, 4 and 5 serve for both attacking and defensive duties. Bishops need long, clear diagonals to be effective.

Rooks need Open Files to be effective, while their do the most damage, in the enemy's territory, on Rank 7. Queens have the best range of movement across the entire board. They can go anywhere, very quickly. Where possible, only think about bringing your Queen into play when the enemy's forces have been significantly reduced. The Queen can then provide effective support to your remaining troops, as you hunt down the enemy King. Kings are vulnerable in the early to middle stages of the game. However, once the game has transitioned into the Endgame phase, when there's but a handful of enemy Pawns and only one or two Pieces, the King's power becomes fully realized. At this point, get your King to the Center of the board, use him to pick off Pawns and, if possible/necessary, the King should be used to aid one of your Pawns to Promotion.

Chess Strategy #4: Superior Minor Pieces
Minor Pieces are the Knights and Bishops.
When Pawns become locked in the middle of the board, the position is said to be "Closed". Because Knights can jump over obstacles, they have no problems in Closed Game situations; they can hop across the obstruction and back, at will. Bishops, on the other hand, cannot jump and they will be restricted by the Closed position. Therefore, in Closed Game situations, Knights become superior to Bishops. If it came down to sacrificing one of the two (tactically), your Knights are the ones to keep on the board.

When the middle of the board is clear for your long-range Pieces to show their worth, the position on the board is said to be "Open". In Open Game situations, Knights, being short-distance units, are more vulnerable and less effective - they take at least two moves to get from one side of the board, to the other; whereas, the long-range Pieces (Queens, Rooks, and Bishops) can get across, to attack and/or defend, in a single turn (providing the way is clear). Therefore, in Open Game situations, Bishops become superior to Knights.

Chess Strategy #5: How to Use Pawns
Pawns can be used as Blocking and Restricting agents... They can block the progress of the enemy Pawns and, if positioned correctly, they can restrict enemy Pieces from getting onto squares that you deem to be Critical to defending your position.

Chess Strategy #6: The Creation of Targets
Instead of waiting for opportunities to reveal themselves, be proactive in identifying your targets; creating the conditions necessary; then hunt down your victim(s). Ideal candidates for targeting are Weak Pawns, such as the following types: "Backward Pawns", "Pawn Islands", "Isolated Pawns", certain "Doubled Pawns", and "Tripled Pawns". If you can capture a single Pawn and create a material advantage, you can then set about exchanging Pieces (deliberate attempts to sacrifice Pieces, to clear them off the board), so you can simplify the position and transition swiftly into the Endgame phase, where your single extra Pawn should prove to be a winning advantage.

Chess Strategy #7: Territorial Domination
Acquiring squares and controlling squares is what Territorial Domination is all about. If you control more squares than your opponent, you will have an advantage of having more options for picking and choosing your attacks. The squares your count, as your controlling territory, are all that are behind your Pawns. However, you don't count the squares that the Pawns are sitting on, when calculating Territorial control; just the ones directly behind them.

Chess Strategy #8: Attacking the King
The majority of players Castle their King on the Kingside, since it's the quickest route to getting their King to relative safety, allowing them to get back to the task of developing their remaining army, ready for the Middlegame battle.

Later on, as the Middlegame approaches its transition to the Endgame phase, the enemy's King may still be tucked behind its defensive line of Pawns, on the Kingside.

To determine whether you're in the right state to attack that King, check the following four conditions (they're not the only criteria, but they're a good gauge to help you decide whether to attack the King, or not):
1. You have a Space Advantage close to the enemy King's position;
2. Your have more Pieces close to the enemy King's position, but your opponent only has limited defensive support nearby to their King.
3. The enemy King has Weak Pawns for defensive cover and you have more Pieces, close by, to put up a strong attack.
4. You have a big enough lead in development, giving you an advantage that enables you to mount an attack - consider attacking immediately!

How to Understand Descriptive Notation in Chess Strategy Books

"Notation" is a method in chess strategy books that is used to describe the movement of pieces on the chess board, without needing a visual diagram of the chess board for each move. It greatly increases a chess author's ability to describe a large number of chess games in compact form, leaving more room for game analysis. It also allows the author to concentrate on chess strategies and tactics, rather than requiring hundreds and hundreds of cumbersome diagrams of the chess board for each move.

If you are a chess player, aspiring to improve through strategy books, understanding the two chess notation styles is crucial to your improvement. Most chess strategy books are either written in "Descriptive Notation," or "Algebraic Notation."

Descriptive Notation, in general, was used in older chess books and magazines, although it is possible to run into more current chess literature using this notation style as well. There are a huge number of valuable chess books written in this style.

In chess literature, the term "rank" refers to the rows of the chess board. "File" refers to the columns. If a chess book talks about the "1st rank" it means the "first row." The "a file" refers to the "a column."

In Descriptive notation, the files are named according to the chess piece on that file in its initial position. For instance, QR means "queen's rook" and KB means "king's rook." The diagram on my website mentioned above also shows how the squares have different names/notations depending on if we're describing the white side or the black side. Each square is also described with a number, describing the rank of the square, for instance, QR7 means the queen's rook file in the 7th rank.

The movement of a piece is described by the name of the piece, then a dash, then the name of the square to which it is moving. For instance, Q-QB8 means that the queen is moving to square QB8. Sometimes the square names are shortened a bit if it is obvious which square is being described. Both "KT" and "N" are used to describe a knight.

Important notes: Check is described with a "+" or "ch". A capture is noted with a "x" followed by the piece being captured. If the game has become complicated and it is unclear which piece is being referred to, the description will sometimes note whether it is the kingside or queenside piece being moved. Instead of R-K7, the clearer description would read QR-K7. P-K7=Q means the pawn moves to K7 and is then promoted to a queen. Castling is noted as O-O or O-O-O.

The best way to become familiar with descriptive notation is to go to my chess strategies website (see link at the bottom of this article), scroll to the bottom, and click on the resources link. On that page I've posted diagrams for the chessboard in descriptive notation, as well as a sample game written in descriptive notation, along with clear diagrams of the chess board so you can easily see which piece is moving.

Chad Kimball has been playing chess since he was a young boy, and is now an editor and publisher, publishing chess instruction books and courses on the Internet. He is responsible for bringing an exciting resource to the Internet: "The Grandmaster Strategy Training Library."

Developing a Chess Strategy

Math concepts are used to develop chess strategy. The idea is to use concepts that are unchanging and constant. The only real constant in life is math. So when you use math concepts to develop chess strategy you are using the best method for the most effective result, hence winning strategies. In previous articles, we have presented some basic math concepts that if you use them you can develop great winning strategies for chess. Chess strategy can be broken down in to simple concepts. If you apply these concepts you will develop great chess strategies. It can become a good habit and great fun to learn great winning strategies.

There is only one true answer in math. This basic math concept proves that math can be relied upon to base your chess strategy on. If there is only one true answer in math, then all the chess strategy you plan that is based on math will be the right strategy. True math is concrete and cannot be changed, so your plan based on this math concept would be sound. That is a good thing.

Math truth is a basic life principle like gravity. You cannot beat gravity on earth. You cannot change a basic life principle. This is so important in chess strategy because many new players forget the rules of chess and start trying strategies that are not able to work. If you do not know all the moves a pawn can make, you will base your strategy on false information; therefore your strategy will be ineffective.

A cause and effect mathematical principle is at times obvious. But then when you are in the middle of a good strategy game, it may not be clear. Basically, when you move a way that the opponent can take your chess piece that would be cause, the effect is that your chess piece is taken, or conquered. Simple enough concept, but to apply it to chess would be more difficult at times. Sometimes you need to pick your battles.

To keep yourself from these cause and effect situations, you need to plan ahead. Decide ahead of time which piece you consider the least valuable for the strategy you choose to use. Decide how you can keep the chess piece you need in the right place at the right time. This becomes fun when you are thinking basic math and your opponent does not know what you are planning. You win and put yourself in a situation that will keep you winning.

Plan your strategy on solid fact rather than changing theory. The philosophers of old used ancient wisdom in making life decisions as well as game winning strategies. This was because they knew that there are life principles that cannot be changed. Develop your problem solving skills and watch your strategy grow. Be careful, it can catch on to your opponent if you reveal your strategies.

As a concluding thought, your chess board game should be total fun. Relax and enjoy the process of strategy. If things get too intense, you lose the quality of the game. Think of enjoying the process rather than winning. But soon you will be having winning strategies if you follow your chess strategy closely.

Winning Strategies.... Chess Strategy Math Solutions

Chess Strategy naturally results from math solutions. Let us see how this happens to give you winning strategies in your chess board game. Using actual math processes will give you winning strategies for your chess board game. In a previous article we mentioned that the first math concept, numbers never change, can develop into a great chess strategy. There are several more math concepts that can assist you in developing your specific and unbeatable chess strategy. This next math concept relates to the combinations of numbers that are unending.

Use your knowledge of math solutions to begin with a chess plan and then you can revert to another chess strategy at any time in the game. Your opponent will be constantly making you stretch your knowledge of chess piece moves to get you out of unsuccessful positions. Do not let your chess opponent surprise you and box you in without you seeing it. Do not let him take your chess piece unless it would be to your advantage. The combinations that you can develop to make a unique chess strategy are marvelous and endless.

You will soon find your winning chess board game strategy with easy math concepts, or math solutions. Know basic moves, learn chess piece moves, develop strategies and practicing chess games are all good. But beyond using many unchanging math concepts, you need to know basic and easy math solutions using mathematical operations.

Knowing simple addition and subtraction principles give you the edge on opponents who do not know that chess strategy can be that simple. First you need to know that a piece can go forward or backward and how many moves it can make in each direction. You are using math solutions whether you realize it or not, but to know that you are using simple math makes that strategy easier to figure. This takes the uncertainty out of your strategy because you are basing your moves on unchanging math concepts.

Knowing geometry can be a great asset. Geometry is the measuring of angles. If you know your geometry principles you would be able to figure out easier how to change your knight position to use it as an advantage to your chess strategy. Figure out how to use your geometry in developing your winning strategies. It takes the uncertainty out of developing a chess strategy and gives you great confidence.

Algebra uses equations and ratios. Using these math solutions can be a real bonus to developing strategies according to the way you think. There are variables that need to be figured out in order to change chess piece positions and to develop a new strategy on the spot to get you back on to a winning strategy.

As a concluding thought, there are as many winning strategies for chess as there are math solutions. They are endless. That is why your chess board game can be so absorbing and rewarding. Learning new strategies that work, even ones that do not work give you a real sense of accomplishment and recognition. We all need that.

Problem Solving Skills In Math Concepts And Chess Strategy

Problem solving skills using math concepts can result in several winning strategies for your chess board game. In our last article we used several tips using math concepts for chess strategy. To refresh your mind on the first math concept, we stated that numbers never change. This is important because to have a chess strategy, there needs to be a constant, some truth that never changes. Think about the moves chess pieces are allowed. Each chess piece has a specific function and only moves in set patterns.

Specific chess piece moves you need to know. The King, the Queen, the Bishop, the Rook, the Castle and each pawn move differently, but only within their boundaries. You can never move a King like a Queen moves. Therefore, since you can never get the wrong answer if you perform math problems correctly; you can never get the wrong move if you know exactly what move is allowed for each chess piece. The first step then is to learn the chess piece moves and then use your problem solving skills to develop a good chess strategy.

Next, remember that although another chess player can frustrate your chess board game plan they can never change your number combinations. You can learn different move combinations using math that other players cannot guess. Go back to learning the chess moves well and then learn basic combinations. As you use them, you use even more problem solving skills from knowing math concepts to creatively develop more combinations.

The third step is to use your basic move combinations often. Do not shy away from thinking up chess strategy combinations. Change your chess strategy often as you need to, but never change your number combinations. The more you play, the more you will understand and apply basic math concepts. To reiterate, basic number combinations can change only in view of the allowed moves of the chess piece. You can rest your mind, knowing you can never make a mistake if you know that math combinations never change. Math makes up the rules, not a person.

The fourth step puts the fun into the chess game. While you are using your problem solving techniques to find basic combinations and develop strategies, balance what you have learned with the tremendous ability you now have to make up a variety of chess moves and winning strategies. Always have another strategy in your mind, do not let an opponent break your concentration. Learn to use math concepts freely and you will quickly learn to love playing chess.

In conclusion, remember that you can rely on your problem solving skills with basic math concepts to give you sure winning strategies for life or for your chess board game. Remember that the combinations of numbers are unlimited within the allowed moves each chess piece can make. Get emotionally involved in loving to win using math concepts that never change. Learning the chess piece moves and practicing nonstop is the only way to develop good strategies. Do not give up. Use the problem solving skills you have and even learn more so you can have the chess strategy you need when you want it. When you learn the chess piece moves well you will learn winning chess strategies too. Have a great time playing chess and other board games.