Hansen - Chess

T he game of chess can be classified into three distinct stages. The first stage is the opening, where calculated opening moves are made to have the upper hand over the opposition. The second stage is the middle stage, where the players play for control and position in the board by the attack, counter, and defense.

The last stage is the endgame, where the kings come into play. Saving the king becomes the motive along with the strategy to checkmate the opponent.

In the process of the game, pieces will be captured by both parties. Each player loves to capture more pieces than their rival to dominate the game. As we indulge in overthinking, we may place our piece in danger of capture by mistake. Such an inviting capture is known as En Prise or In Taking. But, in some cases, players voluntarily place their pieces for intake as a part of their strategy to trap the opponent when their capture the piece.

Following are some tips that will lead you to a victory in a game of chess:

1. Be More Cautious of the Moves Taken by the Opposition Than Your Moves

Make sure you always take time to think about the following questions once your opponent makes a move

• What is the reason behind moving that piece?
• Is there any risk to my piece or any piece of the opposition?
• Should I be cautious of any other danger which I did not see coming?
• What can be the strategy of my opposition?

After answering all the questions, make your move that will reply to the questions by spoiling the opponents plan.

1. Make Sure to Reply With the Best Move Each Time

While contemplating your move, ask yourself the following question:

• Can this piece be moved from this place to a better place?
• Can improved effectiveness of a piece lead to a better position?
• Is this move capable of tackling the tactics of the opponent?
• Is the new position safe for this piece?
• Is the new position safe from attack if a pawn is moved?
• Is the piece worthy of the move, and will the opposition chase it?

Emanuel Lasker, a former chess champion, has advice for all chess enthusiasts. He said, When you see a good move, waitlook for a better one! Despite it being a great move, it may not be the right time to make that move.

1. Play With a Plan

As a chess player, it is very important to make moves according to the action plan. Moving around the chessboard without any precise plan will only lead to defeat as the opponent will not face the challenge from your side. Each piece should be moved according to a plan and played together as a team. Like an orchestra that plays the same tune, chess pieces should play for the same plan.

Plan causes a unity of the chess pieces. It is more impactful to attack the king of the opposition together as an army than attacking as a single piece captured in a losing cause. The strategy can capture a certain area of the board to dominate the game. The plan can differ from person to person, but it should be a well thought out plan.

1. Knowledge of Each Piece

The pieces value should be considered over the fact of the number of pieces each player has in the game before trading a piece. The player who has the total value of the pieces over the other has the upper hand. The pawn is considered the least effective piece as it has just a point value and also, it cannot be moved backward, unlike other pieces that can be moved in the desired direction according to the movements of the pieces. Hence, this estimation of the total value to know the players position is a good assessment. Three pawns value will equal the worth of one bishop or knight. The knight has the unique power to jump over other pieces. The bishops move along the diagonal squares. The bishop in the black square can move only on the black square and likewise for the bishop in the white square. But the bishop can move faster than the knight. The rook has the power to move around the length of the board quickly. The value of a single rook is equal to five pawns. The opponents rook can be captured using bishop and knights combination. The queens worth is equal to nine pawns, which is equal to the value of a pair of rooks. The queen can move in any direction across the squares of the board. The king is the piece around which the game is played. But it has no value or worth since it cannot be captured or traded in the game process.

1. Well-Development of the Pieces

The time factor is considered vital to take control of the game. The faster the pieces are developed, the better the players chance to dominate the proceedings of the game. Control of the board is only possible with quickly well-developed pieces brought into the play. As a beginner, the players may waste time by moving the pawns and capturing the boards spaces. The game cannot be controlled by just making the pawn movements. Please use other pieces, which can attack more valuable pieces of the opponent, even when they are at a distance, due to their reach. The stronger pieces should be brought into action as soon as possible by removing the pawns that are in the way. Also, make sure that the valuable pieces do not face any danger in the process, as the opponent will keenly watch all your moves to eliminate the stronger pieces quickly. The pawns can be moved according to the plan after the plays valuable pieces come out. It is a common temptation to bring the queen into the play. The queen is the key piece, which can make you win the game. It is essential to use it only when it is the right time and place. If the queen is lost in the games initial stage, it will be a great loss for the player and the opponents greatest trade. Make the moves when it is the best to attain the desired place to attack in a few moves. The calculated moves will save the time of the player and the opposition.

1. Control the Center

The four squares of the center should be controlled to dominate the game. Firstly, when a piece is in the center, it can make more movements than in any other board position. For example, a knight in the center can play in eight distinct positions than a knight in a corner, moving to only two positions on the whole board. Being in the center also facilitates the advantage of faster movement. A piece can easily be taken to the opponents territory when the center is in your control. The player who first captures the center can launch the attack first as the pieces travel is easier.