Michael Townes - Chess for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide to Chess Basics, Tactics and Openings. Choose your Strategies and Start Winning

CHESS FOR BEGINNERS

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESS BASICS, TACTICS AND

OPENINGS. CHOOSE YOUR STRATEGIES AND START WINNING

MICHAEL TOWNES

Table of Contents

People say, "I cannot play chess," and I just look at them and think that is not possible.

Chess has existed for centuries, and during this time, the sharpest minds and greatest chess players have developed theories about the game and openings and shared them with the world. As a result, every chess player can access this valuable knowledge and improve their game by learning centuries' worth of theoretical analysis.

At the end of the day, style matters and what you might do in specific situations matters too. I believe Chess is a discipline masking as a game.

You learn through failure.

Remind yourself that no one plays perfect games, not even professionals, so we learn from our mistakes. This gives you power, knowing that you can learn from your failures and turn them into successes. With fortitude, with tenacity, with determination, you can overcome pretty much anything.

Chess gives you this opportunity every single time you play.

Chess is a board game that has captivated the interest and passion of millions of people all over the world. Its beauty comes from its inherent simplicity and complexity. Yes, you read that right. Chess is both simple and complex; even positions with a few pieces left on the board may involve deep plans. Because of this, you need to know how to analyze chess positions and identify their significant elements. The ability to evaluate a chess position is important if you want to improve as a player.

Chess is simple because its rules are easy to understand. The main goal of a player is to attack the enemy king and prevent it from escaping. To do this, chess players often try to achieve a material advantage. Attacking the enemy king becomes easier if you have more pieces than your opponent. On the other hand, Chess is considered complex because it involves mental calculations and serious preparation.

In general, a player cannot touch any piece during the game unless he will make an official move. This rule requires players to formulate plans and calculate moves without moving the pieces. Players may have serious preparation if they want to join chess tournaments. They have to choose the openings that they will use and sharpen their tactical skills. It would be extremely difficult to win in chess tournaments without sufficient preparation.

Although Chess can appear to be an intimidating and complicated game, it is, after all, just a game. Anybody can learn to play a game, and anybody can become a chess player if they have access to the right tools and strategies (this book, for example). Take notes while you read and go back and study them every once in a while. Take some time to apply these strategies regularly and as often as you can. Even if you do not like the idea of taking the time to train yourself as a chess player, it will be worth the time and effort that you put in when you decide to do so. Other areas of your life will begin to improve as a result of playing Chess (not to mention that you will be having fun knocking the socks off your opponents in the meantime!) Did you know that playing Chess improves brain function and memory? Chess also increases awareness and concentration levels with regular playing. This can improve your work life (remembering crucial information at meetings, not forgetting deadlines), personal life (remembering birthdays and anniversaries), and your overall self-confidence and mental health. Chess is also known to improve cognitive abilities in learning a new language or acquiring the speed and agility to play tennis. This may seem hard to believe, but Chess is a great stimulator of the brain, and the brain controls everything in the body.

Aside from all of the benefits of being a regular player, playing Chess is fun! It is an internationally played and understood game that people of all cultures and backgrounds can gather around together. Two people who don't even speak the same language can engage in a game of Chess. Chess can easily increase your social circle, getting you out there and meeting new people. Take your chess set to the park or a cafe and invite someone to play a game with you. You can join a community chess club and make some new friends there as well. If that is not an option, there are many websites where you can play with virtual opponents at your own time and convenience.

You see, there are no good excuses to avoid becoming a chess player. Playing Chess will enhance your life in ways not even described here. The possibilities of what you can do when you stimulate your mind are endless. It is never a waste of time to learn something new. You never know what is around the corner in life and what opportunities or challenges may come your way tomorrow. Learning to play Chess will add to your list of skills and abilities, increase your competitive edge, and make you smarter!

Beginners looking to become serious chess players need to be aware of what is acceptable and unacceptable conduct during an official chess tournament. Here are some of the basic principles that all players should follow while participating in such chess events.

• Do not argue with your opponent: Chess is widely accepted as a quiet game for strategists. Compare the atmosphere of a chess tournament, in one sense, to that of a tennis event. You will not be showing any positive sportsmanship by engaging in arguments with your opponent.
• Do not give or ask for advice : Do not willingly listen to anyone who wishes to advise you on how to play your tournament games. Also, do not offer to advise any other player in the tournament. All thoughts on the tournament play should be kept to yourself. You will learn as you play.
• Do not distract your opponent : Humming, muttering, singing, or talking to yourself are all discouraged in official chess tournament settings. Chess is a game that is meant to be quiet for both players who are competing. Tournament directors will especially notice these tactics and will disqualify you if you attempt to distract an opponent.
• Do not rush your opponent : "Hurry up!" "We don't have all day!" "Move it or lose it!" While chess tournaments follow strict and rigid schedules, it is proper etiquette not to rush an opponent during a game. Neither player at the table should take too much time to make a move, of course, but all players need to be given a reasonable amount of time to decide which piece to move.

Over the years, chess jargon has been developed to help communicate certain ideas across. Some examples are:

• Rank: A row of squares from one end of the board to the other.
• Back rank: The 8th rank for the white or the 1st rank for the black file, i.e., a column of squares from one end of the board to the other.
• Diagonal: A diagonal of squares (e.g., bishops' move along diagonals) from one end of the board to the other.
• Check: This is a move that places the King under attack.
• Checkmate, aka mate: This is a check that the King cannot escape or parry and, because of this, ends the game (shah mat is Persian for 'The King Is Dead').
• Stalemate: This is a position whereby the player to move cannot make any legal moves and is not in Check.
• Fork: A tactic that attacks more than one piece.
• Double attack: It is a tactic that attacks two pieces (a double attack made by the same piece can also be called a fork).