Important chess strategies that will help you win more games.

-

 



  Getting better at Chess involves a combination of strategic thinking, tactical awareness, and consistent practice. Here are some strategies to take you chess skills to the next level:




1. Control the center with pieces

   Controlling the central squares with your pieces makes them more active and gives you more mobility and influence over the board. Try to occupy the central squares with your pawns and pieces.




  Observe the example above. White has moved his pieces to the center thereby exerting pressure on the black pieces while also controlling the center and freeing up space for his other pieces.


2. King safety: Ensuring the king's safety by castling early in the game. This puts your king behind pawns and pieces, reducing vulnerability to attacks as well as the risk of mate



 Take for example the position above. White's king is castled to safety but black on the other hand has his king open and exposed to different kinds of attacks on the files and diagonals 


3.  Create a stabilized pawn structure

       The integrity of any position rests in the pawn structure. Me mindful of your pawn structure and try as much as possible to avoid bad pawn structures like isolated pawn structures, doubled pawns and backwards pawn structures when possible.




  Take a look at the example above. Black's position is full of double, split and isolated pawns. on the other hand white has a position with good pawn structure. Due to black's scattered pawns this is a winning position for white as white can easily pick up the pawns one after the other.


4. Calculate moves and Improve your Tactical awareness 

  Frequently practice chess tactics and puzzles in order to sharpen your tactical vision. Look for familiar tactics like pins, forks, skewers, and discovered attacks in your games

   Review the consequences of your moves and your opponent's potential responses. Analyze variations to understand the best course of action.



  

  An example of this is seen in the position above as white calculates a sequence of moves which wins a knight due to the threat of checkmate 


5. Create and understand your plans         

 Develop a plan based on the ideas in the position. Think about short and long-term goals to figure out strategic ideas to guide your moves.


  As seen in the example above, white is visualizing his goals to achieve in the position.


8. Piece coordination

   In order to win more games you have to improve your piece coordination in order for your pieces to work together effectively. Encourage interaction between your pieces to create threats and control important squares. Because only one piece cannot start an attack


9. Evaluate trades

Review the value of each exchange before making it. Try to trade less valuable pieces for more valuable ones or improve your position through exchanges. This will means that if you are down an exchange you will be on the backfoot for the whole game.



10. Learn from your games

    Analyze your games thoroughly to identify mistakes which cost you the game as well as areas for improvement in your play.This helps you recognize mistakes and learn from your experiences.


11. Study grandmaster's games:

      Study games played by grandmasters in order to  gain insights into their thought process and strategies.


12. Better your time management 

   This is one of the most distinct differences between a top player and beginners. Due to the fact that beginners manage their time poorly and end up losing on time rather than checkmate when playing with top players.

To know more about time management check this post

Link



  Remember, improving at chess takes time and dedication and consistent practice. Be patient, keep practicing, and keep striving to obtain overall growth as a player.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LICHESS vs CHESS.COM (pros and cons)

-
Image
   In the world of online chess platforms, lichess and chess.com are two of the most outstanding names. Both platforms offer a handful of features to accommodate chess players of all levels, but they differ in various ways which is to compel users to move from one platform to the other. In this article we will discuss the pros and cons of both websites, which helps players decide which platform suits them most. Lichess - pros 1. Open source and ad free      Lichess is a completely free and open source platform which has zero ads. This gives lichess and upper hand when compared to chess.com 2. Unlimited access to chess tools     All chess tools on lichess e.g Game analysis, puzzles, training games, Chess database etc. Are available to users without any subscription fee.   This level of unlimited access is very appealing to players who are seeking improvement without without breaking the bank 3. Chess tournaments and Arena s ...
Read more

How to Evaluate Chess Positions

-
Image
     Chess is a game of strategy and intellect, where victory depends on the ability of a player to evaluate positions accurately. Whether you're a novice or an experienced player, mastering the art of evaluating chess positions is essential for making informed decisions and achieving victory on the board. In this article, we'll look into the key principles and techniques that will help you evaluate chess positions effectively. 1. Material Balance One of the basic aspects of evaluating a chess position is observing the material balance. Material translates to the value of the pieces on the board, with each piece having a standard value of pionts.   To see more about the the value of each chess piece check this post   Link  Evaluating whether you are ahead or behind in material can provide an important insight into the inner workings of the game.   Unless you are able to create sufficient counterplay, being down a queen or a rook usually spells the end ...
Read more

Guidelines to follow in order to make good moves in chess.

-
Image
    Before a player attempts to move a piece, several foundational principles must be considered.        In the following sections, we'll dive into each of these considerations, providing insights and strategies that players of all levels can employ to enhance their decision-making process when making a moves in chess.       These principles serve as a checklist that help players make optimal choices. When making a move in chess. The criterias on the checklist goes as follows: 1. Does this move improve the activity of my pieces?     Before making a move always consider the state of your pieces. Evaluate the activity of your pieces. Are they well-placed, will moving them result in activation or underdevelopment, can they be improved?       An example of this can be seen in the position above, where the black knight is under attack and can move to various squares but the only move that gives black advantage is movi...
Read more