Chess Strategies

Increase Your Chess IQ

2009-04-23T12:12:00.002-04:00

Need to improve your chess skills?

Download "Chess Success Secrets" and start increasing your chess IQ today!

Chess - How To Move The Pieces

2007-04-25T14:26:00.000-04:00

Chess - How To Move The Pieces

Now that you have a general idea of the object of the game and the pieces involved, the next step is to learn how to move these pieces around the chess board. Learning how to move the chess pieces is actually not very difficult. Learning how to move them strategically is another thing altogether. Strategic movement will be covered in another article. For now we'll just concern ourselves with moving them legally.

Starting with the lowest ranked piece and moving up, we have the pawn. Pawn's move one square at a time with one exception. On the first move for each individual pawn, that piece may move 2 squares. After its first move it can only move one square at a time. Pawns have a special ability that no other piece has. If it should happen to make its way to the other end of the board it can be promoted to any piece that the player chooses. Sometimes being just a pawn ahead can mean the difference between winning and losing.

One of the strangest moving pieces in the game of chess is the knight. The knight is the only piece in the game that doesn't move in a straight line in some direction. The knights moves are in what they call an L shape. The movement is a total of 3 squares, which can either be 2 squares to the left, right, front or back and 1 square either left or right or front or back afterwards, or 1 square to the left, right, front or back and 2 squares either left or right or front or back. One thing the knight cannot do is retrace its steps. If it goes 2 squares forward it cannot then go 1 square back. Also, the knight cannot go 3 squares in one straight direction. After moving its first 2 squares it must then turn either left or right, if moving forward or backward, or it must go forward or backward if it moved to the right or left. If it sounds confusing, don't worry. You'll get the hang of it fast.

The bishop is easy to follow. Bishops move on diagonals. One bishop starts on the red squares and the other bishop starts on the black squares. So whichever color the bishop starts on, it must stay on that color for the entire game. Bishops can move any number of squares in a turn as long as they don't run off the board.

Rooks are also very easy to follow. Rooks move either forward or backward or left or right. Rooks can also move any number of spaces. The only way a rook can't move is diagonally. Rooks also have a special move with the king which is called castling. Rooks, which are placed at the far left and right of the board in the rear row (we'll go over piece placement later) can move in conjunction with the king to castle provided that the king and the rook you want to move has not already been moved in the game and there are no pieces between them. To easily remember how to castle, simply do the following. To castle king side, move the king all the to the left of the rook on the king side and then place the rook to the left of the king after you have moved the king. To castle queen side, you move the king 2 squares to the left and then move the rook to the right of the king that you just moved.

The final piece is the queen. The queen can move diagonally like the bishops or forward and backward or right and left like the rooks. In other words, the queen can move any way possible except in a knight movement. Queens are the most powerful piece in the game as these moves should show.

Now that you know how the pieces move it's time to get into more advanced instruction. That's coming in our next instalment.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Chess

Understanding The Game of Chess

2007-02-14T16:36:00.001-05:00

Understanding The Game of Chess

Chess is an interesting game and learning it is not difficult. There are three phases of the game. The first ten to fifteen moves make the opening phase, then there's middle game and lastly the end game. However it is not necessary that the game lasts through the three phases. It can end before hand also if someone makes big blunders initially. All the three phases are played differently. One needs to develop the forces in the opening phase. This is done so that the player becomes ready for the middle game. To make yourself perfect in the game, you need to follow some basic steps. These steps are offered by the world class chess players. Of course you need a lot of experience to master the art of playing chess.

When you move a piece from one position to another, it is said to have developed. So, development is the most essential principle that is applied initially. When a piece is developed, its mobility as well as the number of squares it controls increases. You must complete the development before you put any plan to work. Development is essential as it may also develop pressure on your opponent by threatening one of his pieces. Complete the development for it can lead to bad times ahead!

Controlling the centre is very important as this is the place where most of the strategic battles take place. A piece which is placed in the centre exerts big pressure as it controls a number of squares, so it has to be nicely placed. Central pawn moves are preferred in comparison to side pawn moves because the centre is controlled by the movement of the pawn. Regular piece development may also help in controlling the centre.

You should never postpone castling because king safety is very important. It increases the safety of the king and also helps in development of the rook. To be on the safer side, you should go for short castling. You are giving an opportunity to your opponent to attack your king in case you don't castle. However there are cases, when you should not castle.

Planning is the most important step. Make a plan in your mind and play accordingly. You plan should include where the development of pieces will take place. How the pawn moves should also be included in your plan. Importance should also be given to Move Order. Usually, the pawn moves first, so that the centre is controlled properly. The knight moves next as they have a less number of squares to develop. Bishop moves last as they can be developed at a number of squares. Castling should not be postponed. Do not move your queen initially. By doing this, you are actually giving a chance to your opponent to threaten your queen. Develop the heavy pieces also.

When playing the opening game, you should keep certain things in your mind. Let's take an example if White moves first. In total there are 8 pawns, and they can advance up to 2 squares. Other than the two knights, the rest of the pieces cannot be moved. The knights can advance to two squares each. White needs to remember the basic principles- first the development, then controlling the centre and finally formulating a plan. To start the development one may also move the knight. 1.Nc3 and 1.Nf3 are also good moves. However do not place your knight on h3 or a3 as it is far away from the centre. Move the pawns first, so1.e4, 1 .d4 and 1.c4 is good choices. Though 1.f4 move is suitable but it weakens the king slightly. Don't move the pawns a, b, g or h as they do not control the centre. Moves like 1.d3 and 1.e3 are acceptable but they should not be usually made.

White has more options if white plays with 1.e4 and BLACK respond with 1.e5. The White's queen and its bishop that is placed at f1 can also move now. Next, White should include all the basic moves like 2.d4, 2.Nf3, 2.Nc3, 2.Bc4. though there are some other good moves also; these are considered the best ones! White should not move 2.Bd3 as it has some limitations. It prevents the pawns from making advances and bishop's mobility is not increased. The pawn needs to move so 2.Bd3 should not be moved. This is just an example to show as to how you can play chess by following some basic rules and using your own logic and judgment. These basic principles are not universal but you can use them to be on the safer side!

George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including niche and coaching site. If you want to read more about chess, click over to George's chess site.

Win At Chess With These Special Moves

2007-02-11T00:54:00.000-05:00

The game of chess has many interesting moves and some that can only happen under certain circumstances. In order to play the best game you can, it is wise to know about all the moves so that you can best outwit your opponent.

In order to effectively talk about chess a special method of notation has been devised. This helps identify the squares and positions without having to have a board and pieces always in front of you to illustrate. In this notation the columns (or files as they are called in chess) are identified with a letter and the rows (or ranks) are identified with a number. If you are looking at a chessboard from the perspective of the white player, the leftmost file is 'a', the one next to it 'b' and so on until the last file which is 'h'. The back or closest rank for white is 'rank 1', the next one (the one the pawns are on) is 'rank 2' and so on until the last rank, which is the back row for black and is 'rank 8'. So the when using chess notation, the leftmost back square for white would be called 'a1', the square directly above 'a2' an so on. See how easy that is?

Now that you know how chess notation works and you have a chess board visualized in your head, we can talk about some of the special chess moves.

En Passant

If you have played even only 1 game of chess you know that pawns have some special rules. For example, they can only capture a piece that is placed diagonally in front of them. Also, on it's initial move, a pawn can move up two squares instead of just one. However, there is a special case for this - if an enemy pawn could have captured it had it only moved 1 square, the enemy is still able to capture.

This move is called 'en passant' and can only be used on the very next move after the pawn is advanced 2 spaces - if you do not capture then, you cannot do it at a later move.

Here's an example - BLACK has a pawn at d4; WHITE moves his e2-pawn to e4; had WHITE moved to e3m the BLACK d4 pawn would have been able to capture so now he can capture en-passant on his next move. But if BLACK decides to make another move instead, he gives up his right to capture.

Castling

The King can make a special chess move called 'castling' and it is, in fact, recommended that you do this during the opening phase of the game. This is a defensive move which increase thesafety of the King. Castling has two forms - 'short' and 'long'. Here's how it works:

Say the white King is on e1 with the white Rook on h1 (this is the initial setup at the start of the game). You can make the move called short castling by moving the King to g1 and the Rook to f1. This move does have some restrictions - the squares in between the Rook and King must be empty, neither the Kind or Rook can have been moved before and the King cannot be in check. Note that even though you move two pieces, this is considered to be one move.

Long castling has the same rules and is a similar move but uses the Rook on the a file instead. In this scenario, the King ends on c1 and the Rook ends on d1.

Promotion

You might think the pawns are not very useful but if you can get your pawn to the other side of the board he can be promoted. This means the you can replace the pawn with any same colored piece you want with the exception of a king or pawn. Needless to say most people choose to replace the pawn with a queen.

There are some other situations in chess that novice players might not be aware of. For instance, a game can very easily end in a draw. This can happen when neither side has enough material to checkmate the opponent. This would happen if one player had a Bishop and King while another had only a King - no matter how many times you try you cannot get the opponent into checkmate so the game ends in a draw.

The chess game might also end in a draw if you have to repeat the same move 3 times as their are no other choices, if no advance or pawn capture has happened in the last 50 moves or stalemate. Stalemate can happen when a player who is not in check has no valid moves. If a player can continuously checkmate another player any time he wishes then he can claim a draw by "continuous check".

Lee Dobbins writes for many online publications. Visit chess-moves.info to learn more about the game of chess and see this article in more detail and with diagrams of the special moves.

Chess Clock - How We Use One In A The Modern Game Of Chess

2007-02-01T18:27:00.000-05:00

An increasingly popular variation on the standard 'International' chess is known as speed chess. The game involves the use of a chess clock to measure a set period of time in which each player has to make their move, and if the chess clock runs out on a player, they automatically forfeit the match. Not for the feint hearted, speed chess is only recommended for advanced players with an in-depth knowledge of the game, etiquette and strategy of chess.

Speed Chess takes its origins in standard chess, and is a more convenient way of squeezing in a game in your coffee break, or whenever you have spare moment. All you need is a standard chess board and set, a chess clock (which will have two independent clocks and the ability to singularly stop each clock as they count down) and a willing opponent. All the normal rules of chess apply, except in a few specific instances when they are overridden by new rules to regulate such speedy play.

An interesting twist on the rules of speed chess as opposed to standard International Chess rules, is that it is the players obligation to watch both his and his opponents chess clock. If the either clock runs out, the player with the active clock automatically wins, although it is up to him to call his victory, and if he fails to take notice, the game may continue until he does take notice. Having said that, the status of the clocks outweighs any positioning on the board, so even if a player would have won a standard game, if his clock runs out he forfeits. Additionally, in speed chess, if a player makes an illegal move at any stage in the game, regardless of the chess clock, he again forfeits to his opponent.

In speed chess, the chess clock may be set to either 3 or 5 minutes, although rarely other timings can be used. It is a fast-paced, entertaining game, which is both riveting and inspiring to watch, and arguably would draw more attention than an ordinary standard match. Before learning or playing speed chess as a separate entity, it is vital to master the fundamentals of standard International chess, as many of the same foundational rules apply, as well as allowing you to get a grip on the various pieces and their uses. Speed chess is only really recommended for the more accomplished player, as it demands lightening fast reactions to avoid the chess clock, although for the beginner to intermediate, it is also great fun. It is also advisable to get a full run down on the rules which can easily be located online, to avoid the potential for any disputes which may arise from this great variation on the standard game of chess.

So if you have the time, why not give speed chess a go? There's a fair chance if you go to your local chess club, someone will be game for a match, or why not try teaching a friend how to play? The best idea for improving at speed chess is practice, and in no time at all, you'll realize a startling improvement to both your speed chess and your understanding of the game as a whole.

Clive Jenkins recommends the Chess Clock website which provides comprehensive information on all aspects of the game of Chess. To find articles, tips and free information and advice check out the site here: http://www.chessclocksite.com

Learn To Play Chess Today

2007-01-27T18:49:00.000-05:00

Have you ever watched a chess game and wondered how the heck the game works?

On one level it looks kind of like checkers, but not all the pieces are shaped the same and they move in strange and mysterious ways. If you've ever wanted to be one of those intelligent looking folks sitting on either side of the chess table, then this guide can help you learn how to play. It's not that difficult and you can even be playing your first game by the end of the day!

To make it easier to talk about chess pieces and moves on the board, a special method of notation has been devised. In chess the rows on the board are called ranks and the columns are files. In this notation the files are identified with a letter and the ranks are identified with a number. So when looking at a chessboard from the "white" side, the leftmost file is 'a', the one next to it 'b' and so on until the last file which is 'h'. The closest rank for white is 'rank 1', the next one is 'rank 2' and so on until the last rank, which is the back row for black and is 'rank 8'. So the when using chess notation, the leftmost back square for white would be called 'a1', the square directly above 'a2' an so on. Isn't that easy?

A game of chess has 3 basic phases - the opening, midgame and endgame. The opening begins the game and is the first 10 or 15 moves. During the opening you should concentrate on getting your pieces into a good position (called promotion). But what is a good position? Typically it is good to control the center of the board and of course you want to be sure your king is protected. You should have some sort of general plan in mind when promoting your pieces - don't worry as you get more experience playing it will be easier to come up with these "plans". The middlegame is when you play your battles and try to take more of the opponenets pieces than he takes of yours. The endgame comes when there are only a few pieces left to play with and eventually ends in either a draw or checkmate.

Not all the chess pieces behave the same. Each one moves in a different way and has different rules. A piece may capture an opponents piece by landing on the square of the opponents piece - the captured piece is then removed from the board. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponents king so this piece must always be protected. The King can only move 1 square at a time but he can go in any direction, vertically, horizontally or diagonally. The only restriction is that he cannot move into a square that would allow him to be captured (or checkmated) by the opponenet as this would be a huge blunder that would end the game. So, looking at an empty board with a king on e4, he can move to e3,e5, d4, f4, d3, f3, d5, f5.

Th Queen is the most powerful piece and can move in all directions but unlike the King can move any number of square without having to "jump over" another piece. A Queen that is on d4 has 27 possible moves and can move to any square on the d file, any square on the 4th rank all 7 squares on the a1-h8 diagonal as well as all 6 squares on the 'b7-g1' diagonal.

The Bishop is initially placed on either side of the King and Queen and can only move on diagonals but can move as many squares as he wants. Because of this, the Bishops will always stay on same colored squares. He is slightly more valuable than a Knight.

The Knight is placed next to the bishop and is the piece that looks like a horse on a typical chess set. This piece moves in a strange way - the movements form an L. It can move in any direction and is the only piece that can skip over other pieces. Namely it moves two squares horizontally and one vertically or vice versa. Therefore, a Knight on d7 (Nd7) can move to b8, b6, c5, e5, f6 or f8.

The Rook is placed on the end squares next to the Knight which often looks like a castle. It can move along files and ranks as many squares as it wants. The Rook is the second most valuable piece. A Rook placed on b5 can move to all 7 squares on the fifth rank, as well as all 7 squares on the b file.

The Pawns are the smaller pieces that are in the front row and have the simplest moves as they can move only one square forward. There is one exception - on the pawns initial move, it can move two squares forward. Unlike other pieces it cannot capture a piece directly in front of it but can only capture on a diagonal. The pawn is the least valuable piece but it does have the distinction of being able to be "promoted". If a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board it can be replaced with any same color piece of the players choice which is most usually the Queen.

Visit Chess Moves Info to learn more about the game of chess including some special moves and diagrams.

The Real Reason We Buy Theme Chess Sets

2007-01-22T00:40:00.000-05:00

I mean - what's the point exactly? Why would someone buy something that collects dust, takes up interior real estate and - guess what - ya can barely play chess with it? Unless you don't mind checking each time you move that the pawn is the pawn and bishop is the bishop and the other pieces are theother pieces. Ooops - I didn't actually mean to move my queen into a position to be taken by your pawn - I just couldn't distinguish it from the bishop? Errr... could I possibly re-take my move?

A chess set always provided artisans with the perfect medium to express themselves in such a way that their craft would result in something marketable. They could have concentrated on vases or other benign ornaments to satisfy the female need for feathering the nest and for the male need for the female to feather the nest so that they could settle down with a cold beer in a place that didn't resemble prison cell with a single picture placed on the wall as disguise. But no. They had to go for chess, in order to offend the gazillion chess enthusiasts is the world who need to distinguish the pieces from each other in a micro second glance in order to complete our - errr, I mean their... crushing move. They had to invade the space of staunton afficianados with their battle of waterloo' or 'Isle of Lewis' and other designs. If you ask me.., err, I mean most chess players, those Isle of Lewis pieces should have stayed just where they were - in some Scottish Highland cave, away from staunton, away from chess and away from disturbing our staunton peace. Pah!

Protection of a 'gift'
The truth of the matter is, that from a chess retail point of view - theme chess sets have a sort of an inbuilt buffer from being continually rejected as the johnny-come-lately of chess. Think about what actualy happens - most purchases of theme sets are for gifts - they're perfect gifts for someone that wish they could play the game but can't. Perfect. Buying a theme battle of Culloden chess set for someone is like crediting them with the belief that they are a master of the game and don't even have to know which one is the rook and which the pawn - they'll still cane the opposition with a hand tied behind their back. What a gesture! What a politician! As for blemishes, ahhh, it's a gift for Uncle Harold - he'll check it out. As for Uncle Harold - ahhh, it was a gift, didn't cost me anything, that little blemish isn't anything to worry about. And what a wonderful gift (Harold: 'I don't even know how the play the game', but he obiously thinks I'm a master - what a wonderful chap - awwww... family is wonderful!')

Cranial one-upmanship
Whether a gift or otherwise, these monstrosities of chess impurity, nay! chess invasion are the consumate one-upmanship. In one master stroke - a theme chess set owner has an item which does two things masterfully. Visitors see immediately - rather like the Mercedes in the driveway - that this man is a man to be given recognition! Look - he appreciates history! He has a Richard the Lionheart chess set! And,... and.. yes, it's a chess set - the man plays chess! Do not meddle with this fellow - he is a man to be accorded honour! This masterful stroke is at once a stroke that is inexpensive, appreciated, honour-giving, king-making and a public declaration that the recipient is nothing short of deserving of high office!

Theme chess sets - they might seem a complete travesty of chess purity and chastity - but look further - they are a politicians gesture, a wise mans act and a chess players Checkmate!

By Baron Turner of ChessBaron - Chess Sets, Chess Boards, Chess Pieces from Canada and Chess Sets from the USA - ChessBaron has over 300 sets, many are theme chess sets including the Isle of Lewis Chess Set, Battle of Waterloo, Battle of Hastings and many more from ChessBaron UK, USA, France or Canada. Or buy Staunton chess from us for real chess for real men :)

Chess Set Choices for the Young, the Old, and the Young at Heart

2007-01-19T22:47:00.000-05:00

Getting a chess set for yourself, or someone else can be a really difficult decision. There are so many different styles, materials and prices. If this is your first experience in buying a chess set you may not really be aware of what is available to you. Or, if the only set you have ever owned is one of those very simple plastic and cardboard sets you may really be in for some sticker shock when you look at the really fancy sets. You can choose from a themed set that has pieces designed from pop culture or sports or you can get a more traditional war themed chess set. You can even buy the pieces and board individually and create your own customized set.

A chess set for a child who is just beginning to show an interest in chess should be fairly simple and inexpensive. This way if the pieces in the chess set get broken or lost, you can replace them without a lot of expense or trouble. They may also lose interest after just a short time and then you don't lose a big investment. But, if they are serious about chess, as many children are today, you may want to get them a better chess set. There are many child-friendly themed sets that are really fun. You can choose from the Simpsons, the Muppets, Star Wars, Cats and Dogs, or the Lord of the Rings among many others.

If none of these types of sets appeal to your more sophisticated adult tastes, you may want to look at some war themed sets. You can find a chess set with a Civil War or Revolution theme or even a theme from a particular battle. There is a set which glorifies the history of the sport of golf and another that is a depiction if the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox teams.

Sets can be purchased in mahogany, marble, or 24 carat gold plating. Before you buy any of these quality sets, check for durability and good construction of the pieces and the board. You may decide that this will become a family heirloom to be passed down from generation to generation.

If nothing else appeals to you, you can always design or even construct your own set with materials, boards, and individual pieces from a specialty store or online dealer.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Home and Family and Hobbies. If you would like more information about choosing a chess set visit http://www.romchess.com

Chess Rules for Kids and Beginners

2007-01-09T20:39:00.000-05:00

If you or your kids want to learn chess rules so that you can start to play one of the greatest games ever invented, you may be intimidated if you try to read a book or manual of instructions. There are many so many different strategies in chess that you may be overwhelmed. Really all you need to know to get started are the chess rules basics. Once you learn how to set up the board, how to move the pieces and what the object of the game is, you can start to play. Here are some chess rules to get you started:

1. The chess board: The board has 8 rows of 8 squares which alternate between black and white (or light and dark) colored squares. To begin according to chess rules, the pieces are in two rows right in front of each player on opposite sides of the board.

2. The pieces: pieces are called "white" or "black" because of traditional chess rules, but they can be any color. Each player has 8 pawns, 2 rooks (castles), 2 knights (horses), 2 bishops, 1 queen and 1 king. The pawns are in the front row and the rooks, knights, bishops, and the king and queen are on the back row.

3. How the pieces move in chess rules: Pawns: They can move straight forward two squares for their first move and forward one square every time after that. If they are going to "capture" the other player's piece they can move forward diagonally one square to the left or right.

Rooks: They can move straight forward, backwards or sideways, but they cannot jump over a piece.

Knights: One of the trickier chess rules is how the knights move. They can move two spaces forward and one space to the left or right-kind of like an L.

Bishops: The bishops can move diagonally across the board but they cannot jump pieces.

Queen: The queen can move forward, backwards, or side to side, but she cannot jump any pieces.

King: The king can move one space in any direction: forward, backwards, side to side or diagonally.

The object of the game is to protect your own king and to capture the other player's king. You will also want to capture as many of the other player's pieces as possible. Once you learn and understand the basic rules, you can learn the harder strategies and rules.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Home and Family and Hobbies. If you would like more information about chess rules visit http://www.romchess.com

Chess Strategy and How to Learn It

2007-01-02T23:32:00.000-05:00

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.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Home and Family and Hobbies. If you would like more information about chess strategy visit http://www.romchess.com

Play Chess! Your Mind Will Thank You!

2006-12-28T17:47:00.000-05:00

Have you ever seen a news story or magazine article about teaching inner city kids to play chess? While this may seem like just a feel good story, the benefits of playing chess are documented for children as well as adults of all ages. People who play chess experience intellectual benefits as well as social and emotional benefits. If you think that chess is boring, or that you are not smart enough to play chess or that you are too old, there are some things that you should know about chess.

1. Playing chess builds and helps to maintain intellectual abilities. When children who are in inner-city at risk schools are involved in a chess program either through the school, or another local organization they not only learn how to play chess, they also improve their math and reading skills as well. Test scores of children who learned to play chess showed an amazing improvement over the course of just a year's time. Even kids who were not the best chess players still showed improvement. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, adults who play chess also improve their brain function and it helps their memory and may delay or diminish the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

2. Chess has social and emotional benefits as well. Children who are involved in playing chess either at school or in some other group can build skills such as learning about how to be a good winner and loser. They learn about fairness and not cheating. They also learn confidence and self-esteem as they improve their skills. Communication is improved as the children communicate with other children and adults while they play the game and discuss strategies and moves.

3. When you play chess you develop more creativity, problem solving skills, and long term strategy planning. As a child or adult first starts learning the game of chess, they may just be planning one move at a time. They do not have the skills to think ahead. But as they improve, they get better at thinking more moves in the future and planning strategies and counter strategies to defend their pieces as well as capture their opponent's pieces. These are skills that can be used in real life as well.

Chess has been around in one form or another for over 2,000 years. The appeal of this game lies in its ability to challenge player's intellect and strategy.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Home and Family and Hobbies. If you would like more information about how to play chess visit http://www.romchess.com

Chess Rules -- Do You Know How To Play?

2006-12-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

Chess' rules are legendarily complicated, to the point where many people don't play simply because they claim not to be able to remember how all the pieces move. Once you get to grip with what everything is and what it can do, however, the rules don't look so complicated after all.

There are only six different pieces in chess: the king and queen, bishops, rooks, knights and pawns. The king is the piece with a cross on the top, while the queen has a crown. The ones with pear-shaped tops are bishops, and the ones with round tops are the pawns. Finally, the horse is the knight and the little castle is the rook - calling them 'horsey' and 'castle', while fun, is likely to annoy serious chess players.

When you set up a chess board, one side is white and the other is black. Each side gets a rook, a knight, a bishop, a queen, a king, a bishop, a knight and a rook on its back row, in that order. The second row is all pawns. Players can move any piece at any time, and landing on one of the other player's pieces will capture that piece, removing it from the board.

How chess pieces move can be difficult to remember, but don't worry too much - there are only six different pieces, after all. Here goes. The queen can move any number of spaces in any direction. The rook moves the same way, but can't move diagonally, while the bishop moves the same way but only diagonally. The king can move in any direction, but only one space at a time. Pawns can only move one or two spaces forward, or diagonally to capture a piece. Finally, the knight can move two spaces in any non-diagonal direction, and then one space in another (but not back where it came). Simple, right?

The ultimate object of the game, however, is more complicated than you might expect. Instead of simply removing all the other player's pieces from the board, as in checkers or draughts, you must checkmate the king, which means make it impossible for the king to escape capture. If you have few pieces left, this could be difficult, or even not possible.

John Gibb is the owner of Chess resources, For more information on Chess check out http://www.chess-resources-and-info.info

Chess Tactics & Strategy

2006-12-06T23:31:00.000-05:00

Chess tactics and strategy are incredibly complicated, to the point where even a computer can't work out the best strategy in every situation. There are literally millions of possibilities, making it impossible to evaluate them all.

For this reason, chess strategy has been getting gradually more advanced through the ages, as masters of the time write books about their strategies and influence the next generation of players. This also means that observing a particular player's strategies can make it easier to work out how to beat them, regardless of how much you know about chess itself.

While advanced chess strategy and tactics would take years or even a lifetime to learn (it is, in fact, pretty much impossible to learn it all), we can lay out two basic moves here, just to get you started.

To begin with, pretty much the most common move in any game of chess is to pin the other player's pieces. Pinning is when you use one of your pieces to stop the other player from moving one of theirs, as doing so would allow you to take an important piece such as a rook or a queen. A skilled chess player can easily stop almost all your pieces from moving anywhere, effectively controlling your side of the board as well as their own.

A skewer is pretty much the same move as a pin, only the other way around: the more important piece is the one in front, not the one behind. It appears that you are moving your piece into the line of fire, but in reality they are covered. If your opponent takes your piece, they will lose their important piece to your covering piece in the next move, but if they don't take it, then your piece is in a position to take them. This forces them to move their important piece out of the way, allowing you to take the weaker one behind.

John Gibb is the owner of Chess resources, For more information on Chess check out http://www.chess-resources-and-info.info

Improve Your Game At Chess

2006-12-02T18:45:00.000-05:00

Chess is more than just a game, it's an art. No matter how good you are at it, and no matter how many strategies, openings, endings and techniques you know in it, there is always something new you can try. It is all about planning, good observation, quick and calculated thought and predicting the opponent's moves. The game of chess is probably the only game where there is no such thing as luck.

To become a good chess player, you need understand yourself. Understanding how you make your decisions and how you go forth to achieve your goals.

If you are one of those people who take every step with caution, avoid taking risks and not ready to lose anything you have to gain something new, then play defensively. Playing defensive has its advantages especially if your opponent is someone who plays very aggressive. What you need to concentrate on is you pawn positioning. Play defensive and avoid exchanging pieces, keep blocking the opponent from breaking through and wait for a mistake or opening to go on the attack.

If you believe in taking risks without losing too much, then play aggressive by reinforcing all your pieces by one another. The key pieces for you in this kind of strategy are the knights. Position your bishops and queen to target an area on the board and then use your knights to create an opening for them. Use your pawns as distractions by attacking with them the area you do not plan to exploit. Most expert chess players use this strategy.

If you are an adventurous and aggressive personality, who lives dangerously and loves taking risks, then play exactly the way your personality is. Make an aggressive opening and try to reinforce the center of the board. Do not mind exchanging pieces but save your rooks and queen for the later game. This strategy of exchanging pieces mercilessly is called the 'Butcher method'. Force the opponent to move his king and then capitalize on it by attacking the area where his king is.

Learn the basics of chess to perfection then improve your game by playing more often and better players. See the famous games played by the grandmasters of chess and learn to think how they think. However, once you have become good enough by learning from others, then its time to get even better by making your own moves and strategies. Keep in mind, self belief and knowing who your opponent is, is the key to victory in chess.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Games, Boating, and Football

The History of Chess

2006-11-25T19:03:00.000-05:00

The history of chess isn't especially clear - there's hardly a country in the world that doesn't claim to have invented it, including China, Egypt, Greece, Uzbekistan and (most unbelievably) Ireland. Given the evidence, however, it seems most likely than the game of chess has its origins in 6th century India, and was then refined in Persia, from where it travelled to Europe and much later on to America.

The word 'chess' itself is believed to be a mangled pronunciation of the Persian word 'shah', which means king (and is still used today, as in 'Shah of Iran'). 'Checkmate', in this theory, comes from 'shah mat', which is Persian for 'the king is finished'.

Chess is notable in the development of games because it does not use dice, meaning that there is no element of luck involved - it is a game of pure skill and strategy. One Indian legend has the game being created by a wise man who was asked by a king to create a game that would enhance his mental abilities and have nothing to do with luck.

While India is keen to claim chess, however, it is hotly disputed. Most Chinese people believe that China invented chess, and also believe that the game is far inferior to Go, which is both older and generally considered more difficult. The Chinese point out that Go has existed since at least 2,000BC, and is played without dice, making it a very likely inspiration for chess.

Iran (Persia), on the other hand, claims that chess is derived from its invention of backgammon, and cite writings and poems that seem to put its date further back than the Indian version. There is no doubting that the version of chess that came to Europe we play today came mainly from Persia, but it is difficult to know exactly where Persia got its inspiration from.

John Gibb is the owner of Chess resources, For more information on Chess check out http://www.chess-resources-and-info.info

The Chess Challenge

2006-11-22T16:37:00.000-05:00

One day that I was old enough to understand the importance of strategic maneuvering when playing a game, my father decided that it was time for me to learn chess. Within a couple of months, I was carrying the chess board everywhere I was going, inviting friends to challenge my new game abilities. I still remember the reactions of those who have never been introduced to chess. They used to look me straight into the eyes asking me why they should waste their time playing such a difficult and boring game. I do not know even where to begin in order to describe what a beautiful game chess really is. With its variety of sacrifices and combinations, those who are eager to learn how it feels to belong to the winner's side can advance their gaming experience through chess. Having the opportunity to outwit your opponent either on the tactical or the positional level, chess is in fact a game that requires a constantly working mind. Perhaps it is "difficult" game, but this is the only way one can really be proud of the attained goal of winning a worthy opponent. Now in relation to the accusation of chess being boring, after playing chess frequently for more than ten years in a row, I really cannot describe how far away from the truth this statement really is.

First of all, if you are up to the chess challenge, you have to begin by learning the rules of the game. Being an abstract strategy board game, chess is played by two players on a square board that combines eight rows-called ranks -and eight columns-called files. Its simple design creates sixty-four squares of alternative color; one darker than the other. Each of the players is assigned to sixteen pieces (units) at the beginning of the game, which as the game progresses they are eliminated by the opponent's movements on the board. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent. This practically means that one of the players has successfully managed to perform all the appropriate strategic movements so as to threaten the opponent's king from moving. It has to be stressed that due to the variety of the chess pieces and their distinct abilities on the game's board, chess has successfully become one of the world's most popular games.

Garry Kasparov and Robert Fischer-or Bobby-have been famous chess players worldwide, due to their exceptional abilities in combining the art of chess with the strategic maneuvering entailed in disciplines of science. Considered by many funs to be a "mental martial art," chess has gained its popularity among the nations of Asia, Europe and the Americas. Generally known as Western Chess or International Chess, to be distinguished from its many variations, the chess I was taught by my father is currently being played in a number of counties, some of which claim to have invented its original form. The most commonly held view is that chess originated in India, since the Arabic, Persian, Greek, Portuguese and Spanish words for chess all come from the Sanskrit game Chaturanga.

Currently, chess funs can be found anywhere from Japan to Sweden and chess players can locate their future opponents on the online forums and websites specifically designed to the pleasure of playing chess. If you are considering taking up the chess challenge, visit your local chess listings and you will be surprised of how many people are daily committed in exercising their mental abilities via a fun and instructive game like chess.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Games, Boating, and Tennis.

Online Chess: Play Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime!

2006-11-16T01:26:00.000-05:00

Have you ever played online chess? If you haven't you should know that it is a fun way to build your chess skills while enjoying one of the greatest games ever invented. The internet has revolutionized the way we do everything, even the way we enjoy our leisure time. Online chess is just one more example of this. You can play online chess with someone sitting in the house next door, or someone who lives continents away. Even though many people prefer to play chess with someone face to face, online chess is one way that you can play anytime of day or night without searching for a partner.

One of the first considerations when you are looking for an online chess site is the price. There are quite a few free chess sites where you can play games and even in tournaments for free. This is a very good option if you are still a beginning chess player or if you are looking for an online chess site for your child (there are kid-specific sites as well.) However the graphics and features on these sites may not be quite as advanced as those on the paid subscription sites. These online chess sites may also have more ads and pop-ups, so you would need to make sure that they are safe for children if it is not a child-specific site.

Most paid subscription sites will offer a trial period of a certain amount of days or games played. You may be required to enter credit card information when you apply for the trial period, so this is something you may want to think carefully about. A paid subscription to an online chess site can cost anywhere from under $10 up to $60 a year. Some subscriptions (both free and paid) have premium membership plans which will have an additional charge. These sites are good if you are really a serious player an you want better features and graphics with fewer advertisements.

One note: some sites will allow you to search around the site without a log-in or registration of any kind, while others do not allow you to access many of the features unless you give them some personal information first. You may want to look at a site which reviews chess sites to see which ones have the features you are looking for.

Then, you can play in tournaments, play the same player over and over, or play a random player. On many sites you can choose the skill level at which you want to play.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Home and Family and Hobbies. If you would like more information about online chess visit http://www.romchess.com

How Chess Terms Were Derived

2006-11-15T17:36:00.000-05:00

I’ve always been fascinated by chess. Today, I’m a whiz at planning strategy and using the various pieces to best advantage. But I still remember how I got hooked on chess as a young kid. Of course, like most kids, my love affair with chess started by watching my elders play. My eyebrows would always rise and I would always be spellbound whenever one of my elder cousins would exclaim “checkmate” which a triumphant smile and a gleam in his eyes. I told myself, I want that feeling, too. So, I started to play chess.

When I found out exactly how checkmate got its meaning, I was hooked all the more. Apparently, the word ‘checkmate’ comes from the English translation of the Persian phras “shah mat” which means “the king is finished”. As an impressionable young child with dreams of heroism and courage in warfare, slaying an opponent’s king was the ultimate for me. And even the pieces have such interesting meanings.

For example, the word ‘rook’ came from the word ‘rath’ in Sanskrit which is translated as ‘chariot.’ However, it has other meanings in other languages. In Persia, it refers to the word ‘roc’ which is a great mythical bird with supernatural powers. In India, the piece is called ‘haathi’ or ‘elephant.’

Interesting enough, the bishop is also called ‘elephant’ or ‘pil’ in Persia. There were little or no elephants in Europe and the west, yet the reference to this piece as an elephant spread there nonetheless. In Russia, the bishop is referred to as a ‘slon’ the Russian word for elephant. In Spain, the piece is called ‘alfil,’ which is believe to have come from the Arabic words for elephant (al is the, fil is elephant). The piece was previously only referred to as a bishop in England mainly because the original shape of the piece fetured the tusk of an elephant which resemble a bishop’s mitre.

The there’s the queen. The piece was originally called ‘farzin’ or ‘vizier’ in Persia and ‘firzan’ in Arabic. In Russia, the piece was called the ‘fers.’ It is also known as ‘alfferza’ in Western Europe.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Games, Tennis, and Boating

Chess Terminology (Z)

2006-08-04T07:03:00.000-04:00

Chess Terms Starting With "Z"

Zeitnot (from the German): see Time pressure above.

Zugzwang (from the German): When a player is put at a disadvantage by having to make a move. Usually occurs in the endgame, and rarely in the middlegame.

Zwischenzug (from the German): An "in-between" move played before the expected reply.

----------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 Chess Strategies Blog

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.

A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

Chess Terminology (X)

2006-08-03T03:18:00.000-04:00

Chess Terms Starting With "X"

X-ray attack: The threat of a piece to move through a square presently occupied by an enemy piece.

A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

Chess Terminology (V)

2006-07-30T02:11:00.000-04:00

Chess Terms Starting With "V"

Variation: An opening strategy that is a subset of another. For an example, see the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense.

A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

Chess Terminology (S)

2006-07-29T13:37:00.000-04:00

Chess Terms Starting With "S"

Sacrifice: When one player voluntarily gives up material in return for an advantage such as space, development, or an attack. A sacrifice in the opening is called a gambit.

Scholar's mate: A four-move checkmate (common among novices) in which White plays 1. e4, follows with Qh5 (or Qf3) and Bc4, and finishes with 4. Qxf7#.

Score: A record that each player must keep of the moves of the game, usually in algebraic notation.

Semi-open game: Any chess opening that results in some open lines, but not many. Often begins with White playing 1.e4 and Black playing a move other than 1...e5 (which are also called Half-open or Asymmetrical King Pawn openings.) See also Open game and Closed game.

Simplification: A strategy of exchanging pieces of equal value. This strategy might be used defensively to reduce the size of the attacking force, or to amplify a material advantage. Also trading.

Simultaneous chess: A form of chess in which one (usually expert) player plays against several (usually novice) players simultaneously. Is often an exhibition.

Skewer: An attack to a valuable piece, compelling it to move to avoid capture and thus exposing a less valuable piece which can then be taken. Sometimes called a Thrust.

Smothered mate: A checkmate delivered by a knight in which the mated king is unable to move owing to it being surrounded (or smothered) by its own pieces.

Space: The squares controlled by a player. A player controlling more squares than the other is said to have a spatial advantage.

Spanish bishop: A White king bishop developed to the b5 square. This is characteristic of the Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Opening.

Stalemate: A position in which a player's king is not in check and the player has no legal move. A game is drawn if one of the kings is stalemated.

Swindle: A ruse by which a player in a losing position tricks his opponent, and thereby achieves a win or draw instead of the expected loss.

----------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 Chess Strategies Blog

A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

Chess Terminology (T)

2006-07-29T13:36:00.000-04:00

Chess Terms Starting With "T"

Tabia or Tabiya: (from Arabic) The initial position of the pieces in Shatranj
The final position of a well-known chess opening (from 2) The opening position from which two players familiar with each others' tastes begin play.

Tactics: Play characterized by short-term attacks and threats, often requiring extensive calculation by the players, as distinguished from positional play.

Tempo: An extra move, an initiative at development. A player gains a tempo (usually in the opening) by making the opponent move the same piece twice or defend an enemy piece. In the endgame, one may wish to lose a tempo by triangulation to gain against the opposition. (Plural: tempi).

Threefold repetition: The game is drawn if the same position occurs three times with the same player to move, and with each player having the same set of legal moves each time (the latter includes the right to take en passant and the right to castle).

Thrust: See Skewer above.

Time: Opportunities to make moves. A move that does not alter the position significantly is described as "wasting time", and forcing the other player to waste time is described as "gaining time".

Time pressure, time trouble or zeitnot: A player having very little time on their clock (especially less than five minutes) to complete their remaining moves. See Time control.
Touched piece rule/touch move rule: The rule stating that a player who touches a piece with at least one legal move is obliged to move that piece. Castling is considered a move of the king and not of the rook. If an opponent's piece is touched it must be captured if possible. A player wishing to touch a piece to adjust its position on a square without being required to move it signals this intent by saying "J'adoube" or "I adjust".

Transposition: Arriving at a position using a different sequence of moves.

Triangulation: A technique used in king and pawn endgames (less commonly seen with other pieces) to lose a tempo and gain the opposition.

----------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 Chess Strategies Blog

A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

Chess Terminology (U)

2006-07-29T12:38:00.000-04:00

Chess Terms Starting With "U"

Underpromotion: Promoting a pawn to a rook, bishop, or knight instead of a queen.

A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

Chess Terminology (R)

2006-07-16T18:38:00.000-04:00

Chess Terms Starting With "R"

Rank: A row of the chessboard. Specific ranks are referred to by number, first rank, second rank, ..., eighth rank. Unlike the case with files, rank names are always given from the point of view of each individual player. White's first rank is Black's eighth rank and White's eighth is Black's first, White's second rank is Black's seventh rank and White's seventh is Black's second, and so on.

Rapid chess: A form of chess with reduced time limit, usually 30 minutes per player.

Refute: To demonstrate that a strategy or move is less advantageous than previously thought, usually by providing a better strategy on the opposing side.

Resign: To concede loss of the game. A resignation is usually indicated by stopping the clocks, and sometimes by offering a handshake or saying "I resign". The traditional way to resign is by tipping over one's king, but this is rarely done nowadays.

Rook: A rook (borrowed from Persian رخ rokh) is a piece in the strategy board game of chess. Each player starts with two rooks, one in each of the corners nearest their own side. In algebraic notation, white's rooks start on a1 and h1, while black's rooks start on a8 and h8.

A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".