The famous two-player board game Chess, is a game of strategy that requires a lot of psychological strength and also enhances the mind in the process. Chess is played on a chess board and enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It is said that chess offers a lot of mental benefits to those who engage themselves in the game. Chess can be fun and also a tool for sharpening the mind.
The concept of chess as a game of intellect often scares a lot of people, but that should not be so, considering that not all geniuses are great at chess and you do not have to be one to learn and play the game like a pro. The rules of the game are straightforward and easy to understand; one can also consult some online materials to learn Chess with Garry Kasparov.
So, you got the skills, but you are looking for ways to make your chess game stronger. Trying any of these simple tips from chess grandmasters can help you improve your game from basic to pro level with regular practice every day.
- First, look out for forced moves: In chess, forced moves are made to force a response from an opponent; any form of an attack on an opponent’s piece, like a check or a capture. During a game of chess, it is important to keep an eye out for forced moves and work towards using them against your opponent. When you force an opponent to make a move, essentially, what you have done is take a turn from him or her which could have been used to attack any of your chess pieces. Keep them on the defensive, and you can continue to attack till you win the game.
- Secondly, watch out for sacrifices: In Chess, it is common for players to occasionally sacrifice a chess piece to launch a severe attack against an opponent. The opportunities to make such sacrifices will continue to pop up throughout the game, so it is important to pay proper attention to identify when to take advantage of an opening and when to prevent such from your opponent.
- Look out for conventional chess tactics: The game of chess has various tactical motifs which are very much identical in some cases with minor differences when being used in a match. Some of these tactics include Pin, Fork, Double Attack, Skewer, Discovered Check and much more. If you can, memorize as many tactics as possible so you can easily recognize them when it’s being used against you in a game or tweak any one of them to catch your opponent unaware.
- Always get a good look at the entire chess board before making your next move: Considering the pressure that follows in the middle of a game, while trying to implement a tactic or work out a particular strategy, it is possible to leave an opening for your opponent to take advantage and attack. So, try your best to remember this obvious tip, and no matter how good the game is going for you, just spend that four to five seconds to go through the board each time before you make a move.
- Lastly, practice more often: The famous saying “Practice makes perfect” also applies to the game of chess. The more you play and employ all of these tips to making your game better, the easier it becomes to identify forced moves, familiar tactics, opportunities to sacrifice chess pieces and most importantly, you can begin exposing yourself to new tactics.