How to Win Almost Always at Chess (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 13:47

Mastering the game of chess is a process that can take many years, but you don't need to become a master to win almost every game; just understand the mechanics of the game. By learning to recognize a few moves and understand your opponent's strategy, you will learn how to effectively protect your king, how to attack the enemy, and how to win almost any game.

To make the most of the contents of this guide, you should already know the basics of the game. If you are a beginner, click here to read an article suitable for your first games.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Winning as a Beginner

Step 1. Know the value of each piece and protect them accordingly

The King is obviously the most important piece, because losing it means being defeated. But the other tokens aren't cannon fodder that you can throw to the wind. Based on the math and geometry of the board, some pieces have more value than others. Remember these classifications when deciding whether to eat. For example, you shouldn't risk a rook just to take out an opponent's knight.

• Pawn = 1
• Horse = 3
• Bishop = 3
• Tower = 5
• Queen = 9
• Chess pieces are sometimes referred to as "materials". You will need to have high quality materials to win every match.

Step 2. Learn the goals of the best opening moves

In chess, openings are the first moves in the game; they determine the overall strategy and placement on the board for the entire match. Their goal is to develop, or to advance from the starting squares, as many powerful pieces as possible. Consider the following when deciding which opening is the best for your match:

• You should move the pieces towards the center of the board, to open the way for the more powerful pieces.
• The opening moves change whether you play Black or White. Since White moves first, you will need to attack and try to control the game. Black should shut down and wait, using White's mistakes to attack.
• Never move the same piece twice, unless it is threatened by an opponent's piece. The more pieces you move, the more your opponent has to be on guard.
• Don't make too many moves with pawns. The goal of a good opening is to efficiently develop your main pieces, and moving too many pawns can give your opponent an advantage in terms of pace.
• Try not to move the queen too soon. Many beginners make the mistake of moving their queen early, but this can make her vulnerable to attack, forcing you to move her again and waste time.
• Considering the principles described above, consult the list of opening moves used by the Grand Masters in the most recent tournaments.

Step 3. Think 4-5 moves in advance, using each move to prepare for complex assaults

To win in chess, you will always have to think about some moves in the future, preparing long and complicated attacks to outwit your opponent. The first move determines the course of the rest of the game, leading to your first offensive or control of a specific section of the board. The best way for a beginner to learn how to plan their strategy is to practice the most common opening combinations:

• The classic opening Ruy Lopez plans to move the bishops and attack. Move the King's Pawn forward two spaces, then the Knight to F3 (if playing with White). Finish by bringing the King's Bishop forward, up to one square away from the opponent's Pawn.
• The opening English it is slow and versatile. Move the C2 Pawn forward one square, then continue with the G2 Pawn to free the King's Bishop (if Black moves in the center) or the Queen's Knight (if Black moves sideways).

• Try the adventurous King's Gambit.

  This exciting opening used by the Grand Masters, from Bobby Fisher onwards, can be confusing for beginners. Just move both of the King's Pawns (E2 & F2) two spaces. Black will often expose himself with an attack, because he will have the impression that you have opened up too much, but your wall of pawns will soon cause him problems.

• Try the Queen's Gambit to control the center of the board. White moves the Queen's Pawn to D4, attracting Black's Pawn to D5. White will usually continue with the bishop's pawn on C4. This strategy directs the game to the center and opens the side lanes for your Queen and bishops.

  A good defense for Queen's Gambit is there French defense. If you play Black, start by moving the King's Pawn to E6. White will often move the Queen's Pawn to D4, allowing you to respond with your Queen's Pawn to D5. In this way you have opened an attack path for your bishop. If White ate your Queen's Pawn on E6, he would leave the King exposed, so he could move the Knight to C3. You can then move the bishop to B4, blocking the knight.

  

  Step 4. Try the four moves of the "Crazy Barber" to win the game in a flash

  This trick only works once for each opponent, because more experienced players will notice your strategy and defend themselves. That said, the Barber's Fool is a great way to surprise a newbie and get an easy win.

  • White:

    King's Pawn moves by 1 (E7-E6); Bishop of the King in C5; Queen in F6; Queen in F2.

  • Black:

    King's Pawn moves by 1 (E2-E3); Bishop of the King in C4; Regina in F3, Regina in F7.

  • How to counter the Barber's Fool:

    take the knight out as an obstruction, if you notice that the opponent is trying this strategy - he probably won't sacrifice his queen just to eat a knight. The other possibility is to use a very similar move: instead of bringing the Queen forward, you can leave her on E7, in front of the King.

  

  Step 5. Check the central boxes to dominate the game

  During the game, your main concern must be to check the central squares of the board, especially the four exactly in the center. From that position, in fact, it is possible to start attacks on the whole board and consequently control the rhythm and direction of the game. For example, the knight has eight potential moves from the center of the board, but only 1-2 on the sides. You can gain control of the desired zone in two ways:

  • The support of the center is a strategy that involves slowly advancing towards the center of the board with more pieces. The Horses and the Standard Bearers give support on the flanks, ready to attack and eat in case of an opponent's offensive. In general, this slow development is the most common.
  • The use of side lanes is a very modern style of play that involves controlling the center from the outside. You will have to move Towers, Queens and Horses to both sides of the board, making it impossible for the opponent to control the center.

  

  Step 6. Develop the pieces one at a time

  When you have made the opening moves, you will need to start preparing an attack. You should move all the pieces to the best possible square, removing them from the starting ones.

  • If you don't have to do otherwise, the best strategy is to move all the pieces one at a time. Do not move the same piece twice except to defend it from an attack or to make a very advantageous offensive.
  • You won't have to move all the pieces. Advancing all Pawns will not help you win, as it will weaken the King's line of defense.

  

  Step 7. Learn to castling

  Castling is a move in which the king jumps over the rook, using it as a defense against attacks. In front of the King you will still have the line of Pawns for protection. This is an incredibly effective tactic, especially for beginners. To exploit it:

  • Clear the spaces between the king and the rook by moving the bishop and knight (if necessary also the queen). Try to keep as many pedestrians still as possible. You can use this special move on both sides.
  • In the same turn, move the rook and king, then reverse their position where they meet. Therefore, if you were castling on the king's side, you would finish the move with the king on G1 and the rook on F1.
  • Note that in order to castling, the king and rook cannot have already moved during the game. In that case, the move would not be allowed.
  • To win at chess it is important to understand your opponent's strategy without letting him understand yours. Don't castling unless you're sure it's the right move.
  • You will always have to think several moves in advance. You need to know where to move each piece and be able to predict the opponent's reactions. It is not easy to acquire this ability; you will need a lot of practice.

  Part 2 of 4: Winning as an Intermediate Player

  

  Step 1. Watch your opponent's moves carefully

  Which pieces are you developing or what part of the board do you prefer? If you were in his shoes, what long-term strategy would you adopt? Once you have mastered the basics of the game, you should always adapt to the other player's moves. If he defends himself, preparing the pieces on his side of the board for an attack, ask yourself what his ultimate goal is. Can you ruin his strategy or stop his plan? Does he have the advantage, do you have to back off and defend your most important pieces or can you put pressure on him?

  

  Step 2. Learn when to eat by sacrificing your own piece

  Swapping pieces is obviously the right choice when yours has less value than your opponent's, for example if you had to sacrifice a knight to eat the enemy Queen, but deciding what to do is not easy when you need to swap pieces of similar importance. In general, Not you should sacrifice pieces when:

  • You have the advantage in the position of the pieces, in the control of the center of the board and in the development of the game. The fewer pieces in play, the lower your advantage and the easier it will be to defend against your attacks.
  • Your opponent is stuck in a corner or obstructed by his own pieces. When you have cornered the enemy, it will be more difficult for him to move if he has many pieces available, while he may be able to free himself if he has fewer pieces.
  • You have fewer pieces than your opponent. If you have more checkers than the other player and neither player has a clear advantage, start eating. You will open new paths to attack.
  • You would bring two pedestrians in line to each other. This makes those checkers much less useful, clogging up your side of the board. However, if you force an opponent to bring two pawns in a row to exchange pieces of equal value, you could use this situation to your advantage.

  

  Step 3. Always think 5-6 moves in advance

  This is easier said than done, but you will need to have a long-term strategy to win chess games on a regular basis. You should move each piece with three goals in mind. If you always consider these aspects, you will quickly improve your victory plans:

  • Develop many pieces (Towers, Horses, Queen, Standard Bearers) early in the game and do it often. Move them from their starting boxes to have more options available.
  • Check the center. The center of the board is the most important area to dominate.
  • Protect the King. You may have prepared the best attack in the world, but leaving the King helpless almost always leads to defeat.

  

  Step 4. Maintain your advantage until you can make the most of it

  In chess, inertia is important and when it's on your side, you have to do everything to not lose it. If the opponent just reacts to your moves, defends the pieces from your offensives and does not counterattack, weaken him without being in a hurry. Remember, you can win a trade and still lose the game. Don't advance if it means exposing yourself to a counterattack. Instead, limit yourself to eating the pieces that the opponent uses to defend himself, gain total control of the center of the board and hit the enemy only when you can put him in real difficulty.

  

  Step 5. Learn to lock the pieces

  Blocking a piece means trapping it and preventing the opponent from using it, unless they are willing to lose it. This "passive" attack is great for controlling the game and will help you dominate your opponents. To do this, study the possible moves of an enemy piece. Usually, pieces that have movement restrictions are the easiest to attack. Once your analysis is finished, instead of going on the offensive, move one of your pieces in order to threaten all the squares that the opponent's piece can reach, making it useless for some time.

  You can also block an opponent's piece by enabling him to eat one of your own, but only by sacrificing himself. The other player may decide to eat or not, but you will be in control of the situation

  

  Step 6. Learn to perform a “fork”

  A fork is a move where one piece attacks two or more pieces at the same time. Planning and executing a fork is a great way to earn bits and get yourself ahead. For example, if you threaten the king and queen, the opponent will have no choice but to give up their queen, giving you an advantage that is normally enough to win the game. When trying a fork, keep the following in mind:

  • This tactic is most easily performed with the horse, as its unusual movement allows it to attack pieces hidden behind others.
  • Try to attack the most important pieces. The best possible fork is performed on king and queen (it is called "royal fork").
  • A fork is most effective when it forces your opponent to react immediately, such as attacking the queen or putting the king in check.

  

  Step 7. Evaluate each move objectively

  You will have to observe the entire board, considering all possible moves. Don't move a piece just because you have to: think and always look for the best move to make. The most effective choice depends purely on the context of the game, but there are a few questions you can ask yourself to determine if a move is the right one:

  • Am I in a safer position than I previously had?
  • Am I exposing that piece, the King, or another important piece to an attack?
  • Can my opponent put my piece in danger, forcing me to go back and "lose" a turn?
  • Does this move put pressure on my opponent and force him to react?

  

  Step 8. Eliminate opponent's pieces without isolating your pieces

  You will need to maintain control of the center of the board, but attack compactly. The pieces are like the components of an orchestra: each has a unique purpose, but they are most useful when they work together. Eliminating your opponent's pieces will weaken his King's defense line and, if you use two or three units to support your attack, you will be able to advance without losing the material advantage.

  

  Step 9. Always protect the Queen with a bishop or rook

  There will rarely be occasions when it is worth sacrificing the most powerful piece on the board, even to capture the enemy Queen. Your Queen is the most versatile offensive piece and you need to use it accordingly. Always protect and support her, as almost all players will sacrifice their pieces to capture her.

  Queens can only express their full potential if they have support. Most players instinctively observe the Queen of their opponents, so use yours to force pawns to move into spaces threatened by Bishops, Horses and Towers

  

  Step 10. Do not obstruct your bishops with your pawns

  Those pieces can attack from a great distance and using both of them to control the board is crucial, especially in the early stages of the game. You can learn many opening strategies, but your overall goal will be to clear the way for the most important pieces so they can move freely.

  Moving the Pawns to D4 / D5 or E4 / E5 clears the way for the bishops and helps you take control of the center of the board. Free the Bishops early, then use their long range to protect the Queen's and Towers' advances

  Part 3 of 4: Winning as an Expert Player

  

  Step 1. Think about the whole game from the first move

  Chess games are often divided into three phases, closely related to each other. The best players are always 10-12 moves ahead in their mind and develop 3-4 strategies at the same time, according to the intentions of the opponent. They know that the moves and pieces exchanged early in the game have a big impact on closing the game and plan accordingly.

  • Opening:

    in this phase you will set the tone of the game. With the first 4-5 moves you will quickly develop many pieces and start fighting for the center of the board. You can go on the attack, eating your opponent's checkers, or defend yourself, not advancing and waiting for him to make the first move.

  • Middle phase:

    in this phase you will have to prepare the final assault. You will have to exchange pieces, take control of the center of the board and prepare 1 or 2 lines of attack that you can use at any time. An exchange of pieces at this stage can be useful, but you will need to calculate the impact that losing a token has on your chances of winning.

  • Final stage:

    only a few pieces will remain in the game and they will all be invaluable. The final phase of the game always seems the most intense, but in reality much of the work has already been done - the player who has "won" the middle phase and is left with the most valuable pieces should go out with a checkmate.

  

  Step 2. At the end of the game the Bishops are more important than the Horses

  Although in the early stages of a match these pieces have almost the same value, at the end the bishops can move faster throughout the board, while the knights are slow. Keep this concept in mind when trading pieces: Bishops may not be as useful in the short term, but they will be a valuable asset in the decisive stages of the fight.

  

  Step 3. Use the pawn strength if the board is empty

  These pieces may seem useless to you, but they are essential in the final stages of a game. They can support the strongest pieces, advance on the board to generate pressure and protect your king. These positive traits, however, will be lost if you put the pawns on the same row. Keep them close and let them support each other horizontally. When there are only a few pieces left in play, a Pawn promoted to Queen can win the game.

  

  Step 4. Know when to look for a tie

  If you have fewer pieces than your opponent and you know you have no chance of making a checkmate with the pieces at your disposal, you must try to get to the draw. In official chess games, you will need to quickly figure out when you are no longer able to win (you have a King, a Pawn and maybe one or two other pieces left, your opponent is forcing you to defend, etc.). There are many ways to avoid defeat, even when the situation seems desperate:

  • Perpetual check: the situation in which the opponent's king is in check at his every move. Note that this is not a checkmate, just a situation on the board where the opponent cannot defend their king without conceding a check after your every move. Often it is a desperate attack, which blocks the enemy between attack and defense and forces him to a draw for three repetitions.
  • Stall: in this situation the king is not in check, but he cannot move without finishing us. Since a player cannot voluntarily move into check, the game ends in a tie.

  • Useless reps or moves:

    if 50 moves have been made without capturing a piece or a check, you can ask for a tie. Even if both players repeat the same move 3 times in a row (because they are forced to move back and forth) the game ends in a tie.

  

  Step 5. The fifty-move rule

  If 50 moves have occurred without a piece being captured or a pawn being moved, you can ask for a tie.

  • Lack of material.

    There are some scenarios where winning is mathematically impossible:

    • On the board there are only the two Kings
    • King and Bishop against King
    • King and knight against king
    • Kings and two Horses against Kings

    

    Step 6. Practice some chess problems in your spare time

    You can improve your skills a lot even without having any opponents. Chess problems are example chessboards that ask you to make a checkmate with one or two moves. You can find hundreds of them in books and on the internet; over time you will learn many advantageous positions and unexpected offensive actions. While you will rarely encounter example situations on a real chessboard, chess problems improve your ability to visualize all possible angles of attack and to prepare your pieces.

    Search the internet for these problems, or buy a chess strategy text from a bookstore that contains example problems

    Part 4 of 4: Winning as a Highly Skilled Player

    

    Step 1. Learn to attack

    As strange as it may sound, attacking is a great way to win more games. It has a huge effect on your opponent and can make him feel nervous.

    • Try to detect your opponent's mistakes. If you think he made a mistake, start attacking.
    • Attack his pieces, open the position and try to attack with every move. It will be easier with practice.
    • If there are no more attack moves available, improve your stance and attack again in subsequent ones.

    

    Step 2. Confuse your opponent

    If your opponent is confused, he will get frustrated and start thinking that nothing is working. There are many ways to do this:

    • Play an unexpected move. For example, if your opponent expects you to make a certain move, see if you can make another one instead. Of course don't make a move if it's bad, but go on the lookout for unexpected good moves.
    • Complicate the position. Increase the tension, don't swap pieces and try to get more contact. While this may confuse you, with practice it will come naturally and you will be able to win more games.

    

    Step 3. Learn the principle of 2 weaknesses in the late game and late middle game

    This happens when you attack 2 weak points on opposite sides of the board. For example, you can attack a weak pawn on one side and try to promote a past pawn on the other side.

    • If you don't see any weaknesses, you need to create them. Start with a pawn pause (when you move the pawn close to the enemy's pawn) and try to predict what your opponent will do.
    • Make sure your pieces help each other.

    

    Step 4. Anticipate your opponent's plans

    This technique can be found in many books and is a classic for beating master level players. It is called prophylaxis.

    • To forestall your opponent's plans, first try to understand them. Think what moves you would do if you were him.
    • After finding a good plan on his part, find a way to prevent it. Try to be as active as possible while doing this.

    

    Step 5. Review the basic principles, rules and game modes often

    Sometimes getting stuck on high-level techniques can make you forget the most important knowledge of chess: the one you learn when you start.

    Take notes in chess lessons. Later you will be able to review the things you learned in the lesson

    

    Step 6. Hire a senior or elite coach

    Hiring a high-level manager is essential if you are an advanced player. Opt for great masters or internationally renowned coaches if you are a high-level player. Try to find someone with a lot of experience.

    Listen to your coach. If it tells you to execute a tactic, do it. He has experience in this area and knows the right way

    Advice

    • Never let your king take any risk, it is the most valuable piece on the board.
    • Play with the belief that you will win.
    • Keep practicing and don't waste your pieces!
    • Drive compactly. If you have to attack, plan your retreat already.
    • On the internet you will find chess games that can suggest the moves to do. Pay attention to these tips, to learn the best strategies.
    • When you feel ready, join tournaments or join a chess club. You will be able to improve your skills and get an official classification.

    Warnings

    • Don't use simple tricks like Barber's Fool against experienced players. If your opponent knew them, you would risk defeat.
    • Don't be mad if you don't win! It takes a lot of practice to become a master player!
    • Always be careful before eating "free" pieces. Your opponent may decide to sacrifice a piece to capture a more important one or to distract you.