Chess Tips : Chess 101 - Chess blog for beginners

Friday, May 25, 2007

Chess Tips

Chess Tips - Follow the "Ten Rules"

These are time honored chess tips every beginner should learn. Below are the basic "10 Rules" for each of the following; the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. Followed these tips as closely as possible, and you will find your game will greatly improve.

Ten Opening Rules

1. Open with a center pawn.
2. Develop with threats, attack.
3. Knights before bishops.
4. Do not move the same piece twice.
5. Make as few pawn moves as possible in the opening game.
6. Do not bring your Queen out to early in the game.
7. Castle as soon as possible, preferably to the King side.
8. Always play to gain control of the center of the board.
9. Try to maintain at least one pawn in the center.
10. Do not sacrifice without a clear and adequate reason.

Note: A sacrificed pawn must
a. Gain three tempi.
b. Deflect the enemy Queen, or
c. Prevent opponent from castling.
d. Build up a strong attack.

Ten Middlegame Rules

1. Keep all of your moves into a definite plan.
General Rules of Planning:

a) A plan must be suggested by some feature in the position.
b) A plan must be based on sound strategic principles.
c) A plan must be flexible concrete, and short.

2. Evaluate Your Position.

a) Material.
b) Pawn Structure.
c) Piece mobility.
d) King safety.
e) Enemy Threats.

3. When you are material ahead, exchange as many pieces as possible, especially the Queens.
4. Avoid serious pawn weaknesses.
5. In cramped positions free yourself by exchanging pieces.
6. Do not bring your King out with your opponent's Queen on the board.
7. All combinations are based on the double attack.
8. If your opponent has one or more pieces exposed, look for a combination.
9. In superior positions to attack the enemy King, you must open a file, or less often a diagonal, for your heave pieces, the Queen and Rooks.
10. In even position centralize the action of all your pieces. In inferior postions, the best defense is to counter attack if, and when possible.

Ten Endgame Rules

1. To win without pawns you must be at least a Rook, or two minor pieces ahead, with the exception of two Knights.
2. The King must be active in the ending.
3. "Push the Pawn" Passed Pawns must be pushed.
4. The easiest endings to win are pure Pawn endings.
5. If you are only one Pawn ahead exchange pieces, not Pawns.
6. Do not place your Pawnson the same color squares as your Bishop.
7. Bishops are better than Knights in all but blocked Pawn positions.
8. It is usually worth giving up a Pawn to get a Rook on the seventh rank.
9. Rooks belong behind passed Pawns.
10. Blockade passed Pawns with the King.

Related article. 10 Chess Tips