Strategies for chess board game

To understand this better, think for example about knights. They are short-range pieces and need to be well-placed in order to control important squares. They are long-range pieces and can usually do the same job most of the time even better! They cooperate better between each other, but can also be brought faster on the side they are needed on.

In the same manner, the defending side will do so easier with central pieces. Be constantly on the look for better squares for your pieces and try to improve their position throughout the whole game. Controlling the center and developing your pieces towards it is an important guideline, but you should not stop there.

Usually, better, more active squares will become available for your pieces during a game and it is up to you to spot them and bring your pieces on them. In this sense, there are several ideas to keep in mind. Knights are strong on central squares, but they also need certain stability, which is usually provided by pawns.

In this game, black used the bad position of the white queen and light-squared bishop with the move Nh5! The idea is to occupy the square f4 with a gain of tempo, but this is not everything. White also needs to parry the threat of Ng3 with a double attack, as the f2 pawn is right now pinned by the black bishop on b6.

Rooks are best placed on open or semi-open files. If there are no such files in the position, they could be placed behind the central pawns, offering them support. White has just played Rab1, activating his rook by occupying the only semi-open file he has available in this position. He has done so with a gain of time, as now black will have to defend the pawn on b7. This is another example of chess strategy for improving the rooks in the middlegame:. At the same time, the rook on d1 hits on the black pawn on d6, forcing his opponent to always keep an eye on it.

His other rook has been placed on c1 — not an open file, but an important one, whatsoever. From here, it supports the c4 pawn, but will also make possible different tactical ideas against the black queen on c7. The pawn structure is an important part of the game and, as you will discover, one of the elements on which chess strategy relies most. One of the first things to understand and remember throughout a game is that a healthy pawn structure means a solid, safe position.

With time, you will understand how much a pawn move can influence the game or how their disposition can dictate the type of play in certain positions. The ideal pawn placement is side by side, in a phalanx.

This is because when in this formation, the pawns control every square that is in front of them. With each advance, the opponent will get a square he could use for his own pieces. In the following diagram you can see how such a pawn formation can give a big advantage:. Moreover, the d and e pawns can now advance to d5 and e5 and force the two black knights onto worse squares. In this case, the advance of these two pawns is possible thanks to the support of the c and f pawns.

Avoid, if possible, splitting your pawns. Split pawns cannot protect each other anymore and will be easier attacked and eventually picked up by the opponent. Doubled pawns can be one example of such faulty structures. Here, white is using the pin on the knight on f6 to force his opponent to ruin his pawn structure. By playing Nd5, he brings another attack over this knight. The problem with this is not only that now this pawn will be easier to attack for white, but the black king will also become an easy target for the first player.

After bringing his queen to h6, the f6 pawn can no longer be defended. In addition to this, the king is not safe either. For example, after Nxf6 , the threat will be Qxh7 , with a mate.

For example, one popular chess strategy for getting rid of the doubled pawns is to trade one of them:. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Featured Video. Read More.

Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for TheSpruceCrafts. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. Top level chess strategy! Moving pawns can weaken your defenses, and is responsible for many losses in the chess opening. A pawn move can never be retracted!

This is the " initiative ", a chess strategy meant to dictate the game's course. Develop and threaten - good chess strategy! If a beginner at chess will stay with these basic principles of chess strategy, success on the board is not far behind! See here for more ideas in the chess opening. Check out this chess site for chess boards. All Rights Reserved. Please wait Sign in or Create an account. These are the four squares right in the middle of the chess board shown here in green : Every chess opening aims to occupy or control these central squares.

Here's an example using only the Kings and a Knight for each side: The centrally placed White Knight can move to eight green squares; it attacks and controls them. Strategy [Event "? White occupies one key center square with a pawn, also attacking another central point. In addition, the move also liberates the White Queen and King's Bishop. As World Champion Bobby Fischer said of 1. The Queen defends the pawn, and she is free to move forward.

In addition, the Queen's Bishop can now develop, and White "threatens" to play his e-pawn up two squares to dominate the center. The move also brings White closer to castling his King to safety - another goal of good chess strategy in the opening. The move makes ready to deploy the Queen and King's Bishop to active central squares.