Chess Strategies: How to Win at Chess

You sit at the board and suddenly your heart leaps. Your hand trembles to pick up the piece and move it. But what chess teaches you is that you must sit there calmly and think about whether it's really a good idea and whether there are other, better ideas.
― Stanley Kubrick

Chess, as we know, is a popular indoor game played between two players on opposite sides of a chessboard having 64 squares of alternating dark and light colors.

Each player holds an army of 16 pieces which include 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns. The ultimate goal of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king.

While evaluating, the player should take into account the value and positions of the pieces on the board, the pawn structure, the king's safety, control of key squares, and group of squares, and the expected moves that the opponent can make. Another way to evaluate is by counting the total value of pieces on both sides. The following table gives the basic values of each piece:

The Chess pieces and their values are as given below.

• Queen: 9
• Knight: 3
• Pawn: 1
• Bishop: 3
• Rook: 5
• King: ∞

These basic values can get modified as per factors like the position of the piece (e.g. advanced pawns are of more value than those on their starting blocks) and coordination between the pieces (e.g. a bishop pair coordinates better than a bishop and a knight pair).

The values may also be modified due to the kind of position (e.g. knights are better in closed positions with the pawn while the bishops are more strong in open positions).

Another important point to be considered while evaluating the positions is the pawn structure or pawn skeleton. Though pawns are the most immobile and least valuable of all the chess pieces, the structure is relatively static and helps in analyzing the strategic nature of the position.

Following are step-by-step instructions to execute 3 short moves that will help you to defeat your opponent with such an ease that they won't know what has actually hit them.

1. In your first step, move your pawn forward right in front of the king by either one or two blocks. Though you can choose any, it is better to take one block, especially if you are playing against an experienced player, because he might try to reverse this strategy on you.

If your opponent in his turn leads out with the queen's knight, move your queen three blocks to the right in a diagonal manner, next to your pawn. By this, your opponent will not be able to anticipate your next move.

2. Now if your opponent moves his pawn forward by two blocks in order to apply pressure on your queen and expects you to get worried about your queen, move your king's bishop four blocks forward.

3. As your opponent in his turn moves the pawn in hopes of taking your queen, you should move your queen by taking the opponent's pawn and placing the queen in front of the opponent's queen bishop. By this step you will checkmate your opponent.

4. Chess is believed to be an ultimate game that needs skill, strategy, and an ability to think smartly before taking the next move.

Being alert, following the basic rules of chess, knowing your position, taking possession of maximum blocks, protecting your king, avoiding time pressures, and eliminating chess blunders and confidence are some basic chess strategies or tips that will help you win the game.