Chess strategies

Sort:
Oldest
ChocoMooshCake

I have just reached 1000 elo and was wondering that is it really necessary to study the different openings, taps, endgames, and other strategies? I mean yeah I get that if I want to improve I need to learn and master the game and the best way is to study.

But like in what level or elo ranking does this apply? When should I really start learning the in-depth game analysis and not just play by my own.

(P.S. I just play chess for fun and to pass time. Nothing competitive though, I just hate losing hehe)

IMKeto

Opening Principles:

  1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5
  2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key
  3. Castle
  4. Connect your rooks

Tactics...tactics...tactics...

The objective of development is about improving the value of your pieces by increasing the importance of their roles. Well-developed pieces have more fire-power than undeveloped pieces and they do more in helping you gain control.

Now we will look at 5 practical things you can do to help you achieve your development objective.

They are:

  1. Give priority to your least active pieces.
  • Which piece needs to be developed (which piece is the least active)
  • Where should it go (where can its role be maximized)
  1. Exchange your least active pieces for your opponent’s active pieces.
  2. Restrict the development of your opponent’s pieces.
  3. Neutralize your opponent’s best piece.
  4. Secure strong squares for your pieces.

 

Don’t help your opponent develop.

There are 2 common mistakes whereby you will simply be helping your opponent to develop:

  1. Making a weak threat that can easily be blocked
  2. Making an exchange that helps your opponent to develop a piece

 

Pre Move Checklist:

  1. Make sure all your pieces are safe.
  2. Look for forcing moves: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) as this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
  3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
  4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
  5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"

 

Middlegame Planning:

  1. Expand your position:
  2. Gain more space.
  3. Improve the position of your pieces.
  4. Decide on what side of the board to play.
  5. Queenside: a-c files.
  6. Center: d-e files.
  7. Kingside: f-h files.

            Compare, space, material, and weakness(es)

            Play where you have the advantage.

  1. DO NOT HURRY. Regroup your pieces, and be patient.
ChocoMooshCake
IMBacon wrote:

Opening Principles:

  1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5
  2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key
  3. Castle
  4. Connect your rooks

Tactics...tactics...tactics...

The objective of development is about improving the value of your pieces by increasing the importance of their roles. Well-developed pieces have more fire-power than undeveloped pieces and they do more in helping you gain control.

Now we will look at 5 practical things you can do to help you achieve your development objective.

They are:

  1. Give priority to your least active pieces.
  • Which piece needs to be developed (which piece is the least active)
  • Where should it go (where can its role be maximized)
  1. Exchange your least active pieces for your opponent’s active pieces.
  2. Restrict the development of your opponent’s pieces.
  3. Neutralize your opponent’s best piece.
  4. Secure strong squares for your pieces.

 

Don’t help your opponent develop.

There are 2 common mistakes whereby you will simply be helping your opponent to develop:

  1. Making a weak threat that can easily be blocked
  2. Making an exchange that helps your opponent to develop a piece

 

Pre Move Checklist:

  1. Make sure all your pieces are safe.
  2. Look for forcing moves: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) as this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
  3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
  4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
  5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"

 

Middlegame Planning:

  1. Expand your position:
  2. Gain more space.
  3. Improve the position of your pieces.
  4. Decide on what side of the board to play.
  5. Queenside: a-c files.
  6. Center: d-e files.
  7. Kingside: f-h files.

            Compare, space, material, and weakness(es)

            Play where you have the advantage.

  1. DO NOT HURRY. Regroup your pieces, and be patient.

Thanks for the advice!

Beppemila

This is excellent advice. Playing by principles, not by predefined schemes. Thank you. a lot.

H1KaRu_Fall0wa

hello

ChocoMooshCake
Chesswar2511 wrote:

This is excellent advice. Playing by principles, not by predefined schemes. Thank you. a lot.

Yesss thats definitely the beauty of chess. No game is the same which means it is up to you and your intuition to make your moves hehe. playhand.png

Sneakiest_Of_Snakes

Totally agree with all of IMBacon's points. Following those steps will provide you a strong foundation to improve your chess in a macro sense.

In a micro sense, on the other hand, make sure to analyze your chess games after every single game you play so you can find your mistakes and stop them from happening in any future games. You know the saying, "fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me!". Chess.com has a great tool in game explorer and game analysis to help you do this (as do other chess websites).

This video here helps you learn how to teach yourself after your wins and losses in great detail so you can constantly improve as you play more and more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfG6xQvx_38

Forums
Forum Legend
Following
New Comments
Locked Topic
Pinned Topic