Introduction to Chess Strategy

Do you play poker? There are many similarities in strategies between chess and Texas holdem and chess players are starting to take notice. In both games, you must think a number of moves ahead and gather as much information as you possibly can. It's no accident that expert poker players such as Bob Chiaffone and Howard Lederer are great at chess.

Opening Chess Strategy by Steve Lopez

Beginning chess players discover very quickly that learning how the pieces move is just the tiniest tip of the tip of the iceberg. It's usually sometime during the first several moves of their very first game that they find themselves saying, "What now?" We're going to provide you with some very simple, easy guidelines in chess strategy for playing the chess opening. We're not going to talk about specific openings or give you strings of moves to memorize; these will be some general chess strategy principles which you should think about when starting a chess game. As your chess career continues you'll also notice that there will be times when it's best to ignore some of these chess strategy and opening principles. Nothing here is carved in granite and there will be times later when you'll violate one or more of these principles. But for right now, these tips are good ones to follow during the first few moves of your games. An underlying principle in the chess strategy of the chess opening is to try to control the center of the board. The board's center is typically defined as the four squares right in the middle of the board (shown here in red):

The center is important because your pieces tend to be more mobile the closer they are to the center. Here's an example using the Knight:

The centrally-placed Knight can move to (and control) eight squares. Now look at this Knight:

This Knight in the corner controls just two squares. Center occupation and center control are the two principles of chess strategy which underlay almost all popular chess openings. White would like to occupy the squares d4 and e4 with his pawns, like so:

...while Black's chess opening strategy is to occupy both d5 and e5 with his own pawns:

Both players are also trying to prevent their opponent from achieving his goal (so, in most chess openings, neither player actually achieves it), but it's a good opening chess strategy for which both usually strive. The pawns can't stand alone on these squares, either; they need to be supported by other pieces or pawns. Remembering this will help you to understand some of the principles we're about to discuss. 1) Good chess strategy suggests you make your first move with the pawn in front of either your King or Queen Probably the simplest of all chess opening strategies. In both cases, you'll be opening up paths which your other pieces can use to get off of the back rank:

2) Good chess strategy suggests you make good developing moves, and generally develop your Knights before your Bishops A good developing move is one which gets a piece off of its starting square. This is an important chess strategy: you want to get your pieces into the game (where they can actually accomplish something, either aiding your attack or defense) as soon as you can. And the reason why you'll usually want to develop your Knights before your Bishops is because it's easier to find a good place for your Knights:

This is an example of a "can't go wrong" Knight development; the Knights defend the pawns and control those strategically important central squares. Knowing the right spot for a Bishop often isn't so easy. 3) Good chess strategy suggests you try not to move the same piece twice in the opening Don't move the same piece around aimlessly; the best chess opening strategy is to find a good developing square for it. After you've developed a piece, don't move it again unless you absolutely have to; concentrate on developing another piece. 4) Good chess strategy suggests that your King's safety is crucial; castle early if you can A big exception to the principle of centralizing your pieces concerns your King. In the opening and middlegame, the center is the worst place for your King. Castling is a great way to safeguard your King - it gets the King away from the center and develops one of your Rooks at the same time. Top level chess strategy! 5) Good chess strategy suggests you don't advance more than one or two pawns in the opening, and definitely not a pawns in front of your castled King You need to advance a couple of pawns so that your pieces can develop, but be aware that advancing lots of pawns will weaken your defenses. So the best chess opening strategy is to move one or two pawns in the opening (see principle #1), but not more. (There are exceptions to this; you'll learn them later.) 6) Good chess strategy suggests you make when you develop your pieces, try to make moves which threaten something Here's a simple example. Both players have advanced their e-pawns - now it's White's move:

White decides to develop his Knight, and his move threatens Black's e5-pawn - accomplishing two goals of proper chess strategy at the same time:

That's a very simple example of making a good developing move which also threatens something. Now Black has to make a move which will somehow defend the threatened pawn. 7) Good chess strategy suggests you don't bring your Queen out early The Queen is your most powerful piece but she can't win a game all by herself. She's also a very enticing target for your opponent early in a game where she can be easily trapped on a crowded chessboard. Generally, chess opening strategy dictates that the Queen is one of the last pieces you'll develop. As you progress in your chess career, you will learn that there are always exceptions to general strategic principles. But for right now, as you're taking your first steps on the road to chess improvement, these chess strategy tips will help you avoid many catastrophes at the chess board.

Some Opening Principles and Chess Strategies

Quick List of Chess Strategies: * Avoid Moving a Chess Piece Twice During the Opening is a good chess strategy. * It is Better Chess Strategy to Develop the Knights before Their Respective Bishops. * A good chess strategy is to Develop Both Knights before the Queens Bishop. * A good chess strategy is Do Not Develop your Chess Pieces Exclusively on One Side. * A good chess strategy is as a Rule Do Not Play a Piece beyond Your Own Side of the Board in the Opening. * A good chess strategy is if You Have Castled Do Not Permit the Opponent to Open a File on Your King. * A good chess strategy is to Avoid Pinning the Opponents Kings Knight before He has Castled, Especially When You Have Yourself Castled on the Kings Side. * A good chess strategy is to Avoid Making Exchanges which Develop Another Piece for the Opponent. * A good chess strategy is to Avoid Exchanging Bishops for Knights Early in the Game. * A good chess strategy is to Avoid Premature Attacks. Copyright 2010, Steven A. Lopez and ChessCentral. All rights reserved.

Chess Moves A Knight on the Rim - Example 1

A Knight on the Rim is Dim

Example 1 1.e4 Na6?! This move doesn't help control the center.
2.Bc4 Or 2.Bxa6 and White can double up Blacks pawns. 2...b6 Exposes the Black Rook. Black should follow up on his Knight move and play 2...Nb4. 3.Bxf7+ White will win the Exchange by sacrificing the Bishop to win the Rook. 3...Kxf7 4.Qh5+ g6

Any King move will lead to checkmate on the next move. 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxa8 Winning a Rook and pawn for the Bishop.

A Knight on the Rim is Dim

Example 3 1.d4 d5 2.e4
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. White wants to sacrifice a pawn for quick development. 2...f5? Black should accept the pawn and play 2...dxe4. 3.exd5 3.exf5 allows Black to develop a piece with 3...Bxf5. 3...Na6? This move does nothing for Black's game. Black should play 3...Qxd5 and keep the pawn, even though the Queen comes out early. 4.Bb5+ Normally the Knight helps protect the c6 square. Now White attacks the exposed King. 4...c6?

Black should try 4...Bd7. Now White can then play 5.Bxa6 bxa6 6.c4 with a strong center, up a pawn, and leaving Black with double pawns. 5.dxc6 bxc6 If 5...Kf7 then 6.Nf3 and 7.Ne5+ is strong. 6.Bxc6+ Bd7 7.Bxa8 Winning the Exchange and two pawns.

Opening Chess Trap 1

1.e4 Controlling the center. 1...e5 A good response, also controlling the center. 2.Nc3 Developing a piece quickly and controlling the center. This is the Vienna Opening. 2...Nf6 Developing quickly with a threat of taking White's e4 pawn. 3.Bc4 Developing another piece quickly and taking advantage of occupying a square for the Bishop with the maximum attacking space. 3...Nxe4 Perhaps too greedy. Black is hoping for 4.Nxe4 so he can play 4...d5, forking Bishop and Knight and controlling the center. Black may be better off developing more quickly his other pieces such as 3...Nc6 or 3...Bc5. 4.Qh5 White is now threatening 5.Qxf7 mate. 4...Qf6?? The only defending move is 4...Nd6, allowing White to play 5.Qxe5 with check. White is way ahead in development. 4...g6 doesn't work because of 5.Qxe5+ Qe7 6.Qxe4 (stronger than 6.Qxh8 Nxc3+) and White wins a piece and far ahead in development.

5.Nxe4 And White wins a piece, is ahead in development, and threatens the enemy Queen. White should easily win!

Opening Chess Trap 2

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3

Developing a piece quickly, while attacking the enemy pawn on e5) 2...d6 Defending the pawn, but restricting the development of the King's Bishop. This is Philidor's Defense. 3.d4 Controlling the center and opening up the diagonal for the Queen's Bishop. 3...f6?! Black is getting behind in development. He should develop a piece with 3...Nf6 or 3...Nc6 or 3...Nd7 or 3...Bg4. If 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 and White still controls the center. 4.Bc4 White develops the King's Bishop rapidly to the square that can do the most damage while controlling the center. 4...Ne7? Black is ignoring development and should play 4...Nc6 followed by 5...Bg4. Now Black loses a pawn at least. 5.dxe5 White wins material, controls the center, and has developed his pieces quickly. 5...dxe5??

Black had to give up the pawn and play 5...Ng8 to defend all the threats. If 5...fxe5 6.Nxe5 with the same threat as in the game. 6.Bf7+! And Black loses his Queen for a Bishop. After 6...Kxf7 the only move 7.Qxd8 wins the Queen. Black lost because of slow development and not seeing the threat on the unprotected King.

Develop Your Chess Pieces Quickly

Opening Chess Trap 3
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 The Vienna Game. 2...Nc6 Quick development of a piece and control of the center. 3.f4 gambit, offering a pawn, to control the center, and a little bit risky. White could also play 3.Nf3 or 3.Bc4 for quick development of his pieces. 3...Bc5 Black decides to develop quickly rather than take the pawn. 4.Nf3Or 4.fxe5. Now White attacks the e5 pawn twice. 4...d6 Defending the pawn and making way for the development of the Queen's Bishop. 5.f5White should probably continue to develop his pieces quickly with 5.Bc4 or 5.Bb5. 5...Nf6 Black continues to develop his pieces quickly, and getting ready to castle early. 6.h3Preventing 6...Ng4. White should continue his development with 6.Bb5. If 6...Ng4 7.d4 exd4 8.Nxd4 and if 8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 0-0 10.Bxc6 or 10.Qd2 is fine for White. 6...d5Black now creates weaknesses in White's center by attacking the e4 pawn. 7.Nxe5?White becomes too greedy. Better is 7.d3 or 7.Bd3 to control the center. If 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 and Black is ahead in development and controls the center. 7...Nxe4Even 7...Nxe5 8.d4 is good for Black. Black can continue with 8...Nxe4 since 9.dxc5?? or 9.dxe5?? leads to mate after 9...Qh4+. And if 9.Nxe4 Qh4+ 10.Nf2 Bxd4 wins a pawn with complete control of the center and better development. 8.Nf3??This is supposed to stop the Black Queen from checking. 8.Nxc6?? leads to mate after 8...Qh4+. If 8.Nxe4 then Qh4+ 9.g3 Qxe4+ wins a piece. 8...Qh4+!Black can now sacrifice the Queen because he has mate threats with his minor pieces that had been developed quickly. 9.Nxh4 Or 9.Ke2 Qf2+ 10.Kd3 Nb4 mate. 9...Bf2+10.Ke2 Nd4+ 11.Kd3 Nc5 mate.