This article is intended for anyone that desires to improve his or her game of chess. It is clearly not the aim of this article to show you how to be the greatest chess player in the world or how to get your rating over 2000. If you want to win at chess just follow what I say in this letter and you will attain significant results.
First I suggest that you buy or borrow a book entitled "A primer of Chess" by Capablanca. It is my conviction that Capablanca (Capa) was the greatest chess player in history. Read it three times over, cover to cover.
It is imperative that you gain control of the center of the board and keep it. If you do not control the center squares then the game is lost. Make sure that before you touch any piece that you look at the next move that each adjacent piece will make contingent on the piece that you move and where you move it. No one can keep their eye and mind all over the board. If you try you will expend too much energy and grow tired by trying to second guess all of your opponents moves. Focus on the next move and its impact on adjacent pieces.
As you bring out your pieces (pawns are not pieces) make sure that you only move the piece once. Make sure that every move you make is a single move for each piece until all the pieces are out, and then castle. Try and have all of the piece out and castled by the eighth move and no later than the tenth. If this is the only piece of advice that you heed you will find that your game performance will be up 50%.
Now when it comes to taking pieces always go for the exchange. The rule is exchange knights first then bishops. This is the reason why and few people ever explain this. Knights are at their best when the board is filled with pawns and pieces because it is oafish in movement. It is extremely clumsy and awkward but on a cluttered board its power is greater than that of a queen! (See The Immortal " a chess game played in 1851 by Adolf Anderssen where he sacrifices his queen in order to secure checkmate with a knight!) No other piece has the ability to jump over pieces like the knight does. It is this unique quality that makes the knight most effective during the start of the game, when the board is cluttered. As the board clears and it becomes open the knights lose their power in proportion to the bishops gaining. That is why bishops are valued more, because they are used later in the game. It is impossible to escape the wrath of the bishops on an open board; they are like ray guns perpetually shooting at you.
When the chance comes to exchange pieces do so and of course take any stray piece that is offered to you. Your goal is to clear the board so that you can march the pawns. That is the true secret to the game of chess.
The king and pawns are what the game of chess is all about not the pieces, however, everyone else thinks just the opposite. Most people do not care if they lose a pawn or two, as long as they have their piece. This is where you can gain tremendous ground. Let your opponent exchange and when he or she does try and make the exchange move so that the pawn is moved closer to the center of the board. Also, try and prevent the pawns from doubling up (stacked) this would more than likely cost you the game.
When you can, try and exchange the queens. Almost everyone hates to exchange their queen but do it. It is in your favor because your opponent feels weaker (and there is no substance to support that) and you can then more quickly with the advancement of your pawns.
Now is the time to close in on your win. Move your king close to the middle pawns and keep the king in front of the pawns. Do not let the opponent's king get in front of your advancing pawns. This is especially true if there is only one pawn and it is yours. If the opponent's king is ever able to get in front of your single pawn and it is near the center of the board your will not win. Keep the king at the center and in front of your pawns at all times.
Finally, as you advance your pawns make sure that the squares that are adjacent to your king's are always three in a row. In other works the side of the king take 3 spaces and the other king is not able to approach those spots. Use that space as an aisle to advance your pawn to queen, your opponent will have no ability to block your pawn.
Caution! It is highly advisable after you have queened your pawn to keep checking your opponent's king as you move in to checkmate because often the game ends up as a stale-mate due to your opponent's king not being able to move and yet not being in check. This is a very common mistake.
With this advise you will find that your game is much improved. Enjoy!
Stephen F. Condren
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