Knowing
the basic moves is key to playing chess efficiently, but if you want to truly
improve your game, you need to learn moves that can improve your chess
strategy. With strategy, you can be confident in formulating a plan and
arranging the chess pieces efficiently to accomplish it as easily as possible.
You need to master the basic moves before you learn advanced moves for
effective chess strategy. That way, it will be easier to understand the impact
of certain moves on your plan and on your opponent. Here are some of the things
you should know:
- Study your
opponent’s move – Observe and determine why your opponent moved a
particular piece. That way, you can be aware of threats and be able to
grasp your opponent’s plan. Doing so will help increase your defense
against those threats and conduct your strategies successfully.
- Gain control
of the center – The player who is able to control the four center squares
on the board usually has the upper hand. For example, if you place a
knight on the center square, it should be able to move in eight different
ways, compared to if you place it on a corner square where its chess
moves are limited to two (and where it is at a higher risk of being
cornered). Gaining control of the center also makes it easy for your
pieces to travel from one point of the board to another.
- Aim to make the best move possible – Certain decisions must be made before you can ensure the best possible move. For instance, will moving a certain piece to another square truly be more beneficial than leaving it where it is at the moment? And do you think you can improve your position by boosting the efficacy of another piece? You need to reflect on how the move can defend against threats from your opponent, too. Sometimes, even if an intended move has nice points, it may not be the best time to do it. Hence, be sure to think twice, wait, and look for another opportunity before you proceed.
