My Pieces are More Powerful than Your Pieces

Do you have that one friend who ALWAYS beats you in chess?  How is that even possible?  I've got a secret for you:  Their pieces are worth more than yours.

Look across the board...  they have the same 8 pawns staring back at you.  Their queen & king are right there in front of you.  2 knights, 2 rooks, 2 bishops.  But it seems like once you get going, their rooks are able to do things yours aren't, their queen is flying all over the board, & their bishops are sniping you down when you slip up.  Frustration!

This blog is written for the mid-level beginner.  I'm talking about those of you who have been playing for a while now - maybe a year or more.  You know how the pieces move, you know you're supposed to control the middle & castle your king early.  You feel comfortable getting all of your pieces out & going.  Sometimes you can even pull off a stunning checkmate.  But whoever it is, whether it is your big brother, your neighbor from down the block, or your arch-nemesis on chess.com...  they beat you time & time again.

Let me try & explain a bit of theory behind where your pieces are moving and what makes a stronger piece & a weaker piece, in beginners terms.

It begins from the very first move.  I have friends who are just starting out & haven't really figured out any openings they are comfortable with yet.  They are moving their pieces in a responsive manner rather than a progressive manner (they are reacting to my moves rather than attacking!).  This can lead to frustration & resentment of the game.

It is no secret - when I play as white, I start off exactly the same every game (if possible).  1. e4  ... followed by 2. Bc4 ...  & 3. Nc3  (ganging up on the d5 square & opening up some lines for my pieces to operate while trying to eventually castle queenside).  No, it's not the best opening in the world, but it works for me.  I can get out of the gates without too many surprises from my opponent, even if they are a stronger player, & I can concentrate on making my pieces MORE VALUABLE than theirs.


The Game of Real-Estate

Take a look at a recent game below, & pay close attention to the commentary I make, which should explain a LOT about what I'm getting at, making my pieces better than theirs.