A GUIDE TO IMPROVING AT CHESS
Description:
An educational blog that guides the reader from the basics of chess to more advanced strategies, always in a clear and accessible way. Ideal for beginners who want to learn the rules and for intermediate players who want to improve their game with in-depth tactics and analysis.
What is chess? History and Curiosities
HISTORY
The history of chess can be traced back nearly 1,500 years to its earliest known predecessor, called chaturanga, in India; its prehistory is the subject of speculation. From India it spread to Persia, where it was modified in terms of shapes and rules and developed into Shatranj. Following the Arab invasion and conquest of Persia, chess was taken up by the Muslim world and subsequently spread to Europe via Spain (Al Andalus) and Italy (Emirate of Sicily). The game evolved roughly into its current form by about 1500 CE.
CURIOSITIES
1. Chess has more possible positions than there are atoms in the universe.
2. The World's Largest Chess Tournament Attended 44,000 Players.
3. There are over 600 recorded chess openings.
4. Chess is great for your brain.
5. The First World Chess Championship was in 1886.
HOW THE PIECES MOVE
QUEEN:A queen can move horizontally, vertically (like a rook) or diagonally (like a bishop).
SPECIAL RULES:CASTLING, EN PASSANT AND PROMOTION
In castling, the king moves two squares towards the rook and the rook jumps over the king, staying next to it. Castling in large is when the king moves towards the furthest rook . Castling in small is when the king moves towards the closest rook.
EN PASSANT
En passant (French: [ɑ̃ paˈsɑ̃], "passing") is a law of chess that allows an exception to pawn capture . When a pawn advances two squares, if there is an opposing pawn on the same file and adjacent to the pawn, it may capture the moved pawn as if it had advanced only one square.
PROMOTION
In chess, promotion is the replacement of a pawn with a new piece when the pawn is moved to its last rank. The player replaces the pawn immediately with a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same color. The new piece does not have to be a previously captured piece. Promotion is mandatory when moving to the last rank; the pawn cannot remain as a pawn.
VICTORY CONDITIONS: CHECK, CHECKMATE AND DRAW
CHECK
When the king is attacked, it is said to be under check and can still escape, interpose a piece or, depending on the case, even eat the piece.
CHECKMATE
Checkmate is when the king cannot escape, interpose or eat the piece. When this happens, victory is given to the one who gave checkmate.
DRAW
A draw can happen for 3 reasons: 1. Tied positions. 2. Perpetual check. 3. Stalemate
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Tactical Basics: Fork, Spike and Double Attack
FORK
In chess, a fork is a tactic in which a piece attacks multiple enemy pieces simultaneously. The attacker usually aims to capture one of the forked pieces. The defender often cannot counter every threat. A fork is most effective when it is forcing, such as when the king is put in check. A fork is a type of double attack.
SPIKE
In chess, a pin is a tactic in which a defending piece cannot move out of an attacking piece's line of attack without exposing a more valuable defending piece. Moving the attacking piece to effect the pin is called pinning; the defending piece restricted by the pin is described as pinned. Only a piece that can move any number of squares along a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line (i.e. a bishop, rook, or queen) can pin. Any piece can be pinned except the king. The pin is one of the most powerful chess tactics.
DOUBLE ATTACK
Double attacks are the basis of many chess tactics . Since a player can only move one piece at a time, it is not always possible to defend against multiple threats. For this reason, this tactic is a powerful weapon that can end a game in the blink of an eye.
The Importance of Center Control and Pieces Development
CENTER CONTROL
Controlling the center is important because once you have the center under your control, it is much easier to give checks, forks, doubles or even checkmates. The game is divided into three parts: Opening, middlegame and endgame. The opening is when you develop the pieces to control the center. Then, in the middlegame, it will be much more difficult to attack if you do not have control of the center.
PIECES DEVELOPMENT
Developing the pieces is the objective of the opening, because as I said before the opening involves controlling the center, and without developing knights, bishops, etc., controlling the center will not work.
How to Evaluate a Position: Material and Space
MATERIAL
Each piece has its value:
Queen:9
Rook:5
Bishop:4
Knight:3
Pawn:1
SPACE
The space of the pieces is where they can walk, eat, check or even checkmate.
RECOMENDED SITES
LICHESS
CHESSTEMPO
CHESS.COM
THANKS SO MUCH
