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Chess is a game of skill, and as such, strategy plays a large role in playing and winning the game. While you can certainly play a game of chess with little or no knowledge of strategy, learning some basic strategy tips can make your games more fun and exciting. Also, as you progress in the chess-playing world, you will want to be able to provide your opponent with a challenge. Most chess players do not value an easily won game, and if you cannot provide potential opponent’s with a defense equal to their own, you may find yourself short on chess partners.

While there are many ways to involve strategy in a game of chess, there are some basic guidelines for developing your strategy. By beginning with these guidelines and practicing, you can develop advanced strategies as your skills increase.

Strategy Tip One: There Are No Give Away Pieces

Many beginning chess players make the mistake of underestimating their pawns. Chess is certainly a game of give and take, and there are times when pieces are sacrificed in order to gain an advantage over the opponent. However, no piece should ever be given away. No piece is so invaluable that you should waste it, and every sacrifice should be carefully considered before hand. For example, pawns are the weakest piece on the board, but you should not sacrifice them unnecessarily. After all, if a pawn travels the entire length of the board, it can be promoted. A pawn promoted to Queen becomes the most powerful piece on the board.

Strategy Tip Two: Start With A Bang

When you first state playing chess, a board full of pieces needing to be moved may seem daunting. Many new chess players begin games in a reserved manner, holding back stronger pieces in order to “save” them for later in the game. While this may seem like a good plan, in reality, it weakens your position and allows your opponent to take the offensive. Due to the nature of chess piece movement, most pieces are weakened by being on the edge of the board. With the exception of pawns, all chess pieces can move in a variety of directions. By keeping your pieces penned against the edge, you limit their movement, and subsequently, their strength. One exception to this is the King. Sometimes, you may want to use your first row to protect the King. Getting your pieces all into play early in the game is called developing your pieces early.

Strategy Tip Three: White Plays Aggressively, Black Doubly So

Since white always starts a game of chess, this means that the player playing white begins with an advantage. Effectually, he begins the game one move ahead of his opponent. Starting out ahead does not mean white can take it easy. He should work to develop his pieces early and aggressively in order to keep the advantage.

The person playing black begins on the defensive. In order to gain the offense, he must play more aggressively than his opponent, positioning his pieces well and capturing opponent pieces without giving up many of his own.

Strategy Tip Four: Make Good Trades

You cannot play a game of chess without loosing pieces to your opponent. The key in developing good chess strategy and skills is to never give up a piece unintentionally. Each capture your opponent is allowed to make should be planned and set into motion by you. You should gain something from the loss of your piece.

The most common example of how this strategy can be used is when players “trade” pieces. This occurs when one player captures and opponent’s pieces, and the capturing piece is immediately captured as well. You can use strategy with this move to entice your opponent into capturing your piece with amore valuable piece of his own that you would then be in place to capture. Perhaps you sacrifice your Knight to gain his Bishop. Perhaps the trade is your Bishop for his Queen.

A good thing to remember with any strategy, and this tip in particular, is that even while you are strategizing against your opponent, he is strategizing against you. Each time you move to capture an opponent’s piece, always make sure he is not about to capture yours!

1. Protect your pawns. Generally, pawns are seen as the weakest and most expendable pieces. But it’s important to remember that your weakest pieces can become your strongest! At the end of the game, two Queens are stronger than one Queen and any other piece!
2. Start strong. Don’t save your pieces until the end. Get them out in an aggressive offense, especially if you are playing white and have the first turn.
3. Get control of the center of the board, particularly the four centermost spaces. From these spaces, any piece except Pawns or Kings has a big advantage and more freedom to move and capture.
4. Always think as many moves ahead as you can. The best strategy comes from analytical thinking and a good memory. Watch the board and plan your moves, even when it’s not your turn. Get into the habit of thinking “If my opponent does this, I will do that. But if my opponent does this other thing, I’ll go with option b…” Re-evaluate your plan with every move!
5. Know the value of your pieces, and keep that in mind. The value of chess pieces are, from least valuable to most valuable: Pawns, Knights and Bishops, Rooks, and then Queens. Kings are not considered, because you can’t sacrifice your King.
6. Never take an opponent’s pieces without searching the board! Is your opponent setting you up? Check all his pieces to make sure he can’t capture yours as soon as you move. If he can, is it worth it to get his piece?