Chess is threatening to go mainstream thanks to an internet renaissance. Playing figures of the game have shot up drastically online over the last year, and the Netflix series, The Queen’s Gambit, has also served to get more players interested. With that in mind, it is more important than ever to make sure you have the core principles of the game ingrained in your mind. Not only can these help in your chess games, but the strategies can be applied in other pastimes.
What Are the Core Principles?
There are plenty of people out there who know the basics of chess and feel like they have a chance at winning a game, but are still blissfully unaware of the core principles. These people may manage in a game against another beginner, but anyone with a rating of 900 or above is going to destroy them. A player wanting to raise their game needs to build their knowledge around the foundations of the three core principles.
There are three core principles of chess that every player needs to consider before making a move. They need to protect the king, control the centre, and develop pieces. First, check if your move puts the king in danger. Second, ensure that you are moving pieces in a way to control the central squares. Third, move pieces so that they are activated and are able to move about freely.
With regards to protecting the king, it is recommended that players castle as soon as they get a chance. Leaving the king in the centre can open you up to a world of hurt later on in the game, and castling also unites the rooks. Developing pieces means to get the bishops and knights away from their starting positions and into places where they can have an effect on the game. The central squares are the most powerful positions on the board, and the player who controls them controls the game.
How Can These Strategies be Applied in Other Games?
Once you get to grips with the core principles of chess and they are etched into your brain, you may find that the ideas apply to other areas of your life. Aspects of chess have frequently been used in an allegorical way, and with good reason too. An example of controlling the centre in your everyday life could be taking control of your decisions. Protecting the king would be making sure you look out for number one first.
When playing other games, these core principles often come into effect and can be useful. In gambling games, for example, strategic-minded people may be able to give themselves an advantage over those who don’t play chess. According to Legal Betting, online poker is gaining increasing popularity in the USA, as a result of more and more states considering new bills to allow it to be played. Online casino games like roulette and blackjack are also played by a vast number of people. When playing these games, it is important to remember the chess principle of gradually developing. Instead of staking all your chips in one go, start off with small bets and raise them over time.
In fantasy card games, the chess core principles shine through as well. For example, in Gwent, players have bronze and gold cards. The gold cards are much more powerful and could be compared to a queen in chess. Players need to develop the bronze cards early and save the golds for later in the game when they can have a much bigger impact.
What Advanced Strategies Should Players Be Aware of?
After a while, the core principles of chess become second nature. Knowing them should give players enough of a framework to achieve a rating of around 1000. But to get any higher than that, advanced techniques need to come into play.
Forks, pins, and skewers are advanced strategies in chess that can be extremely powerful. Forks can be quite easy to set up and involve an instance when a piece is attacking two of the enemy pieces. The opponent must choose which one he wants to save. A pin is when a piece can’t legally move because it would put the king in check. A skewer is when the king is lined up with another piece behind it. When you check the king and force it to move, you can then capture the piece on the end of the skewer.
Players need to be careful to avoid getting into these situations themselves, while also looking for ways to use them on their opponents. This requires foresight of a few moves ahead, and players who can do this are on the path to taking their chess game to the next level.
Chess players will often find moments in their everyday life and relate them to chess. This is because the foundations of the game are completely scorched into their minds. Those who master the three core principles of the great game may find themselves improving at the other things they play.