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24 Essential Chess Tricks And Tips That Will Make Your Chess Better

Yury Markushin
Yury Markushin
10.06.2009
Category: Training Techniques
Tags: basic chess tips, easy chess, Learn to play chess, professional chess,

Here are some essential chess tricks and tips that will help you understand the game of chess better:

  • In the opening look for a pawn move first, then for a knight move, then for a bishop move, then for a rook move (or castle), and finally for a queen move.
  • Do not move the same piece move then once in the opening if you do not have a very good reason for it (such as material gains).
  • Do not accept many pawn sacrifices during the opening, especially playing black. Otherwise, you can get a couple of extra pawns, but also get checkmated quickly because of your underdeveloped pieces. Remember, the main purpose of “opening” is to develop pieces quickly and efficiently.

  • Developing the queen too early in the game is usually bad (see 1)
  • Fight for the center. Remember, central squares are very important since they provide block posts for your pieces. Therefore, central pawns are considered to be more valuable than flank ones.
  • Sometimes, it makes sense to give up a pawn to get an initiative. [Want to learn more about tactics? Read the 10 Tips to Fix Your Chess Tactics]
  • Always think twice before making a pawn move. Since pawns cannot move backward it is very hard to fix “pawn weaknesses”.
  • Isolated central pawns are usually stronger in the middle game, but weaker in the endgame.
  • If you have the spatial advantage, avoid trading pieces. If your opponent has the spatial advantage, trade pieces to eliminate the advantage.
  • If you have an extra minor piece, exchange pieces to increase your advantage. If you are a minor piece down trade pawns, not pieces (there is no way to checkmate with a minor piece and a king alone).
  • Always play with a plan. Playing with a bad plan is a LOT better than playing with no plan whatsoever [See this post to learn How to Win at Chess – 10 Key Tips to Follow]
  • By exchanging active pieces of your opponent on your inactive once you gain an advantage.
  • Remember that knight is stronger in the center, bishop – on the flank.
  • Bishops are usually more valuable than knights.
  • When there are a few pawns on the board, bishops are much stronger than knights. When there are many pawns on the board knights are stronger.
  • The Bishop Pair is usually stronger than a knight and a bishop or two knights.
  • Rooks belong on open files.
  • Doubling the rooks almost triples their power.
  • Two rooks are usually better than a queen.
  • In any stage of the game ALWAYS realistically evaluate the position. Do not underestimate or overestimate the attacking potential of your opponent. I know it is hard to do, but that’s important. Some players overestimate the opponents attack considering that it is dangerous when it’s actually not, and starts passively defend. Some players, in the opposite, completely ignore any attack of the opponent and get checkmated fast.
  • In the endgame, rook activity is usually worth a pawn.
  • In the endgame, if you are down a pawn, do not exchange pieces.
  • In the opposite bishops endgame, even if you are a pawn down it is usually a draw.
  • In the endgame, it is usually good to place a rook on 7th or 8th rank if you white and on 2nd or 1st if you black, attacking pawns and a king.

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dave
03.22.2020 21:51

“By exchange active pieces of your opponent on your inactive once you gain advantage.”
Huh?

0
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01101001b
07.31.2014 18:31

[quote name=”Tameem”]any rules in chess became a trap[/quote]

These are tips, not rules.

0
Reply
Johan K.
05.30.2014 16:31

If you are a pawn down, exchange pieces if you reach an opposite bishop ending or a rook endgame. This improves your odds to draw.

0
Reply
bakito
05.22.2014 20:20

Thank you for these tips, but I also think it depends on the game and what your opponent plays like, his style. And another thing: I’ve learned that; when playing an open game, the bishops are more favourable than knights, and in a closed game , the knights are more favourable…do you agree, or must I get this thought out of my head?

2
Reply
Gilbert Baron
04.07.2014 21:08

Until I quit hanging pieces, none of what you said means anything.

-1
Reply
Adrian
04.02.2014 17:02

Two rooks are better than a queen ONLY when they can coordinate very well.

2
Reply
Tameem
04.02.2014 15:37

any rules in chess became a trap

0
Reply
Hearty
02.07.2014 11:14

There’s a lot of things that we learn here 😉

1
Reply
LhordAljer Erbanec
02.05.2014 22:17

[img]www.facebook.com[/img]

0
Reply
ken snipes
08.15.2013 02:37

playing white pawns at a4,b4,f4,h4 king at d3. white move black pawn at a6,c5,f5,h5 king at d5.. what the best move for white and can he win…thanks ken

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Reply
fan player
04.03.2013 07:30

thank you a lot for the info….actually i’d just apply it in my game at my mobile and it works so good………again thanks a lot ..keep up the good work. 😆 😀

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Reply
noba
11.11.2012 13:28

or maybe it depends on the situation…

0
Reply
noba
11.11.2012 13:27

i always thought that 2 knights are better than 2 bishops, thanks for the tips, try to apply it sometimes

0
Reply
Charles West
Reply to  noba
07.29.2021 01:47

Knights can jump over other pieces

0
Reply
Yury
01.06.2012 04:33

[quote name=”chess rookie”][quote name=”Elliot”]”Playing with a bad plan is a LOT better than playing with no plan whatsoever.”

That makes me feel better :lol:[/quote]

is that true though, like what if it’s to sacrifice a queen for 2 pawns and ruin your chances of winning :o[/quote]

Chess NEEDS some sort of logic to play:)

0
Reply
Yury
01.06.2012 04:32

[quote name=”chess rookie”]Jeez sucks to be my brother now. 8) He always says there’s no easy way to win. That’s why god invented the internet. If only they showed you some move that like no-one knew like getting 5 queens for destroying all the opponents pawns. 😀 i just look at all these websites to do that.[/quote]

Haha, you don’t really need to get 5 Queens to eat up all of your opponent’s… just checkmate him and save time!

0
Reply
chess rookie
01.02.2012 00:44

[quote name=”Elliot”]”Playing with a bad plan is a LOT better than playing with no plan whatsoever.”

That makes me feel better :lol:[/quote]

is that true though, like what if it’s to sacrifice a queen for 2 pawns and ruin your chances of winning 😮

0
Reply
chess rookie
01.02.2012 00:41

Jeez sucks to be my brother now. 8) He always says there’s no easy way to win. That’s why god invented the internet. If only they showed you some move that like no-one knew like getting 5 queens for destroying all the opponents pawns. 😀 i just look at all these websites to do that.

0
Reply
Elliot
12.15.2011 03:49

“Playing with a bad plan is a LOT better than playing with no plan whatsoever.”

That makes me feel better 😆

0
Reply
Yury
11.05.2011 03:48

Good luck and remember that the more you play the stronger you become.

0
Reply
Chess player
09.21.2011 18:42

I am looking forward to apply these tips into my next game. Many thanks for sharing them!

0
Reply
bambanghidayat
02.25.2010 11:04

🙂

0
Reply
george2009
01.21.2010 15:37

😀

0
Reply
cewek
01.07.2010 00:27

nice cartoon i love it… thanks

0
Reply
tonics
01.07.2010 00:27

Cool cartoon, and very funny, can you give us a link to the site of their author.

0
Reply
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