Learn Chess Strategies, replay Games or play Chess on Applets.
Welcome! Learn good Chess Strategies, if you are tired of losing. Work through the various chess lessons that are presented here. If you are a beginner then go to Beginner.
Chess News. Read here about the U.S. Championship 2009.
Learn Chess Openings by replaying hundreds of games in which a particular opening is used. I use a java applet to show the games.
Specialize in some opening systems as you can't possibly learn them all. You might be able to know them, but to become really good, you should become an expert in a few systems which you should study very well. Your superior knowledge will give you a slight advantage in a game because you might know the opening better than your opponent.
This can often make the difference between winning and losing as the opponent often drifts slowly but surely into a bad position. To study one opening in particular you need to get a chess book about your opening, that explains the variations and opening plans of the opening you want to specialize in.
Don't waste too much time in opening studies as it is much more important to study general chess strategies and ideas first to be able to make a decent move in a game once the opening is finished. To improve your tactical abilities is important too. What use is it, if you know the opening well but can't play a good move once the opening is finished? Read more...
When you play a game you must understand the plan or the ideas that are hidden in the position. There are many general concepts and plans to be learned which can be applied in a game later on. You should study many standard plans and positional ideas to be able to use them in your games.
If you play without a plan you are going to lose as your pieces are going aimlessly here and there and are not working together harmoniously like a family, to achieve a common goal. Often the pawn structure can show you where you should play, on the kingside or on the queenside.
However, there are many chess strategies you should learn to become a good player. And it takes time too. So be patient. You don't become a Chessmaster overnight. Read more...
Chess Tactics is most vital. If you can't see a combination how are you going to win? Winning material is necessary to win a game as having more material is often decisive. Learn to spot surprising tactical moves that win a pawn or a piece. After you won material trade off many pieces as possible to simplify the position and go into the endgame. It is much easier to win the endgame when you have more material.
When you have your tactical eye developed, you might even see how to sacrifice a piece and run a devastating attack against the opponent's kingside. Tactical vision will be developed using x-ray vision.
Before you learn to play the game in a more positional way, you should try to develop your tactical abilities. Learn to see combinations first. Read more...
If you like to learn chess strategies but are still a beginner and don't know the rules, don't worry. Go to section: Rules. Learn the rules first. After that go to Beginner I and Beginner II.
Work through all the chess strategies that are presented in those sections. When you reach the end of Beginner II go to Strategy and Tactics. After that get some excellent Chess Books.
If you are still young (below 10 years of age), you might even become a master or grandmaster if you have natural talents.
Study here to find out. You might be a chess genius living in the african jungle and you don't even know. You never know until you try. When you can beat your dad, you are on the right track. Read more...
Play a lot of games. That's the way to learn. You can't learn this game only by reading books or doing puzzles. It is important to be able to find ordinary routine moves. Play games with your friends in the chess-club, in the internet or here against this strong Java Chess Applet or play this weaker Java Applet.