Chess Tips to improve your Game

Read these Chess Tips to improve your game. Just knowing chess strategies is often not enough. To have the right attitude towards your opponent and to follow an effective thinking process is equally important. Learn more in the following chess lessons.

Some chess players think they win more games if they focus entirely on one particular opening with White. They play always 1.d4 and then the Colle System or as Black they play always the Dutch Defense against 1.d4.

If you do this, it will force your mind into a fixed way of thinking. Chess is not a fixed approach but far too complex and rich in possibilities to play just one opening system with White. You will narrow down your chess experience to a fixed perspective as you avoid other structures of opening play.

To understand the truth in Chess you should vary your chess experience. What I mean is, don't play the same chess openings for the rest of your life, especially if you play inferior openings all the time, such as the Colle System or the Skandinavian Defense, you will lose points in the long run. This is just simple statistics, as you cannot possibly be as successful with inferior opening setups.

Use X-Ray-Vision in Chess

When you analyze your chess game it is sometimes hard to see all chess combinations that are hidden within a particular position. If you miss a hidden trap of your opponent, then you lose instantly a piece or a pawn or even worse, you might get checkmated. Or you miss a strong combination which would have won the game for you right away. For that reason, it is a big help, if you use X-Ray-Vision in your chess games.

To apply X-Ray-Vision in chess means, that you never look at the chess pieces but to their energy lines. If you see a knight then you visualize the squares in your mind that are controlled by this knight. But you don't look at the square, where the knight is placed itself, because this square is not controlled by the knight! It just sits on it.

If you use X-Ray-Vision here as White, you might find this difficult winning move. Re8+!! This move wins the queen and the game, as White has more material and the better position. The king in the middle will come under strong attack. 1.Re8+! KxR (the knight is pinned and can't capture!) Now 2.Bb5+ c6 3.QxQ and White wins the queen and sooner or later the game. (Budovskis, Inesis - Atars, Pablo, 1970)

White moves and plays 1.Nxd5! cxd 2.QxB! Great isn'it? (Bobby Fischer - Predrag Ostojic 1970)

X-Ray Vision does help you to discover hidden moves and prevent that you are running around mentally searching like a blind duck. Try it in your next games.

Chess Posters

The first Thought - This is the most important of all chess tips.

After your opponent has moved, what do you think first? Many people think they are the center of the earth and that planet earth is evolving around them. They only think about themselves and in which way they can overrun the opponent. The opponent simply doesn't exist in their minds and they only worry about their own moves and plans.

Some players might even think how great they are and that they are going to win just because they have the higher rating. This arrogant attitude will be punished in a chess game in no time at all.

My T-Shirt Shop...

If you think first about yourself and your own moves and possibilities, after your opponent has moved, then it is time to change this way of thinking completely or you will never become a good player. You are going to lose many games just because of your attitude. Learn from the following chess tips.

What is he threatening? What does he want? How can I stop his plans or at least reduce their effects on my position.

Make sure that you work out his plans or you might get into real trouble. He might threaten a fork and you see nothing or he plans a sacrifice that would destroy your kingside.

When you understand the move of your opponent completely, then you can think about your own moves and ideas.

Remember, you are not the boss in chess. What I mean is that your opponent is very important too. Chess is not just evolving around you. If you just think about yourself in a game you run right into a disaster. These chess tips can save you many games, please follow them.

Most beautiful chess sets you have ever seen!

Be a Fighter

Fight on move after move and don't play only half-hearted when you are in a bad position. If you lose heart you don't see your saving moves because your mental abilities are reduced. If you fight on, your opponent might make a mistake because he does not expect such hard resistance. In the long run such an attitude will save half a point here and there. Instead of losing, you might make a draw or even win, because he gets tired and makes a blunder.

Don't get into Time-trouble. These chess tips keep you out of stress.

If you are one of those players that get into time trouble on a regular basis then you should get this problem under control. Prepare your openings well and play the first 10 to 12 movesin just a few minutes.

Time trouble is like a disease for some players. They just can't control it. There are psychological reasons for getting repeatedly into time trouble in tournament games.

This makes you think twice about every move he does and you check constantly everything that happens on the board. You see dangers where there is nothing at all. You have hallucinations. Your mind is blocked by fear. You can't think properly. Because of that you rethink variations over and over to make sure that you have not overlooked something. This all costs time. Relax and forget about the opponent. It's just a game, you don't lose your life when you lose.

Just play your usual game. What can happen? Nothing much, you just might lose a game of chess, that's all. Your life is not dependent on that game. If you keep that in mind you stay relaxed and play well.

You don't like this variation at all or this whole setup. You don't understand the position and can't find a plan. This makes you think longer. Tell yourself mentally that this position is fascinating and that you love to find good moves.

You constantly think about it. This cost time and nerves and clouds your thinking. Tell yourself that you consider this game from now on as a completely new game and that what has happened a few moves before is not important anymore. You are going to play well from now on.

You might never find it and lose on time. Imagine how much time and energy you would need if you try to find the best move every time it's your move.

If you see a good move, check it and have a look around if there is a better one. If not, just move and then think on your opponents time.

The Emotions in Chess - Chess Tips

Chess Stories

Chess Tricks

Don't use chess tricks. Chess is not just about winning or losing. Chess is like a philosophy, a way of life. When you become a real chess player this game will have a certain influence on your life and on your way of thinking.

Keep on playing then you will understand what I mean. But there are sometimes tricks used that can upset your mental balance. Just get to know them, that will be sufficient. Don't use them as your opponent deserves a fair game. The following tricks are not the way a chess player should behave, don't you think?

Chess Tricks

Chess Posters

Psychological Chess Tips

Decline Draw Offers

When you are winning

Nothing is harder than winning a winning position.

If you have a winning advantage don't let it slip away. Be patient and make good moves to secure your victory. Cut down the counter-play of your opponent. Don't take any risks. Don't think: Hey, my position is a sure win. No problem! If you think like that, you become arrogant and your brain is falling asleep. And it will be hard to wake it up again.

Follow these chess tips here to win more games:
When you are winning your brain is losing attention. Your alertness and your willpower are going downhill.

Just one mistake is enough and you have spoiled your winning position. You might fall into a deadly trap. It might end in a draw or you might even lose this game. Your opponent doesn't want to lose so he will fight like hell until the bitter end. But your brain has switched off already. So don't fall asleep! Beware of traps.

When you reach a winning position you should tell yourself: "Hey, I am winning! I have to be very careful now. Now I must play my best chess! I must play even better than before! I have to be alert and fully awake or I lose or just make a draw."

Don't take every gift.

Many chess players are materialists. They take every pawn or piece that is offered to them without using their brain.

Please understand that sometimes a pawn or a piece is poisonous. It is a gift to you made by your opponent to get something else in return. For example he might get a devastating attack going at your kingside or he might win your queen by offering you a pawn.

However, when you get offered something for free in chess your alarm bell must ring! Do analyze if this gift is really free or poisoned. It's not christmas yet!

Example: See this position!



Black is winning as he is up in material. But he is greedy and captures the pawn on f3 without switching on his brain beforehand! White played Rf1 winning the knight and the game.

Defend like hell.

If you run into a bad position, defend it as good as you can. Use all your mental strength and willpower. Don't lose hope as your opponent has probably lost some of his attention already because he knows, of course, that he is winning. It is possible that his brain has fallen asleep already, he just didn't realize it yet. If you put up a trap he might fall right into it.

You as a defender must react to his moves and must remain wide awake. And you have to find sometimes the best move to survive. Whereas the attacker has no problems at all finding good moves, as it is easy to attack, but very difficult to defend. Especially if you have to find so called only-moves (the only move to survive).

Defending bad or even lost positions will give you a hard time. It is a normal process that you lose hope and you tend to give up. Become aware of that. Don't lose concentration but try to hold up your willpower to find saving moves and put up dangerous traps or change the structure of the position completely, if possible. This might upset your opponents thinking.

A good defense can win a game just the same way as a strong attack. Never forget that. Don't say to yourself: "I am losing!" This will block your thinking process and you will lose faith in your ability to hold this position. Just tell yourself: "I am going to defend this position like hell now!" "I will play my best chess now!"

In the position above (Aleksei Suetin-Makarytschew / Open Championship/Moskow 1983) Black had played the opening badly, is a pawn down and has a losing game.
Grandmaster Suetin (White) knows that he has a winning game. His attention decreased rapidly. He had to make a move. Black is threatening Rxc2+.

Suetin just had to play something like Rd2 or Ba4 but he plays mechanically b3??. Just a few seconds later he realizes his dreadful mistake and resigns immediately.

Never get upset at your opponent

Some chess players seem to be aggressive. They are knocking the piece on the board when making a move. They believe a move is much stronger if they place it with a loud knock. Or they press the piece very hard on the board and screw it. Don't worry about those players as they are usually pretty weak. This is my experience. Once I had a game where the player was even reading a newspaper while playing. I was feeling getting upset, but I calmed down and concentrated on my game. Fortunately he lost.

Chess Tips on: When you have lost.

Don't shoot your opponent because he has won. These chess tips will prevent that you end up in prison. I'm just joking...

It is sometimes hard to lose in chess. I am the first one to admit, but life goes on. No reason to cry. (ha-ha-ha) This sounds funny doesn't it?
Okay, I try again:
Every player loses. This is normal. But it is not normal to worry about your loss all day long and to think about your loss while playing your next game.

When you have lost a game, have a quick look at the position to find out why you have lost, to satisfy your desire of knowing what has happened. Your opponent does often help you and might give you useful chess tips about the way you have played the position. After that go to bed or eat something, talk to friends or go for a walk. Relax. Forget this game. If you are not able to put that game aside in your mind and relax, then this game will cost more points as you might lose the next game as well because you are still upset. If you play in a tournament you need to be refreshed to play the next game.

A few days later you analyze your game and find the reason why you lost. Just learn from your mistake and never make the same mistake again. Don't try to win the next game just because you lost the last one. This is a big psychological mistake. The next game has nothing to do with the one you lost before. You can ruin the position of the next game, just because you want to win desperately to make up for the lost game before.

If you cannot detach yourself from your loss you will lose the next game as well because >b>your mind is not in present time. You are not wide awake, aware and fully alert because you have taken the loss personally.

Don't take a loss personally! You are not an inferior person because you lost! You just lost a game of chess, that's all! Forget about it! The next game is waiting.

Never underestimate your opponent - Chess tips

Never overestimate yourself! These chess tips will prevent that you behave like a fool.

Burletzki: "Shit! I've made a bad mistake."

Burletzki: "You can't win them all!"

Burletzki: "I am just in bad shape today!"

Burletzki: "He doesn't play that bad."

Burletzki: "I underestimated him!"

Burletzki: "I think he plays as strong as me."

I think the best advice is useless in this case above. Chess tips don't help here, I think. But hey? Got the idea?

Read about the Laws of Chess

Always analyze your own Chess Games

This is probably the most important of all chess tips. Why should I study my own games? The reason is to find typical mistakes that are related to your personality and to your personal way of thinking. Your reasoning process runs always a certain way and might produce the same kind of mistakes. To study your own mistakes and identify the reason behind a blunder will change your way of chess thinking and you improve faster. You gain additional chess knowledge which is very difficult to develop over the board. This chess knowledge will lead to more points in the long run.

Chess how to play when your brain is locked? - Chess Tips

Chess Tips on food. What you eat is how you play. Eat to win!

You probably think: Hey Man! Don't tell me what to eat! Are you nuts? These are strange chess tips that I give here, aren't they? Sooner or later you are playing long serious games that might last up to six hours! How are you going to survive that keeping up your concentration on a high level? If you get tired after four hours your level of concentration drops and you will make most likely a disastrous mistake that might lose the game outright.

When this happens you will be very angry at yourself for making such a blunder. How can I lose like that in such a good position? How can I lose against such an idiot? Yes, my friend, I know how it feels like. I have been playing chess for a long time now and this is hard to take.

I give you some advise on how to protect your health. I know that not many will take it. But I give it anyway. These chess tips might even lead you on to a good path and to good health.

Don't smoke and don't drink.

Chess requires a strong willpower and nicotine and especially alcohol undermine your will. You become addictive and the tar in cigarettes increases your risk of getting lung cancer and bronchial disorders.

Bobby Fischer didn't smoke and drank milk and fruit juices and kept himself fit with swimming.

Eat the right Food.

Yes, Chess is a way of life. Follow my chess tips and it will affect your life as a whole in a positive way and not just the game. Chess tips are good, but to follow them is even better.

The following article will give you chess tips about the way you should think to find a good move.

How to think in Chess?

Top Chess Books

Intuition in Chess

The positional feeling is part of the chess-thinking- process. It is a higher level of logical thinking and belongs to intuition. Positional feeling does develop with chess experience but depends also on the talent of a chess player.

If you have this talent then the right move springs to your mind before you even start calculating moves. Logic and intuition in chess belong together like day and night and are vital parts of the chess-thinking-process. If you find the right move in a chess game by intuition, you experience a moment of joy as you have completed a creative process.

There are many positions where there is nothing to calculate. In this case the intuition plays an important role to find the right move.

To improve your intuition you should play a lot of games, join a chess club and participate in tournament chess. There you will find helpful players who give you useful chess tips. This will increase your chess understanding which is the foundation of good intuition.

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