Chess is a great game, which is why I’m so passionate about running chess clubs for children in London. It’s been one of the oldest board games in the world for over 1500 years now. It has a long and noble history and was probably developed from the Indian game chaturanga, which means “four sides”. It has been a favourite game of emperors and kings, popes and bishops, powerful lords, and ladies too and ordinary people like you and me.
When playing chess, it is important you learn how to look after your men, and that means all your men, all the time. It is very easy to lose a chessman for nothing as a result of a moment’s carelessness, either by moving it to a square on which it can be captured or failing to see that a piece is being attacked.
Here are five simple rules that will help you to avoid such disasters. If you can remember the following every time you move and every time your opponent moves, you will not lose a chessman for nothing.
- Don’t move into danger! It seems easy to avoid moving a piece onto a square that is protected by an enemy pawn or piece, but it is surprisingly easy to blunder in this way when you are thinking hard about something else.
- Sometimes, however, the danger is not so obvious. Do remember to make sure that your move does not give your opponent a chance to do something unexpected that loses you material the move after next.
- Protect your men! Protect your men at all times. This means not leaving a piece out on its own, even if it is not being attacked at the moment. Try to keep your Knights, Bishops and Rooks where they can be protected by pawns. Also, see that you have more men protecting a pawn or piece than your opponent has attacking it.
- When a chessman is attacked, do something! Some attacks are obvious and easily dealt with. But keep an eye open for the disguised or less obvious attack, especially for the deadly double attack. It is often too late to do anything once such an attack is made! You must try to see it before it happens.
- Don’t let your chessmen be trapped! First of all, don’t walk into a trap. This means NEVER move a piece or pawn to a square from which it has no retreat square if it is attacked. Next, don’t let a trap be built around you. This means keeping open lines to allow other pieces to move up in support and watching that your opponent does not cut off your lines of retreat.
Chess is a game of strategy, skill and patience. A game that you learn over time the more you play, so don’t be too hard on yourself at the beginning. Learn from any moves that result in you losing your men so you avoid losing them in your next game – that will help make you a stronger chess player.
Our chess clubs take place in various locations around South East London. If you would like to find out more click here to complete my enquiry form and I will get back to you or call me, Richard Weekes on 07538 035896