What is the trick to winning Chess?

Question

This is beyond a joke now.

I've known how to play chess all my life, I'm not asking 'how to play'... I'm asking 'how to win'...

Now I consider myself to be a fairly logically minded person but for some strange reason I can NEVER win at chess... what am I doing wrong?

There must be some 'Dos and Don'ts', some hints and tricks that I've been mssing all these years... please help !!!

Cheers.

Answer 1

I have always found the 4 squares in the middle of the board to be key.

Try to plan your strategies but more importantly, watch what the opponent is doing. If you take his/her moves into account and watch the whole board, you can adapt your own plans accordingly.

Perhaps it will be worth getting a computer opponent as that will help you learn to counter set strategies and try out your own.

Answer 2

getting checkmate is the trick ha ha but you need to slow down and think about your moves

Answer 3

try some correspondence chess at www.redhotpawn.com It gives you time to think about moves.

2. Read some books: Susan Polgar's Chess tactics

Jerry Silman's reassess your chess

can get you started

Answer 4

Cheat

or

Play with someone inferior to you.

Answer 5

TAKE SOME RISKS

Answer 6

1.  Be the one to go first...

2.  Use "sacrifice & diversionary tactics" if your opponent seems to think the name of the game is to "capture pieces..."

3.  Never underestimate the "use of the pawn" or pawns...they can become VERY powerful weapons...

4.  Remember the "Castle The King" rule, it can often be used to "distract" as well as get you out of a tough situation...

I've sacrificed my Queen and Knights, etc. before, and ended up getting check mate with a pawn...

Remember..."Check Mate" is the only win, so...plan ahead, divert and distract your opponent from your "real" goals, by getting them to chase down "captures," because most chess players only use "check-mate" strategy with the players that are on the board, and so they think the more players they capture from you, the better their chances of winning, so you can lead them on a merry goose chase of "capturing" your important pieces, as you set them up for the unexpected "check mate" surprise...and let's face it...the "surprise on their face" when you check mate their king with a mere pawn, is hilarious...

(Also...see and understand THEIR check mate strategy, and "lead them on" into thinking you don't know it...once you have their "strategy down" you can set it up so that they are so intent on "forging ahead," that they don't notice your "pawns" sneaking up on their king...as long as you know that your next move eventually will check mate them, even if it's the last move before they check mate YOU, you still one...even "1" step ahead of losing, wins in Chess...

Fascinating, isn't it?  (Permutational ability is crucial...you have to know exactly how many moves they can make logically, and instead of planning to thwart their every possible move, you let them "win a few" as you predict their obvious urge to "take advantage of your seemingly obvious mistake," and quietly set them up for their own demise, sometimes without capturing very many of their own pieces...human psychology will show you that most chess players "still think" that the one with the most pieces on the board is bound to win, but they are...

Sadly mistaken about that when they play "ME"

Answer 7

never let your guard down.  Always think several steps ahead of your oponent.

Answer 8

I like yourself have played all my life and have come to the conclusion there are only 3 ways to win at chess.

1. By pure luck (that's how I normally win).

2. By thinking at least 5 or six moves ahead and even then your opponent will ruin that plan for you.

3. Play Stevie Wonder.

On a serious note, play slower and think about each move and it's possible future consequences. Good luck Kasparov !

Answer 9

There is no magic bullet.  If there was it be as played at high levels as tic tac toe.    (Noughts and Crosses for non-Americans.:))

You want some hints that will sometimes be wrong, OK.

1. Knight on rim is grim.

2. Knights before Bishops.

3. If all else is equal, move the piece you haven't moved yet.

4. If either of two pawns can make a capture, capture towards the center.

5.  If only Rooks and pawns on the board and your opponent is offering an even trade and you can't tell if it is good or not, do it.  Half the time you'll be wrong.  Half the time you'll be right.  Always it'll be easier to figure out the next one.:)

Do you know the relative value of pieces?  Pawn = 1 pawn, Knight = 3 pawns, Bishop = 3.3 pawns (Don't worry about the decimal much unless you are so good you know this is c**p:)), Rook = 5 pawns, Queen = 9 pawns, King = infinity (you lose him and you lose the game.

Of course all of those have exceptions. If you can mate with a knight, who cares if the opponent takes the Queen worth 9 pawns.

Answer 10

There's no trick to winning at Chess  it's all common sense and reason if your moves don't make sense or have a point to them and your plan is faulty you'll lose.