Chess and Children
The current economic and job market scenario demand that the employees will not only be professionally qualified, they must also possess analytical abilities, the ability to plan, do critical reasoning, think ahead into the future, visualize the outcomes of certain incidents and act accordingly. All these cannot be taught in a classroom; some are naturally born with them while others gradually develop it.
Chess is more than a recreational board game. It involves a lot of thinking before making a decision. What moves will ensure your victory over the opponents is the main thing one has to understand and decide. A lot of patience, keen observation and certain amount of foresight are required to do so. These qualities are much valued by professional organizations these days as industries become more global and need more dynamic workers.
Schools have realized the enormous potential of chess in preparing their students as all-round successful professionals. Many schools organize chess camps and coaching classes regularly while many have their own chess clubs and have also included the game as a part of their curriculum. Students are encouraged to participate in various workshops on chess and its tactics and different competitions. In this way, the children grow up in an atmosphere of healthy competition and learn to accept challenges and work accordingly. They have shown a sharp improvement in their problem-solving, decision-making skills and ability to concentrate and think deeply. The latter is especially very important in an age when children get easily distracted by various forms of attractions around them.
Many researches have also revealed the fact that students who regularly play chess have highly developed rational faculties, self-esteem, creativity and memory and have performed much better in rational subjects than their peers who don’t play chess.
The children get to acquire all these qualities which the professional world is looking for in their potential recruits. And the schools can impart these lessons to the children in a very interesting and fun way in the form of an exciting game of chess. After all, our children are our future and the utility of chess in helping them grow up into successful human beings can’t be overlooked.
Make the best chess moves
Are you looking to make some of the best chess moves? There are several different ways in which you can actually go about this interesting process. First of all, find out more about different types of options you have while playing chess that is of primary importance. Make it a point to get some of the best deals and options when it comes to playing chess. This is surely an exciting way in which you can be guaranteed the best kind of options. If you are looking for an opportunity to practice before you play the game, then it always makes sense for you to get all the best deals possible.
You can be ensured some excellent games of chess online if you are willing to practice. Just make sure you are well aware of what is relevant or necessary. This is definitely likely to help you in the overall process of understanding what kind of chess is being played. So make sure that you look into the interesting process of what is involved. You can make some excellent chess moves which can ensure that you will win the game. Find out more about all the different options and once you do the process is likely to get a lot easier.
You will really enjoy the process of playing chess the right way. This is most certainly going to be a very effective way in which the best game of chess can be played. Find out more about different types of options. Once you look into a whole range of deals and facts it is likely to get a lot easier. So make sure that you play the game of chess really well. This is an interesting process which needs a lot of working so you can make the best chess moves.
Learn chess tricks
Are you looking for lessons on chess? Keep in mind that when you are playing chess you need to know all the relevant tips and tricks which are likely to ensure that you are having a great time. There are so many different ways in which you can master the game of chess. So make sure that you are playing it well on time so that you are assured an excellent time with chess. It becomes relevant and also necessary for you to be ensured a great time while playing chess because the game can be a whole lot of fun.
There are some basic moves which you need to master. This becomes an imperative if you are looking for a way to play chess the right way. All you need to ensure is that you know what the different pieces in the game are. Once this has been looked into, it is most certainly likely to get a lot easier for you to understand what the process of chess involves. It is an exciting game and also requires your full dedication and concentration so make sure that you are learning chess for a great time.
There are several different ways to actually go about playing chess. All that you need to ensure is that you are doing it the right way. Make it a point to find out what the different moves are which you can look into if you want to make the process of learning chess a whole lot better. With more and more practice you are likely to get a lot better when it comes to playing chess. So find out what is necessary when it comes to learning chess tricks. Read up on books and practice a lot online for a better idea of how to improve the process of playing chess.
Enjoying a game of chess
When it comes to chess it often becomes extremely important to play it the right way. This is primarily because when you are playing chess, you need to focus and concentrate on playing it the right way. Chess is a board game which is always played between two players. The board is divided into eight by eight checks with a total of sixty four squares with alternating black and white squares. In total there are six characters in the board that are moved and the idea of the game is to ensure that the movement is done the right way.
When you are playing chess make it a point to enjoy it because it is extremely fascinating how the game involves a lot of focus and great moves. People with excellent mathematical skills can usually play a game of chess to perfection because a lot of such moves have to be done in the mathematical way. So it always makes sense to ensure that the game is played really well. A lot of people often tend to take up a lot of time when it comes to playing chess. However, it makes sense to time limit yourself if you are going to play in some kind of a competition.
Make sure that you are well aware of the game of chess once you start playing the game. You will really enjoy yourself. It is relevant that you focus on making all the right types of moves. This is a given because you need to be ensured that the game goes really well. Find out all your different options on what is necessary when it comes to winning a game of chess. You are likely to find plenty of options which will help in making an excellent win of the game of chess.
SECRETS ON IMPROVING YOUR CHESS
When it comes to the game of chess, there are many secrets. You need to go from being an amateur to being a better player. For this, mental development and special techniques are required; we shall tell you some secrets on improving your chess.
Of course, if you are a chess player, no doubt you would constantly be looking for games to improve your game. Chess undoubtedly is one of the most popular games in the world and has been played over centuries. Simple strategies and secrets can make a big difference in your game.
The very first thing that you need to know is that you should analyze and observe other successful players. Try to watch chess games online or on TV, and study the chess games which the great masters play. It would also be a good idea to read up on chess books and do background reading on secret techniques that they might be using. Very often these are widely written about in biographies and interviews.
You also need to analyze your own chess game, find out which ones are your weak spots, and focus on them. Devote some more time to improving your chess endgame. Sometimes players tend to focus more on the opening moves and thus lose track of the endgame. If you are a beginner, this is especially true for you – you need to pay more attention to your endgame.
You could also improve your chess game by studying tactical combination – this is important training that always makes your playing better. Remember that practice is the keyword, and the more you practice, the better your game will be. There are many Internet chess games available, so you could either practice against the computer, or against another online player.
Hanging Pieces in the board
Flying chess is a chess variant which uses a three dimensional chessboard having 128 cells. Here some of the pieces are marked as ‘flying pieces’ (Hanging pieces) and the remaining are as normal. The flying pieces are the rook, the knight and the bishop. The king, queen and pawns act as the normal pieces.
Rook can move to and from the higher level with the condition that the squares it crosses must be empty. It moves diagonally for upwards and steps down directly. Bishop moves to higher level normally but diagonally towards the ground. It can go up directly form the ground square to the upper square. Knight can move normally in both directions. The other three pieces can capture the flying pieces.
Game with pieces hanging over the board
Flying chess is a three dimensional chess variant. It uses the three dimensional chessboard with size of 8*8*2 having 128 cells. It was developed in 1984. This game usually uses markers for denoting the ‘flying’ pieces or can use a secondary board. Sometimes there may be two boards used for representing the upper and lower layer.
The pieces have their initial position as in standard chess. But the move for the pieces is different from them. Some of the pieces are marked as ‘flying pieces’. They are the rook, knight and bishop. The remaining pieces, the king, queen and pawns are not allowed to go to the upper level. If a piece in lower level has an opponent piece in the same square of higher level then it can consume it without moving.
Is chess prowess mainly a matter of IQ?
While chess has been associated with brain power or high IQ, it is not the only factor to attain chess mastery. Sometimes, nature has to be complimented with nurture to become fully realized. But yes, IQ does matter. Grandmasters can safely be assumed to have IQs of over 160 or even 180. This simply means that there is a significant correlation between innate intelligence and chess prowess. Good chess players have high spatial intelligence–this is their capacity to create a system of knowledge (knowing that) and experience (knowing how). This system must be properly stored (memory) and well-managed (logic, analysis, abstraction, adaptation). Normal individuals do not have the capacity to solve and re-solve complex problems and sub-problems while keeping the objectives clear–things usually encountered in the game.
What’s the value of getting a chess computer?
If you are seriously taking chess as a sport, then getting a chess computer can be a very good partner to train yourself. While playing games with real players can be fun, player to player this scenario is being slowly taken over by man vs. machine situations. Great players today will find that even the slowest computer still running today can still put up a challenging match. The latest chess computers available commercially today are way too much for even good players. Not a few grandmasters conceded that they struggle with computers today. Cheap chess programs are available for normal desktop in most homes so getting yourself one should not be a problem.
Philippino Staunton Chess Set in Sheesham wood
There is nothing to say much about this set except that its just one of many other common chess sets around. Although the pieces are individually carved from sheesham, the set in general, hardly offers new exciting features. If you want to put chess in bad light, go ahead and use this set. Even seasoned chess players may even agree with you that this set is simply too boring. The knights look uninteresting and so are the other pieces. The 4.5 inches (~11.25 cm) king lacks, it seems to me, the command presence you often find in majestic king pieces. This set is just another waste of a good wood.
Three Year Old chess master…
Here we have a Three Year Old chess master… well not quite (as the video later reveals) but there is potential there.
Chess Federation Official Rules of Chess
The U.S. Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess is the only official rulebook for chess. Serious players at every level as well as chess club teachers, directors, and tournament sponsors should have it on hand during every match. This new edition features the latest rules, including guidelines for the popular game of speed chess, an updated quick rating system, and the latest conventions of governing tournaments. It also contains explanations of every legal move, a guide to calculating lifetime rankings, guidelines for sponsoring and running a tournament, and a lesson on how to read and write chess notation.
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Get your Copy of United States Chess Federation’’s Official Rules of Chess, Fifth Edition NOW! Before it’s too late.
Chess Instructor 2009
Book Features: Training Methods, Chess in Schools, Exercises, Top Coaches Explain, the Benefits of Learning Chess, Interviews, Tools, Reviews, etc.
In the last decade there has been a phenomenal growth of chess within the educational community.
The popularity of chess is no accident: in an era of compulsive zapping of TV channels, violent gaming and mobile chatter, learning chess means improving basic skills (like analysis, decision making, strategic thinking, stamina, and dealing with stress) while interacting meaningfully with other pupils. A great job for motivated teachers and coaches.
The Chess Instructor 2009 aims to give answers to all these questions, and more. Michael Basman explains how he puts 70,000 British schoolkids to play, every year, and Simen Agdestein tells about his work with super talent Magnus Carlsen.
This compendium is for chess training at all levels. With a multi-colored mosaic of articles, it aims to raise topics for discussion, and to get chess teachers at local schools to learn from top coaches, as well as the other way around. With ready-to-use teaching exercises for all levels.
Chess Sets
An introduction to chess sets
There are almost as many different types and styles of chess sets as there are chess players. It may be hard to decide upon a particular set, but it’s relatively easy to narrow your choices down to a particular category. Here’s a look at the major categories that are available everywhere:
No matter what material you choose, there is a chess set that’s right for your taste and budget. Instead of buying a set, consider buying the board, pieces and pawns separately. That way, instead of ending up with a chess set that’s another ‘me too’, you can design one that’s uniquely yours!
Openings Theory
Openings Theory is based on top class games to provide recommended variations for the opening. This way the openings have become somewhat standardized, although there are so many lines (variations) that one should not think that the game has any simplified. There are many variations that are considered to be correct for both WHITE and BLACK, resulting in positions that have equal chances for both. There is no need for one to memorize any openings.
 This will be done to some extent through experience, but relying on healthy, analytical thinking is always best. Most openings have a name, for example ‘Spanish Game’, ‘Sicilian Defence’ etc. One needs to know which moves characterize each opening in order to classify a game. Similar openings usually lead to positions with similar features. Furthermore, every opening has many possible variations, many of which do also have a name. A major classification depends on the first move. Accordingly, an opening may be Open, Semi-Open or Closed. An opening is Open if WHITE starts with 1.e4 and BLACK replies 1.e5. It is Semi-Open if WHITE starts with 1.e4 but BLACK does not reply 1.e5 and it is Closed if WHITE does not play 1.e4.
Below are some of the most common Open openings :
Spanish Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) : WHITE threatens the black pawn at e5 with 2.Nf3 and BLACK supports it with 2.Nc6. Now WHITE plays 3.Bb5 threatening the pawn again, since he may first capture on c6, then on e5.
Italian game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) : WHITE prepares to castle whilst maximizing his pieces’ mobility. The move 3.Bc4 controls the d5 square and thus inhibits the freeing move d7-d5. It also keeps an eye on f7, a slightly weak square in the opening and one immediately relevant to the Black King’s safety.
Scotch game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4) : WHITE plans to quickly open the lines for his pieces. The usual answer is 3.exd4 and now WHITE may either take his pawn back with 4.Nxd4 or play 4.c3, a variation known as the ‘Scotch Gambit’.
Four Knights Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6) : This opening is more stable for WHITE, but also not too demanding, since 3.Nc3 poses no immediate threats.
Phillidor’s Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6) : This opening leads to closed positions, but tactics are still on.
Russian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6) : An interesting opening that is not used very much nowadays.
Bishop’s Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4) : This very old opening is seldom used nowadays.
King’s Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4) : WHITE opts to capture the f-pawn later (after 2.exf4); BLACK will have to settle for some defence if he wants to keep the material advantage.
Below are some of the most common Semi-Open openings :
French Defence (1.e4 e6) : BLACK is preparing to play the freeing move d7-d5.
 Caro-Cann Defence (1.e4 c6) : BLACK is preparing to play d7-d5 here too; a major difference to the French Defence is that the Bc8 will develop more easily, since the e-pawn does not restrict him.
Scandinavian Game (1.e4 d5) : BLACK tries to have active play and opens the position himself.
Alechkin’s Defence (1.e4 Nf6) : BLACK does not care about moving the same piece again, in case WHITE plays 2.e5. If WHITE advances his central pawns, BLACK will undermine his centre with side-thrusts (d7-d6, c7-c5 etc).
Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5) : This opening is the most widely used. It offers fair possibilities for both and usually leads to wild tactics. Below are some of the most common Closed Openings :
Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4) : If BLACK captures on c4, WHITE will manage to capture on c4 later.
English Game (1.c4 e5) : Usually leads to closed positions.
King’s Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d6) : An opening rich in tactics and strategy; it has earned much popularity and is used at top-class games.
Dutch Defence (1.d4 f5) : This opening leads to closed strategic positions. 18.Slav Defence (1.c4 c6) : This opening leads to symmetrical, drawish positions, with strategic considerations playing the most important role. It is best for a player to get busy with only a handful of openings and improve his knowledge and experience on them. Every opening has a key idea, which, once perceived, will be easier to implement on the board.
Two knights opening
A short chess tutorial demonstrating the tactic of using two knights to open up the game.
Alekhine Defence
Alekhine’s Defence is a chess opening beginning with the moves
1. e4 Nf6
It is named after Alexander Alekhine, who introduced it in the 1921 Budapest tournament in games against Endre Steiner and Fritz Sämisch. Four years later, the editors of the Fourth Edition of Modern Chess Openings (MCO-4) wrote, “Nothing is more indicative of the iconoclastic conceptions of the ‘hypermodern school’ than the bizarre defence introduced by Alekhine … . Although opposing to all tenets of the classical school, Black allows his King’s Knight to be driven about the board in the early stages of the game, in the expectation of provoking a weakness in White’s centre pawns.” White’s imposing mass of pawns in the centre often includes pawns on c4, d4, e5, and f4. Grandmaster Nick de Firmian observes of Alekhine’s in MCO-15 (2008), “The game immediately loses any sense of symmetry or balance, which makes the opening a good choice for aggressive fighting players.”[4]
Chess Openings
 The first 10-15 moves are said to constitute the ‘opening’ phase of the game. Next comes the ‘middlegame’ and eventually the ‘endgame’, when a only few pieces are left on the board. Of course a game may end prematurely, for example due to a big blunder in the opening.
All three phases of the game have special characteristics regarding the way the chess player is thinking. In the opening the major aim is to successfully develop one’s forces in order to be ready for the middlegame battle. To accomplish this, simple, yet important, guidelines have to be followed along with a common-sense analysis. These guidelines are the result of long-time experience, offered to the chess community by world class players. These general principles will be provided in a descending order of importance, along with some short explanations to make them easy to follow.
Development -  This is the most basic principle that applies in the opening. A piece is developed when it is moved from its initial position to another. As a result, its mobility is increased, as does the number of squares it now controls. It may threaten some enemy piece as well, which puts some pressure to the opponent. Before any plan can be put to work development has to be completed. Failure to complete the development will almost certainly lead to a passive position with bad prospects.
Control of the centre This is also very important, since most tactical battles take place in the centre.  A centralized piece is definitely very well placed for it controls many squares and can exert big pressure. Pawn moves usually help control the centre. This is why central pawn moves are preferred to side pawn moves. Control of the centre may also be assisted by normal piece development. For example, developing the Kg1 to f3 gives control to the central squares d4 and e5.
King safety - Castling should seldom be postponed. Castling increases the king’s safety and also helps the rook develop. There are rare cases in which one should consider to not castle at all. Short castling is normally mush safer. Failure to castle may give the opponent an opportunity to attack the king directly or indirectly; in each case defensive problems arise. 4.Plan. One should try to mentally formulate a simple plan, then also try to follow it. The plan should give a general idea of where the pieces are going to develop and what pawn moves are intended. Move order is also important and should be examined as well. Generally speaking, pawn moves are made first (to gain control of the centre), knight moves come next (because they have few possible squares to develop) and then bishop moves (because bishops can be developed on several possible squares one may be uncertain which one is best). Castling should be done early, if possible, and finally development of the heavy pieces can also be done.
Early queen moves are not recommended, for the opponent may take advantage by threatening the queen whilst developing his own pieces. Next comes an example of how one should think when playing the opening. Suppose WHITE is preparing his first move. There are eight pawns, each of which may advance one or two squares. The other pieces are currently immobilized, except for the two knights, which can move to two possible squares each. WHITE should recall the basic guidelines : development, control of the centre, king safety, a plan. He may well move a knight to start the development.
 The moves 1.Nf3 and 1.Nc3 are equally good, however, a knight on a3 or h3 is badly placed, for it is away from the centre. Usually pawn moves are made first, so 1.e4, controlling d5 and f5 is a very good choice. Equally good is 1.d4 and 1.c4. The move 1.f4 is acceptable, but it weakens the king somewhat. Moving the a, b, g or h pawns is not suggested, since they do not fight for the centre. Similarly, 1.e3 and 1.d3 are acceptable moves, but they are considered inferior for the same reason.
Suppose WHITE eventually decides to play 1.e4 and now BLACK replies with 1…e5, also fighting for the centre. Now WHITE has more choices, since his queen and his bishop at f1 can also move. WHITE should avoid playing the queen too early, as mentioned. He should rather try to develop his lightweight pieces. His selection list should now include at least the following moves, which are consistent to the basic principles : 2.d4, 2.Nf3, 2.Nc3, 2.Bc4. There are good moves too, but these are probably the best. WHITE should dislike for example 2.Bd3, because this move, though actually developing a piece, has two drawbacks : it does not increase the bishop’s mobility and it prevents the d pawn from advancing. The d pawn will need to advance sooner or later, or WHITE will have little freedom in his moves; so the move 2.Bd3 may be a lost tempo, if WHITE later needs to move the bishop again. This mini example demonstrates how one should use his own judgment along with the general opening principles. Note that the general principles by no means are of universal validity.
Chess Clocks
Chess games played at tournaments involve using a chess clock as well. Each player must make his moves without exceeding the time limit. In past years, no chess clocks were used, even on top class competitions. The clock is a fair solution for players to have an equal amount of time to spend on thinking. There are two common types of chess clocks : the traditional (analog or digital) clock and Fischer-clock.
The traditional chess clock has two time counters, one for each player. After a player makes his move, he pushes a button which stops his counter and starts the opponent’s one. This procedure continues until the end of the game. In analog clocks there is a flag that will fall if time is over for one player, while a digital clocks will beep to denote that. The Fischer-clock, proposed and named after former World Champion Grandmaster Robert Fischer (a totally enigmatic and admirable chess personality), is used in a similar way.
The difference is that a constant amount of time (say 5 or 10 seconds) is added after every move made. This helps prevent players from running into time-trouble. The negotiated time controls are in relevance with the chess clock used. Time controls may differ from game to game. Players need to take into account the time controls announced when a tournament is to take place. Typical examples are : ‘two hours for the whole game’, ‘one and half an hour for the first 40 moves and one hour for the rest’, ‘two hours for the first 40 moves and half an hour for every 20 moves thereafter’, ‘one hour and 15-seconds-added-per-move for the whole game (requires a Fischer-clock)’. Shorter time controls give chess games different names. A standard game usually has a time limit of two hours or more.
A rapid game falls in the range of 20-45 minutes and a blitz game in the range 5-15 minutes. There are even shorter time controls, for example 3 minutes per game or 1 minute per game (sometimes referred to as ‘lightning’ or ‘bullet’, can only be played online); one that is not very familiar with chess will find them exhausting. But what happens if a player fails to complete his moves in time? In general, he loses the game. There is an exception here : if the player who still has time does not have sufficient material to win, then the game is drawn. In addition, a player who would normally win the game, had he enough time, may call the arbiter and ask for a draw; the arbiter will check the position and make his decision. There are several issues regarding time controls but they are usually tournament-specific. For example, what happens if both players run out of time? This may actually happen some time, for a player may not notice his opponent’s flag fell until his own does too. Well, the game is drawn.
 In most tournaments players are responsible for checking their opponent’s time; in others the arbiter may indicate a flag fall as well. These details are indeed of minor importance and rules are reconsidered every now and then. What is really important is the way a player uses his time. One should try to avoid getting into time trouble; it is at least annoying and leads to bad results. One should also try not to play too quickly, or he takes the risk of blundering something.
 Use of time should be rational. If two hours are available for the whole game, this makes about 3 minutes per move (assuming a game is averaging about 40 moves). If one feels that the game is going to be rather lengthy, he may play a bit more fast. Early moves usually require little thought and some moves are more or less automatic. On the contrary, difficult situations will require more thinking and thus more time. In practical chess it is always good to have more time available than the opponent has, or at least about the same. And it is necessary to always to keep an eye on the clock.
Chess Tables
A chess table says something about how you view the game. Sure, every chess player owns a chessboard, but it takes someone who really appreciates the game to invest in a chess table.
While that chess table won’t increase your skill level, it will make playing the game more comfortable and will certainly raise your ‘reputation’ among other players. As an added bonus, the better chess tables make a beautiful addition to the decor of any room.
Although you can find chess tables made from plastic and glass, there is nothing that says ‘class’ quite like those which are made from wood. You can find some beautiful and affordable tables that are made from oak, maple, mahogany, cherry and walnut. The price go up sharply when you start looking at models that are made from more rare and exotic woods like ebony, cocobolo, or teak.
Depending upon the style, the actual chess board is built right into the table top using either inlaid wood or other material including marble. Contrasting material colors are used to simulate the ‘black and white’ squares.
Chess tables usually come equipped with two felt-lined drawers, one on each side, so you can store the pieces and pawns. Top-of-the-line chess tables often times will have individual custom-fitted slots for each piece and pawn.
The lower and mid-range chess tables, regardless of the material they are made from, are usually mass produced in an assembly line environment. The more expensive ones are usually individually handmade. Prices range from under $100 for the off-the-shelf plastic, glass and low-grade wood models, to over $1500 and up for top-of-the-line and hand-made collector pieces. There are a great deal of selections available in the under $500 range as well.
Most chess tables come in a uniform height of 30? although custom and collector pieces may vary according to the manufacturer. On average, a chess table will be 30? wide and 30? deep although, again, that can vary greatly as well.
Of course, a chess table is of little use if you don’t have any chairs. Some chess tables include matching chairs, while others leave the chair selection process up to you. The key element in selecting chairs is to make sure that
they position your comfortably in relationship to the height of the chess table.
Keep in mind that many of the wood chess tables, especially those that are made out of the richer hardwoods, will require occasional cleaning and polishing/waxing. Most of them will also react unfavorably to the presence of moisture, so remember not to place any beverage containers or glasses on the table.
A good chess table is an investment that you can enjoy for years. But don’t worry if you can’t afford the best. Just get the most table that you can afford now and you can always trade up as time goes by.
Glass Chess Sets
There are almost as many different types and styles of chess sets as there are chess players. It may be hard to decide upon a particular set, but it’s relatively easy to narrow your choices down to a particular category. Here’s a look at the major categories that are available everywhere:
Glass is the generic term used to describe chess sets which are made from crystal or bone china. Although these types of sets generally come in the theme or collector’s categories, you can fine regular pieces and pawns as well.
Crystal pieces have a good hefty feel to them, but china pieces will usually feel a bit light unless they have weighted bases. Although beautiful to look at, the pieces will break if dropped and fingerprints can become a problem on some models. They’re dust collectors too. Many people keep a glass set for ‘looks’ and another type for actual play. Glass sets average in the $300 to $2,000 range, but you can pay a lot more if you want to.
No matter what material you choose, there is a chess set that’s right for your taste and budget. Instead of buying a set, consider buying the board, pieces and pawns separately. That way, instead of ending up with a chess set that’s another ‘me too’, you can design one that’s uniquely yours!
Wood Chess Sets
There are almost as many different types and styles of chess sets as there are chess players.
It may be hard to decide upon a particular set, but it’s relatively easy to narrow your choices down to a particular category. Here’s a look at the major categories that are available everywhere:
Wood is a great material for chess sets. The pieces, pawns and board can be made from less expensive oak, pine or walnut, or you can choose exotic woods like teak, ebony, or cocobolo.
Wood sets are impressive to look at and the pieces feel solid. Because of the weight, they don’t make good choices if you’re looking for a portable set, but they are wonderful additions to your home or office. Wood sets run between $50 and $5,000. Let your budget be your guide!
Chess Tactics
Tactics is probably the most decisive aspect of the game. A player that is extremely good at tactics may beat a superior opponent, whereas inability to handle the tactics is a drawback to further progress. Every chess player who wishes to improve himself needs to practice his ability to count variations and combinations.
But how should one count variations? Here comes an example : Suppose WHITE starts the game with 1.e4. If now BLACK replies 1.d5, WHITE can capture the pawn at d5 with 2.exd5. This is a variation, involving the move sequence 1.e4 d5 2.exd5. WHITE seems to have gained some material, but BLACK is able to capture back at d5 by 2.Qxd5, restoring the material balance. This again is a variation (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5). A variation may have any number of moves.
When analyzing a position the player needs to calculate many possible variations. In the previous example, BLACK might not capture immediately at d5, but instead play 2.Nf6, threatening the pawn with the knight too, whilst developing. He does so in order to capture later. If now WHITE plays 3.Nc3 to protect the pawn, BLACK may still equalize the material after 3.Nxd5, ready to meet 4.Nxd5 with 4.Qxd5. But what happens if WHITE supports his pawn with 3.c4 instead of 3.Nc3? Now BLACK can not capture the d5-pawn for WHITE will capture the knight and eventually WHITE will have captured a knight and a pawn (worth 3+1=4), while BLACK only two pawns (worth 1+1=2). This material difference is enough to state that BLACK will lose the game, no matter how well he will play from here on, provided that WHITE will not blunder anything either.
A combination is a variation that gains something. The combination is only valid if it wins regardless of the opponent’s reply. This means that, after the first move of the combination, all the variations that may arise depending on the opponent’s move, will lead to an advantage. Note that when counting variations and combinations the player should account for the best opponent’s reply, not only some of them that favor him.
The following example demonstrates a very short game :
1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Nc6
3.Qf3 d6
4.Qf7#
The symbol # denotes ‘checkmate’. There was no combination here; instead BLACK blundered checkmate. Had he seen WHITE’s threat on f7, he could have comfortably defended against it, say by 3.Nf6. Indeed, WHITE’s move 3.Qf3 was not good (early Queen move); it was just a trivial trap. Had BLACK played correctly, he would have been better off a few moves later.
In the next example there is actually a combination :
Phillidor’s Defence
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 d6
3.Bc4 Bg4
4.Nc3 h6?
5.Nxe5! Bxd1??
6.Bxf7+ Ke7
7.Nd5#
(A question mark after a move denotes a serious mistake, while a double question mark denotes a blunder. The exclamation mark denotes a very good move and the cross symbol denotes a check). The move 4.h6? is a mistake, for it permits WHITE to apply the winning c ombination which starts with 5.Nxe5!. Now WHITE threatens to mate by 6.Bxf7+ and 7.Nd5 and at the same time he threatens the Bishop on g4. BLACK could have defended now with 5.Be6, covering both threats and escaping the worse. But 5.Bxd1?? is a blunder that allows WHITE to mate.
In the next example BLACK misses an important move of WHITE’s :
Russian Game
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nf6
3.Nxe5 Nxe4?
The Openings Theory suggests 3.d6 first. One can see why this symmetric move is not good by following the game:
4.Qe2 Nf6??
This move gives WHITE the opportunity for a so-called ‘revealed check’ :
5.Nc6+
Now BLACK is in check and his queen is also threatened by the white knight at c6. He will have to lose the queen and eventually the game. He could have done better had he tried 4.Qe7, for if now WHITE captures the Ne4 with 5.Qxe4, BLACK can respond 5.d6 and he will capture back. After 6.d4 dxe5 7.Qxe5 WHITE has an advantage due to the extra pawn.
Accuracy in counting the variations is what makes a chess player a brilliant tactician. It is not always easy to count all the variations; besides there are so many possibilities. However, only a handful of moves are actually of importance in most positions; the rest can be ruled. Experience helps players quickly select candidate moves. Playing against computers (yet not ever getting disappointed) is highly recommended in order to improve one’s tactics capabilities.
Travel Chess Sets
There are almost as many different types and styles of chess sets as there are chess players. It may be hard to decide upon a particular set, but it is relatively easy to narrow your choices down to a particular category. Here is a look at the major categories that are available everywhere:
If you are on the go then folding travel chess sets are for you. They’re usually magnetic to protect against bumps and jolts. The pieces and pawns can be stored inside the board when folded. You can get a nice one for somewhere around $20, or a very basic one for $10 or less. You may even find miniature ones in the dollar stores!
Special Chess Moves 2
The King has also a special move at his disposal. It is called ‘castling’ and is a defensive move, used to increase the King’s safety. Castling may be either ’short’ or ‘long’. Consider the white King on e1 (Ke1) and the white Rook on h1 (Rh1). ‘Short castling’ involves moving the King to g1 and simultaneously the Rook to f1. The whole procedure is considered to be one single move, not two (we denote short castling by ‘O-O’). However, there are some constraints before one can castle : both the King and the Rook must have not moved before, all in-between squares must be empty and both landing squares (f1 and g1 in the example) must not be threatened by the enemy pieces. In addition, the King must not be in check. If all these apply, one may castle. Long castling (denoted by ‘O-O-O’) is similar, the only difference being that the a-Rook is used instead. The ending squares are c1 for the King and d1 for the Rook. All the same applies for BLACK too, the corresponding squares being g8 and f8 for short castling and c8 and d8 for long castling.
The game starts always with WHITE to move and players taking turns. Moving a piece is obligatory, one cannot ‘pass’. The player who checkmates his opponent is the winner. There can also be a draw. This happens when no side has enough material to checkmate their opponent. If, for example, WHITE is left with the King and a Bishop and BLACK with only his King, there is no way that WHITE can checkmate BLACK and the game is drawn. A draw may also be agreed at any time. Other draw cases include the ‘triple repetition’ of the same position, the ‘50 moves rule’ (game is drawn if no pawn advance or capture has taken place during the last 50 moves) and ’stalemate’.
A player is stalemated if he has no valid moves, but he also is not in check. Recall that when one is in check and has no valid moves, he is ‘checkmated’ and he loses the game. Finally, a player who is able to be checking his opponent for as long as he wishes, may claim draw by ‘continuous check’, a special case of the 50 moves rule.
Special Chess Moves
The moves described here are only valid when no other piece is interfering. If any piece is in the way, then the moving piece can not skip over it. The moving piece can only move to any square before it. If it is an enemy piece, it can also be captured. To capture the opponent’s piece, one moves his own to the enemy piece’s square, then removes the enemy piece from the board . (It is good to capture enemy pieces because opponent’s strength is reduced as a result). For example, suppose a white Queen is positioned on a1 (Qa1) and a black Bishop is placed on d4 (Bd4). If it is WHITE’S move, he can capture the Bd4, provided the squares b2 and c3 are empty; to do this, he removes the enemy bishop and places his queen on d4. We denote this move by ‘Qa1 x d4′ (or simply ‘Qxd4′). This means ‘The Queen at a1 captures (something) at d4′. If there was no capture we would write ‘Qa1 – d4′ (or simply ‘Qd4′).
There are some exceptions to the basic rule regarding captures. A pawn can not capture pieces positioned on the square(s) the pawn can advance to; instead it may capture an enemy piece that is placed one square diagonally and in front of it. For example, suppose WHITE has a pawn located at e2. The pawn can move both to e3 and e4 if no piece interferes, but it can not capture on these two squares. Instead it can capture on d3 or f3.
special case of pawn capture exists when moving the pawn two squares forward (remember this is only possible if the pawn is still on its initial position). In this case an enemy pawn that would have been able to capture it, had it moved only one square instead of two, is still able to capture it. This capture is called ‘en passant’ and it is only valid for one move : if the player who may capture ‘en passant’ does not use this right in his next move, he will no longer be able to do it later. For example, if WHITE moves his e2-pawn (Pe2) to e4 (we write this move as ‘e2-e4′ or simply ‘e4′) and there is a black pawn at d4 (Pd4), then BLACK is able to capture en-passant (’Pd4xe3 e.p.’ or simply ‘dxe3′), just as if the white pawn had moved to e3. But if he decides to play something else, he no longer retains this right.
A King can not be captured. In effect, the King can not move to a square controlled by an enemy piece; so there never arises such a case. We say a square is ‘controlled by a piece’ if the piece can capture on this square. Also note that, regarding a Knight’s move, there are no interfering friendly or enemy pieces; the Knight can always land to its destination square.
A pawn that manages to traverse all the way to get to the other side is ‘promoted’. When a promotion happens the player replaces the pawn with a same-coloured piece of his choice (King and Pawn excluded). In most cases pawns are promoted to Queens.
Themed Chess Sets
There are almost as many different types and styles of chess sets as there are chess players. It may be hard to decide upon a particular set, but it’s relatively easy to narrow your choices down to a particular category. Here’s a look at the major categories that are available everywhere:
Themed chess sets depict characters, movies and events. There are theme chess sets for most major sports teams with pieces and pawns that resemble positions like quarterback and cheerleaders. There are entire categories of cartoon character chess sets that are perfect for attracting younger people to the game. You can even get Civil War or WW II sets as well as Roman Gladiator and even old West models.
You’ll pay anywhere from $20 to over $2,000 for theme sets depending upon the theme and the materials used to make the set. Some sets are made with silver, gold and precious stones. Choose platinum if you have plenty of money.
About Chess
Chess is a wonderful board game, invented thousands of years ago. Throughout its long history, it has earned noticeable acknowledgement and is considered to be the ‘king’ of board games. Nowadays, it stills attracts people from all over the world, regardless of their age. Chess is fascinating for it allows players to put their technique, experience and inspiration into rivalry.
One can have many hours of pleasure to go along with fair intellectual progress, since chess is known to improve analytical thinking, creativeness and judgement. In the past chess was mainly played by courtiers; nowadays everybody may enjoy this privilege. Several well-known personalities were also famous for their chess skills. Napoleon, Nikola Tesla, Charlie Chaplin and Einstein were amongst them. 
All you need to start playing chess is the chessboard and the chess pieces (you need absolutely nothing if you wish to play online). Your goal is to trap the enemy King; that simple. The chessboard is a 8×8 board with alternating black and white squares; everybody is sure to have seen one. The chess pieces are 32 in total; 16 white pieces and their 16 black counterparts. One player owns the white pieces (we call this player WHITE) and his opponent (the BLACK) gets the black ones. The 16 pieces are : the King, the Queen, two Rooks, two Bishops, two Knights and eight Pawns.
When the game starts these pieces are placed in their initial positions, which are predefined. This initial arrangement is as follows : each player has his own pieces positioned along the two ranks of the board that are closest to him. All 8 pawns are placed on the innermost rank of the two. The rest of the pieces are placed in the outermost rank in the following order : Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, Rook. This order is from left to right for WHITE and from right to left for BLACK, so that same pieces are opposed on each file of the board.
To facilitate descriptions of chess positions a notation has been invented. It is known as ‘algebraic chess notation’ (there is also the descriptive notation, which is quite obsolete). It is particularly easy to learn and helps us easily identify squares and pieces on the board. It works like this : viewing from WHITE’s perspective, the leftmost file is named ‘a’, the next one is named ‘b’ and so on until we reach the rightmost file, which is file ‘h’. Moreover, the rank that is closest to WHITE is ‘rank 1′, or the first rank. Next comes ‘ rank 2′ (the second rank) and so on until we get to the eighth rank, which is the rank closest to BLACK.
Now that we have appropriately named the ranks and the files we may identify a square by looking up the rank and the file to which it belongs. Thus, still viewing from WHITE’s side, the bottom left square is the square ‘a1′, since it belongs to file a and to the first rank. Its adjacent squares are ‘b1′ on the right and ‘a2′ just above it. So we may repeat the initial position using chess notation : the white pawns are placed on squares a2 through h2, while the black ones are placed on squares a7 through h7; the white rooks are placed on a1 and h1 and the black ones on a8 and h8; the white knights are placed on b1 and g1 and the black ones on b8 and g8; the white bishops are placed on c1 and f1 and the black ones on c8 and f8; the white queen is placed on d1 and the black queen on d8; finally the white king is placed on e1 and the black king on e8. Note that the chessboard should be so placed that the a1 square is black.
Chess Moves
Not all chess pieces behave the same on the board; each one is moving in a different way. The King (denoted by K) can move only
one square at a time, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. For example, considering an empty board, a King on e4 (we write Ke4
in chess notation) may move to e3,e5, d4, f4, d3, f3, d5, f5.
