Chess tips
A useful collection of chess tips to improve your skills and rating include:
20/40/40 Rule
Players should divide their time spent on improvement as follows:[1]
- 20% on Chess Openings.
- 40% on the middle game.
- 40% on the end game.
Minimizing blunders
Most games, particularly in blitz chess, are lost through blunders: a move which results in the capture of one's queen or other valuable piece, or an immediate checkmate. A rapid mental algorithm after choosing a move but before finalizing it can sharply reduce the blunders and resultant losses.
Forking
An effective way to capture valuable pieces is through the use of "forks", which is putting two pieces on the other side in jeopardy with one move. Forks by knights are often difficult by an opponent to anticipate or defend against, since the knight is not in a straight line of its targets.
A fork which places the opponent in check is particularly effective, as the only possible response (other than capture) is for the opponent king to move out of check and thereby give up the other jeopardized piece. Forks that jeopardize the opponent queen are likewise effective.
A fork by an advancing, protect pawn is often overlooked by beginners, and should become part of the repertoire of every player.
Stacking
Stacking against an opponent's piece or strategic space is the loading of attack pieces focused on that piece or space. For example, stacking two rooks is considered to create more than double the power of those rooks.
Blitz chess
Various strategies are useful in blitz chess:
- Waiting and watching for a blunder by an opponent who moves more quickly in blitz chess can be a successful approach to victory.
- when playing the black pieces, imitating the early moves by your opponent can be a way to safely save time while not sacrificing position.
- castling in blitz chess can be a mistake, particularly if there is a better available move or if the opponent is already attacking the side of the board being castled into.
Potential check
A good way to freeze and capture a position on the other side is by placing it in the line of check such that it cannot move without placing its king in check. This is a particularly effective way to capture the other side's queen, which usually suffices to win the game.