Mastering the Competitive Game of Chess By Loren Weiss

							Mastering the Competitive Game of Chess

By Loren Weiss

Chess is a game of strategy and logic that calls on memory, ingenuity, and constant concentration. It
challenges players to think quickly and critically while utilizing essential problem solving tactics. Although
it may appear to be tough to master, learning the basic concepts of chess can put you well on your way to
deciphering this competitive game.

To advance in chess, it is helpful to study strategies and tactics. Strategies are long-term goals and
tactics are sequences of moves that limit the opponent’s options. One is usually a fairly accomplished
player to be able to think strategically rather than just concentrating on each individual move. Strategic
chess is also called positional play because players are constantly evaluating the positions of the pieces.

There are three stages of a chess game: the chess opening, middle game, and endgame. The opening is
a group of initial moves at the onset of a game. Players often study openings and come up with ones they
prefer, depending on whether they control the white or black pieces. There are books devoted just to
openings.

The middle game is a time to make sure the king is safe. It is also the part of the game where players try
to acquire material (pieces) and strengthen their positions while weakening their opponent’s.

By the endgame, few pieces remain on the board. Players work to checkmate their opponent by
threatening the other’s king until there’s nowhere else for it to go. Pawns are more valuable by the end of
the game and sometimes the king can be used more aggressively at this stage as well. One can study
and practice checkmating with different scenarios and combinations of remaining pieces.


About the Author: Loren Weiss is a recent graduate of New York City’s prestigious Stuyvesant High
School. He is currently ranked 27th in the nation by the U.S. Chess Federation for 18-year olds, and has
achieved the USCF title of Candidate Master.