Chess, as we all know, is a very easy game to learn. Anybody can learn the game, depending upon his level of understanding and interest to learn the new game, in the shortest possible time. The maximum time that one might take to learn the game is not more than half-a-day. But learning is not all. It is only the beginning.
The ancient game of chess has been embraced by the technology and now, online chess, is the new whizkid in the block that makes learning the game and gaining expertise has been much easier. All you need is a computer and the Internet, and you can start playing the game, without waiting for or seeking the assistance of a partner, through the means of online chess, by visiting any of the innumerable online chess sites.
A typical game of chess is basically divided into three different stages – the opening game, the middle game and the end game. The most challenging part in the game is the middle game, because it is in this stage that the real battle between the players takes place. Ironically, there is very little literature available for the players to master the middle game, in comparison with the other two stages – the opening and the end game stage.
One can learn the various types of openings using the literature available and set up the interesting position for the middle game to start. Similarly, one can gain enough experience about handling the end game with the amount of material available at his disposal. But, in between the opening and end games is the middle game which decides the course of the game and is the battlefield for the tactics and strategies of the two players.
How one plays the middle game determines the result of the game. I would like to share some of the tips that would help a player, whether novice or an expert, in treading through this difficult path.
One player needs to bear in mind the following four aspects in the middle game.
They are – a) Protection for the king; b) avoiding unnecessary moves; c) Positional aspects of material, and d) being brave or fearless
The hero of the game is none other than the King. If there is no hero, then there is no play. As such, safeguarding and protecting your Hero should be your primary responsibility. Make sure that the King is in a safe position and is immune from attack from the opponent.
The game of chess is all about tactics and strategy. In the middle game, typically, you might end up wit 13 or 14 pieces out of the 16 pieces given to you at the beginning and a little more space to manoeuvrings You may not be using all the available pieces in the board to launch an attack over the opponent in the middle game. Have a game plan for your style of play, choose the players for that plan and ensure that you use them effectively in the game. Do not concentrate more on moving or safeguarding pieces that will not be part of your tactics. Making moves to protect unimportant pieces is a crime and should be avoided. You should ensure that your pieces work all the time and should not be idle, and, if idle, they should not be given importance in the first instance.
In the game, all the pieces have some unique features and capabilities. The pawn is considered to be the least valued while the Queen enjoys the maximum value. More than the value of the pieces, it is the position of the pieces that makes a difference. Do not be under the myth that Queen should not be sacrificed or pawns can be gifted simply. A pawn in the 7th rank is more powerful than a stale queen lying in the back rank trapped awkwardly. One should be aware of the positional importance of each and every piece and should make better use of the positional features.
As a corollary to the above point, you should not fear losing your valuable piece, the queen, if that leads to a good strategy to gain advantage over the opponent. Some players, especially in the early stages, develop a myth that if they lose their queen, then their game is lost and some sort of fear grips them once they see their queen being captured. Having such myths does not lead you anywhere and you should not cultivate or encourage those myths.
By having these broad ideas in mind, I am sure you can approach the game with confidence and not panic at the middle of the middle game.
Related posts:
- Chess Basics: Essential aspects of middle game every chess player should know
- Middle game tactics: Use pawns judiciously; think twice before moving the pawns
- Middle game tactics: Do not relax with opposite colored bishops
- Middle game tactics: Understanding fundamentals of openings and variations essential
- Middle game tactics: Concentrating on fundamentals is very essential