It is a mistaken belief that playing chess is a divine art and that unless an ordinary “knowable standard” is reached, it cannot be improved. The ‘knowable standard’ means that you are reaching the standard that makes you recognize only the good and bad points of the game but without any ability to develop your game accordingly. Without a doubt, it is a game of superior intelligence. Alertness of mind, the ability to contemplate and select the correct future are some of the basic requirements of this clever game. Of course, you can’t cultivate talent with the help of your work alone, but if you have a little bit of it, you can surely bone it. Don’t forget the old maxim that genius is five percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Furthermore, hardly any human being is totally devoid of the element of talent. It’s only when we don’t sweat to make it grow that we fall behind others who do. This is what we intend to do with this article.

There are times when, in the absence of proper guidance, our talents wither. Since they don’t know how to properly water and fertilize this talent plant, it withered. Remember that like any other discipline, chess also needs your unwavering devotion. Young people usually don’t know how to use their free time, especially those who have the potential. Follow the guidelines given below and become a good chess player.

1. Read chess books and magazines

After playing a few games, read the book carefully. Play more games and read the book. Every time you absorb some points that previously seemed dark or didn’t catch you.

The way to improve more is not by playing opponents, but by playing in well-scored games. Cover one side’s move (usually the winner’s) and think through each move before you watch.

If you’re eager to improve your game quickly, write down moves from all your games, not just the competitive one (where recording is mandatory). It is best to write them down in chess score books, as loose score sheets are easily lost. Then play each game and write down the critical comments. That was how the grandmaster developed his skill in chess and he became an expert in a short time without any training. It’s surprising how much the game becomes clearer when you see each position a second time, in light of what happened the first time. You become your own guardian. If, after writing your comments, you send some of your games and your comments to a competent coach or a top player for evaluation for a suitable fee, you will improve even faster.

Reading chess books by standard authors will also help. Try to follow the notations in a particular style. In case you get those old books where the notations are not in algebraic form, try converting it to that form. Even this conversion exercise would give you a good idea of ​​the intricacies of the game. Write them down in a separate exercise book and in the same way you do to develop your ability, say in Mathematics. This is a very enlightening exercise. Just keep a little chessboard with pieces next to it and convert the descriptive notations to algebraic notations. It is necessary because algebraic notation was only devised a couple of years ago, while the first chess books were only written in a descriptive style. Remember that this is not a boring and time-consuming exercise, but a very rewarding one.

In addition to doing this, read some good magazines or newspapers that have chess columns. Today there is hardly a good magazine or newspaper that does not have chess columns. Read those problems and solve them. Your intention in solving them must be to prove that the given solution is wrong! The idea is that you should try to attack the problem independently. In the process, if you find any different solutions, consider that you are on the right path of progress in your chess studies. You can join a club that has the facility to play chess. You can develop your chess skill in the company of other students.

Of course, you can enjoy chess without worrying about upgrades. However, this is a natural tendency of an awakened mind to improve one’s performance in any sphere. By following the methods recommended here, almost anyone can become a strong player in a fraction of the time it normally takes.

Doctor Emanual Lasker (World Champion 1897-1921) considered that with a logical approach, an average talented person would not need to spend more than 200 hours at chess to reach a point where a master player who conceded or his handicap I would surely lose.

Lasker’s 200 hours was an underestimate, to be sure, but the truth is that most players could reach a standard in months that would normally take them years to reach.

Some newspapers publish regular chess columns in which compound chess problems are a feature. In a problem, an artificial position is set up and a solver is required to find a way to checkmate in a specified number of moves, usually 2 or 3, no matter what responses the defender makes. In these, for the sake of uniformity, White always makes the first (key) move. In 2-move problems, only the key move is required. In 3-move problems, the second moves are required to get correct solutions. Since the purpose of the composer is to make the task difficult, the key move is usually one that a player is unlikely to think of in a real game, and it is never a capture (except of a Pawn) and never a check.

2. Play Handicap Chess with Older Players

The commonly given advice to play against stronger players has two distinct drawbacks. First of all, it’s discouraging if you invariably lose. Second, it’s painful and boring for the opponent if the difference in skill is great. The strong player would be too polite to tell you this, but he will find some excuse to stop playing. To anticipate this, ask your opponent to give you a handicap (give you odds in chess parlance), for example, to remove a knight, a rook, a rook plus the knight, or even the queen. Once the correct odds are found, both players can have an exciting game. When a Knight or Rook is removed as a handicap, convention dictates that it be the one on the Queen’s wing.

Another type of handicap is possible with the use of chess clocks. The expert can play with a very short time limit, his opponents with a much longer one. If the skill difference is not too great, this type of handicap is better, since there is no alteration of the starting position. If the skill difference is very large, it is a good idea to use both systems.

For individual games, you cannot use a time handicap unless you have chess clocks. However, in simultaneous exhibitions, a time handicap operates automatically.

Here the expert faces a large number of players seated in a circle or rectangle, each with a board and pieces in front of him or her. The expert goes from board to board, making a move on each one. Obviously, the expert may take only a fraction of the time the opponents take, since the master may have to make 10, 20, 30, 40 or more moves in the time each opponent has for a move.

Simultaneous exhibitions have, since time immemorial, provided an excellent opportunity for a large number of players to take on a master in conditions that give fans some chance of achieving a draw or even a victory.

3. Have chess software

Playing chess against a well programmed computer also helps in developing your chess skills.

It was inevitable in our electronic age that chess would catch the attention of computer engineers.

The real revolution in computer chess came with the introduction of relatively inexpensive, portable microcomputers. These have been constantly improving and the latest models feature up to sixty four levels of play, timed openings and games, a voice announcing moves and sensitized squares to eliminate the need for a keyboard. Most can play a reasonable game, while more advanced models successfully complete open tournaments.

As stated above, microcomputers are most useful for players who are having trouble finding an opponent. A teaching level is provided with programmed opening variations and suggested best moves to help students.

For top players, computers provide a convenient way to store information about game openings and endings. Most of the top players use personal computers for this purpose.

4. General tips

You should preferably start playing with another beginner, as soon as you have learned the moves. Don’t be discouraged if it takes you a while to remember the rules. With a little practice, you’ll get used to the moves of the pieces and can start figuring things out without trying to remember how each one moves and captures.

Chess is competitive and the desire to win is its strongest motivation. That’s why you should play another beginner who you have a chance to beat. It’s best if you have an instructor who can monitor the game to make sure the rules are followed and point out where you went wrong after the game.

Textbook covering all aspects of the game in a single volume, varies in scope and price. Some chess manuals are written by champions, others by chess teachers; all help the beginner to delve into the mysteries of chess. Later, the person who wants to further improve his skills can specialize by studying various aspects of the game and there is a wide variety of aids here.

Books dealing with openings range from comprehensive manuals in several large volumes, not recommended for beginners, to books designed to explain why openings are played a certain way.

The Middle Game is covered by explaining the basic strategic principles and giving examples of tactical combinations. There are many books dealing with this subject.

The end game is part of the game, which all aspiring players must study. Here again is a selection of many books. The best for beginners are elementary books, which explain the basic principles that are most likely to occur in a practical way. For advanced players there are books that deal in depth with specific endgames. Finally, we come to the collection of games from great players. We recommend books with detailed commentary, especially those designed for beginners.

Young students are advised not to rely too heavily on chess problems to gain mastery of this game. These problems are as far removed from literature as crossword puzzles. Surely, they improve the visualization power of the movements. Play as many real games as possible and solve chess problems to keep your mind sharp in the chess sense. Remember that in chess (the real game) the object of the game is to defeat the opponent, regardless of the means by which this end is achieved or the time taken. In trouble, however, the opponent represents for time. The mate must be made in the stipulated number of moves. Since the given position in problems is frequently derisive, most experienced chess players dismiss it as a situation unworthy of consideration. On the other hand, the troublemakers hold that the game involves too laborious and useless wood movement, and that the art of fifty games can be combined into a single artificial position. However, the best courses are opened for young students to have the judicious mix of the two.