There are no shortages of chess sets for you to choose from out there. As a result BraRoe Chess would like to provide you this service to help make you experience the best that it can be.When you look to purchase a chess set, you two different options in front of you:

• Choose a combination of pieces and a board that has been pre-selected for you

• Individually choose the chess pieces and the chess board for you own chess set

With both options, there are a couple of things that you want to keep in mind. The first is price. Choose a chess set that is built to last. You are going to have many memories attached to your set, and one of the best things that you can do is to keep the set around for generation to enjoy. Always buy the highest quality set that you can afford.

Second is quality. The quality is something that you will be able to both see and feel. The pieces should have a good solid feel to them every time you pick one up. Next, pay attention to the crown of the King, the finer the details, then the higher the quality. Lastly, the knight is the most noticeable piece that you will have on your board. Study it curves and details. True quality sets will have a finely, hand-carved knight.

Now keeping this in mind, choosing an existing Chess Set is much simpler. You take the time to choose between the Classic Staunton Chess Set or a theme that you like (i.e. Civil War, Mythology, etc.); purchase the set, and wait for it to arrive.

The second option, takes a little more thought.

Matching wood types:

Wood Chess Sets:

Ebony pieces match well with basic Black and White boards or with Ebony/Madrona Board

Rosewood pieces look great with boards that are also rosewood or those made from Mahogany

Sheesham woods fit best with Walnut boards as well as with Bubinga or Hazelnut Boards

Metal Chess Sets:

Metal Sets match with wood boards, but also go well with brass boards as well as leatherette boards

Matching Size

The size of the chess board square is determined from the diameter of the chess pieces’ King. Take the diameter and multiply it by 1.33 (4/3). If need be, you can go a little bigger, but you really don’t want to go smaller. Example a 1.25 diameter base x 1.33 is 1.66 inch board. Boards with 1.75-inch boards would be perfect.

After that, all you need is to order the chess pieces and board and start creating your own chess memories.

by: Bradford Roegner

It stands to reason that leaving the King in the center often means exposing the King to a dangerous, very possibly fatal, attack. This leads us to the conclusion that castling is the best way to safeguard the King.

The castled position, then, is the King’s safeguard. But, though the King is better protected when castled than when in the center, that does not mean that castling alone assures you complete immunity from attack. If your opponent has an overwhelmingly superior development, he can concentrate more forces for attack than you can supply for defense. Sometimes brilliant sacrifices are made to smash down a defender’s barriers.

But we are now concerned mainly with Pawn weaknesses in the castled position. In the case of castling on the King-side, three Pawns are involved: the King Rook Pawn, the King Knight Pawn, and the King Bishop Pawn. As long as all three Pawns are still on their original squares, the castled position remains strong and difficult to take by storm.

Yet once a single member of the trio advances, the defender is headed for trouble. For example, suppose the King Knight Pawn advances one square. Then immediately the squares it formerly protected–KR3 and KB3–must receive protection from pieces. Worse yet, these squares become targets for enemy occupation. Let a hostile Queen and Knight, or Queen and Bishop, occupy these squares, and you will see the castled position totter and crumble.

The advance of the King Rook Pawn is also dangerously weakening. Very often the attacker is able to sacrifice a piece for the Pawn on KR3, in this way ripping up the castled position and leaving it wide open for large-scale invasion. The advance of the King Bishop Pawn creates similar problems, and very often opens up a vital diagonal for the hostile Bishop.

Another serious consequence of any of these Pawn advances is that they enable the attacker to open lines by advancing his own Pawns and forcing Pawn exchanges. Thus, after Blacks plays . . . P–KN3, White may reply P–KR4 and P–KR5, exchanging Pawns and thus opening the King Rook file for attack. Or, after White plays P–KR3, Black may react with . . . P–KN4 and . . . P–KN5, likewise obtaining an open file for attack.

Once the attacker succeeds in forcing open a line leading to the castled position, he has enormously improved his prospects of taking the hostile King by storm. As long as the Pawns remain on their original squares, they form a road block for the attacking pieces. After one of the Pawns has advanced, the barrier is much more likely to be breached –by exchanges, by sacrifices, by violent line-opening.

To sum up: you have seen that Pawn advances in front of the castled King can be weakening–even dangerous. You should therefore avoid such advances. Sometimes you are forced to make such advances–but at least you can avoid making them needlessly. Avoid such Pawn moves if it is at all possible to avoid them!

Queen-side castling, which we rarely encounter, presents difficulties for the inexperienced player. The castled King has a wider area to guard than on the King-side. Hence the temptation to meet threats with Pawn advances is much stronger in the case of Queen-side castling. This makes it more likely for the defense on this broader front to be upset by violent sacrifices.

by: James Wilson

Chess is widely considered to be the oldest of all board games as it is a sport in more than a few countries, and a test of skill played by millions the world over and it is gaining popularity day by day. The Modern chess sets have 32 pieces, 16 black and 16 white, on a board comprised of 64 squares and with this finite arrangement of figurines and playing surfaces has led to a wide variety of chess sets over the years.

Chess and history:

The history helps one to learn the history and mythology of the Vikings as you sail your ship to far-off lands, conquering countries and winning treasures. Due to its historical significance it is seen that there are a lot of historical attributes that add to the kind of quality it has with a different set of rules and the game is played differently. In the western countries the extension of the powers of the queen made it easier to enforce checkmate in the endgame and the set of rules differ from place to place and so does the history.

Chess sets and cartoon characters:

The best example is the hand painted and that gives it an artistic look to it with features all of the endearing characters from the wonderful world of Winnie the Pooh. It is a great opportunity to Capture memories of childhood or introduce your children or grand children to these timeless characters as the children are fond of them. The fine details such as noses, horses ear’s, swords, daggers and flag staffs could be snapped of if treated too roughly. There is a great variety of other themes chess page where there is a great collection of marble, onyx, fossil coral and soapstone chess sets together to create an interest for chess among the players who intend to play chess.

by: Lisa Sparillo

Improving your Chess Strategy 

Chess is a game about strategy and tactics above all. Each player commands an army of 16 chess pieces. In the opening, the players bring up their forces as they prepare for battle. Players maneuver for strategic positions and carry out attacks and counterattacks in the middle game. During the endgame is when, with fewer pawns and pieces left on the board, it’s finally safe for kings to come out and join the combat. Here are some ways to improve your chess strategy.

1. Plan. Your chess pieces need to work in harmony as a team with you as a coach. You need to work all your pieces together so that their strengths support one another. Your opponent will have an easy time defending themselves if your strategy appears to be haphazard.

2. Know what each piece is worth. Consider the value of your pieces when thinking about giving up pieces for some of your opponents. The player who has the most pieces of great value usually has a significant advantage.

3. Consider your opponents move. Every time your opponent moves stop to consider what might be their strategy. Ask yourself why that move was chosen. Are one of your pieces in danger?

4. Develop quickly and well. One most important elements of chassis timing. Your pieces should be ready for action and then they will be able to quickly control the course of the game. You need to be able to get your pieces into key strategic positions as quickly as possible.

5. Keep your king save at all times. The object of this game is to capture the opponent’s king. If you forget this you have lost.

6. Make the best possible move by asking yourself a few questions. Will I improve my position by making this move? Will this move put my pieces in danger?

7. If it is a pawn you are about to move consider if you can keep it protected from attack.

8. If it is another piece consider whether the enemy can drive it away.

9. Be alert. Once you’ve reached a good strategic position in the game do not relax. Be on the lookout for your opponents threats.

10. Know when to trade pieces. The best time to trade pieces is when you can capture pieces that are worth more than the one you will be giving up.

11. Think about the endgame. You should remember that every time you make a move it might affect your chances in the endgame.

12. Control the center. The player who controls the four squares that are in the middle of the board will have a better game in many cases the victory.

Use these tips to help you improve your chess strategy. Now go practice and have fun.

by: Robert Michael

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It is so much to learn when you first started playing chess. These includes understanding the chess board, understanding chess move by move and so on. No doubt the more you take time to learn and apply the strategies you learnt, the better you would be in the long run.With that said, it is worthwhile to understand chess move by move, both basic and special moves. In a game of chess, each piece moves in a different way. Normally, a piece can not pass through squares occupied by other piece. However, it can move to a square occupied by the opponent’s piece. When a piece moves to a square occupied by the opponent, it is said to ‘capture’ the opponent. Hence, the piece which is captured is eliminated from the board for the remainder of the game.

There are six different pieces in a chess game, namely – King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight and Pawn. The King moves orthogonally and diagonally across only one square at a time. The Queen moves orthogonally or diagonally across any number of squares. The Rook moves forward, backward, left or right across any number of squares. Bishop moves diagonally across any number of squares. The Knight moves in two squares in one direction and one space orthogonal to it. It is the only piece which jumps over other pieces, the rest cannot jump over a square occupied by a piece. The Pawn can move only one square at a time backward or forward. However, if the Pawn is the first piece moved at the start of a game, i.e. if it is the opening move of the game, it can move two squares forward. The Pawn can move one square diagonally in front to capture an opponent piece. It cannot capture an opponent piece by moving forward straight.

Apart from the basic moves, it is also important to understand special chess moves as well. One such move is called ‘Castling’. This involves the King and the Rook. If the King and the Rook have not moved yet and all the squares between them are blank, then the King moves two squares forward, towards the Rook. At the same time the Rook moves the two spaces the King has just jumped over. However, this move cannot happen if the King is threatened or has to move through a danger square.

Another special chess move involves the Pawn. If the Pawn moves two squares forward on its first move, it can be captured on the square it has jumped over, as if it had moved only one square only, during the turn immediately after its two-square move. This can be done only by another Pawn.

Remember, the more you increase your undestanding of chess move by move, the better chess player, you will become.

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A number of theories are available for opening of chess. These recommended theories are practiced almost everywhere although there are a number of other variations are also available. A large number of variations just prove the complexity of the game! Some variations are considered equally good for both the White and the Black. However you don’t need to learn these openings, they come through experience. You must use your logical and healthy thinking to play chess.Each opening has a name of its own so to classify a game one needs to know the move which characterizes an opening. Each of the openings also has a number of variations and these variations also have different names! Openings which are similar lead to positions which have similar features.

The classification of the openings depends mainly on the first move. An opening can be an open opening, a semi- open opening or a closed opening. An opening is called Open if White starts the move with 1.e4 and Black responds with 1.e5. It is called semi-open if White starts with 1.e4 but Black does not respond with 1.e5. An opening is called closed if White does not start with 1.e4.

Some of the most common open openings are described below:

Italian game- [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4] White castles while making the most of the piece’s mobility. d5 square is controlled by 3.Bc4 move. The free move d7-d5 is thus inhibited. It also keeps a check on a weaker square f7 and also on the square which is immediately related to the safety of the Black King.

Spanish Game- [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5] The black pawn is threatened by White with 2.Nf3. Black also supports it with 2.Nc6. White now moves 3.Bb5 which threatens the pawn as he may capture c6 and e5.

Scotch game- [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4] White opens the lines for the pieces quickly. The answer that one gets is 3.exd4. White may either play 4.c3 or take the pawn back with 4.Nxd4. The former is a variation which is known as Scotch Gambit.

Four Knights Game- [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6] This non demanding opening is stable for White. 3.Nc3 faces no threats and the opening is thus non-demanding.

Phillidor’s Defence- [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6] The opening results in closed positions though the plans are still open.

Russian Game- [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6] It is an interesting opening theory though it’s not used much now.

Bishop’s Opening- [1.e4 e5 2.Bc4] It is an extremely old opening which is rarely used nowadays.

King’s Gambit- [1.e4 e5 2.f4] White captures the f pawn later on after 2.exf4. To keep the material advantage Black will like to settle for cover.

Some of the most common semi-open openings are described below:

French Defence- [1.e4 e6] Black prepares to play the freeing move which is d7-d5.

Caro-Cann Defence- [1.e4 c6] Black plays d7-d5. Bc8 develops easily which is a major difference from the French Defence.

Scandinavian Game- [1.e4 d5] Black opens the position on its own and tries to play actively.

Alechkin’s Defence- [1.e4 Nf6] If White moves 2.e5, Black does not move the same piece again. Black weakens its centers with the side thrusts like d7-d6, c7-c5 if White moves his centre pawns.

Sicilian Defence- [1.e4 c5] Many possibilities are available for both and hence it is the most commonly used opening. It also leads to wild strategies.

Some of the most common closed openings are described below:

Queen’s Gambit- [1.d4 d5 2.c4] White captures c4 later on if Black captures c4.

English Game- [1.c4 e5] It almost always leads to closed positions.

King’s Indian Defence- [1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d6] This opening has gained popularity due to its rich strategies and tactics. It is used in games of top class.

Dutch Defence- [1.d4 f5] This opening usually leads to closed tactical positions.

Slav Defence- [1.c4 c6] Tactical considerations play a very important role here. It leads to drawish and balanced positions.

A good player should know about all the openings and then play accordingly. One should try to gain experience and knowledge about these openings. Each opening possesses a key idea, which becomes easier to implement once it is perceived.

By George Wood

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The Chess Game was invented thousands of years ago and right throughout its history it has become known as the king of board games. Such people as Napoleon, Charlie Chaplin, Einstein and Nikola Tesla where renowned for their chess skills.Not only can the game of chess provide you with hours of pleasure it is great for exercising the intellect and the game is known to be able to improve someone’s analytical thinking their creativity and judgment.

Although during the past Chess was mainly played by those of a high standing such as courtiers etc., today you will find that the game attracts people of all ages and all works of life from around the world. Not only do many people find chess intriguing, but it also gives them a chance to pit their wits and skills against another.

All that anyone requires to be able to play chess is a chessboard and chess pieces, you can even play online if you want (all you need then is a computer). A normal chessboard is 8″x 8″ with alternating black and white squares.

There are a total of 32 chess pieces, 16 white and 16 black. One player will play with the white pieces (WHITE player) and their opponent gets the black (BLACK player). The 16 pieces are made up of the King, Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights and 8 Pawns.

At the start of any game the pieces are placed in their initial places as follows:

1. The player places each of his pieces along two rows of the board (ranks) closest to him. 2. The 8 pawns are placed in the front rank with the rest of the pieces placed behind them closest to the player. 3. Starting from the outside of the board and working into the middle the pieces closest to the player should be placed in the following order Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King, Bishop, Knight, Rook. The order they are placed in for the WHITE player is from left to right on the board and for the BLACK player from right to left. Thus you end up with the opponents same piece in each column (file) facing each other on the board.

To help describe the chess positions an “algebraic chess notation” was invented and is easy to learn as it helps the players to identify squares and pieces that are on the board during a game. Below we describe how it works.

When viewing from the WHITE player’s point of view the left most file (column) is known as “A” and the next one “B” and so on until we reach the right most file (column) known as “H”. The rank (row) which is closest to the WHITE player is then called “Rank 1″ or the “First Rank” and then comes “Rank 2 (Second Rank)” and so on until we reach the 8th Rank which is the rank (row) closest to the BLACK player’s pieces.

Chess play can be complicated as each piece moves in a different manner. The object is to take the oponnents king, but this piece itself is fairly liminted in movement and can only move to an adjacent square. The Queen is the most versatile piece and can move any number of squares in any direction. The bishop can move any number of squares on the diagonal. The knight is the most interesting and moves in an “L” shape – up 2 squares and over 1 (or up 1 and over 2) in any direction. The rook can move any number of squares forward, backward, left or right. The pawn can advance only 1 square unless it is his first move then he can move two sqaures forward provided no other pieces are in the way.

By Lee Dobbins

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Owning your own chess set comes along with many benefits that you may not even be aware of. The fact of the matter is that chess sets have a lot to offer the user. Even if you do not like to play the game of chess on a regular basis, you may find out that a high quality chess set is something that fits in nicely with your overall life style. But before you buy a chess set, take the time to look at what is available and what you are actually buying for the money.

Obviously, the number one reason to buy a chess set is if you like to play the game. After all, if you do not have a chess set you will never be able to hone your skills and experience the exhilaration of a long, strategic game. Believe it or not, chess sets are not quite as expensive as you may think. Many people are under this impression, and it in turn scares them away from making a purchase. But if you search around there is no reason that you should not be able to find a chess set that suits your needs.

Have you ever thought about buying a chess set as a simple decoration? There are many people who do this, and it can be a great addition to any room of your home. Chances are that you have probably been to a home where a chess set is the centerpiece of a coffee table or dining room. And guess what? A lot of the people who use a chess set as a decoration have never even played the game before. They simply like the way that it looks, and/or the way that it makes them appear to guests.

Finally, since chess sets come in so many different varieties finding one that matches your home is never a difficult task. The most common are the basic wood or metal sets, but the options do not end there. You can also find themed sets, or ones that are of higher quality such as marble or maple.

Not only can you buy a chess set for yourself, but these can make for great gifts as well. If you have a friend or a player in the family, buying them a quality chess set will set their world on fire! As you can see, chess sets have a lot to offer. If you have never looked into what they have to offer you should do so today.

by Kevin Hall