One of the most popular openings in chess, we look at the Ruy Lopez and how you can be prepared when using this opening. Many of the various variations will be covered in future videos. Be sure to check out www.thechesswebsite.com for more discussion on this and other openings.

We take a look at one of the most common flank openings. White looks to gain center control with his c4 pawn and put pressure on the light squares. For more info on other openings check out the other videos and the website at www.thechesswebsite.com

A tricky gambit that follows the 4 knights games, we look at the different options white has and how black can defend correctly. We also look how bad things can get for black if he does not defend correctly. For info on other openings check out the website at www.thechesswebsite.com

It is a mistaken belief that playing chess is a god-gifted art and barring reaching an ordinary ‘cognizable standard’ you cannot improve. Here ‘cognizable standard’ means you are reaching to the standard which makes you only recognize the good and bad points of the game but without any ability to develop your game accordingly. No doubt, it is a game of superior intelligence. The alertness of the mind, capacity to contemplate on and select the right future are some basic requirements of this brainy game. Of course, you cannot cultivate talent only with the help of your labor but if you have a little of it you can surely bone it. Do not forget the age-old maxim that genius is five percents inspiration and ninety-nine percents perspiration. Moreover, hardly any human being is totally devoid of the element of talent. Only when we fail to perspire for making it develop that we lag behind the others who do. This is what we purpose to do with this article.

There are times when in the absence of the right kind of guidance our talents wither. Since they don’t know how to properly irrigate and fertilize this plant of talent, this get withered away. Remember that like any other discipline, chess also needs your unwaivering devotion. The young boys normally don’t know how to utilize their free time, especially those who have the potentials. Follow the guidelines given ahead and become a good chess player.

1. Read Chess-books and Magazines

After playing some games, read the book carefully. Play more games and the read the book. Each time you absorb some points that seemed previously obscure or did not grip you.
The way you improve most is not by playing opponents, but by playing over well-annotated games. Cover one side’s move usually the winner’s) and think out of each move before looking.
If you are eager to improve your play rapidly, write down the moves of all your games, not only the competitive one (in which recording is compulsory). It is best to write them in chess scorebooks, as loose score-sheets are easily lost. Afterwards, play each game and jot down critical comments. This how the grandmaster developed his skill in chess and became proficient in a short time without any coaching. It is surprising how much the game became clearer when you see every position a second time, in the light of what happened first time. You become your own tutor. If, after writing your comments you submit some of your games and your comments to a competent coach or top player for assessment for a suitable fee will improve more rapidly still.
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