Hey there,

so we're going to have a chess tournament in our fraternity soon. I havent really played chess in years, I used to be pretty good at it (got 1/32, 2/32 in 2 youth tourneys), but I never knew any strategies.

So, while my usual strategie is to just outplay my opponents, I wonder if there are some tipps/tricks/strategies that apply in general. For instance, I remember someone telling me that reigning the middle of the field is usually a good way to win (and that has worked for me so far).

So if anyone got any good tipps or can link to those it'll be much appreciated.

Are you looking to study/practice at all, or just for some basic strategies you can use on the fly during your games?

Do you have any stats on your opposition. It can be helpful to glance over a chess database of games that your opponent has played and plan accordingly. Especially if you like to play in certain positions that mesh well with him. You can almost 'plan the game' ahead of time which has a lot of advantages.

If you haven't really been keeping up with it, I'd take some time to get on chess tempo and do some chess tactics. You might also play a few chess games as practice (Chesscube, FICS being options).

It is hard to get really specific, but I would recommend that you try and play the game so that you reach a position that you find comfortable. So, if you're going to play a positional game, then make sure that you prevent your opponent from opening major lines, etc. If you know anything about your opposition at all, and what type of games styles they like, it can help you. I would try to play in a fashion that takes your opponents out of their comfort zone.

"Beginner" can represent an awfully large range of skill levels. The best starting point would probably be to go play a game online somewhere, and then post the full game here for us to see. That will let us much more accurately gauge the level that you're at, and tailor our advice from there.

Also, a big factor is how much time you plan to put into preparing for this event. Are you looking for a few quick tips that you can spend an hour thinking about? Or do you want to do some more serious studying to really get a leg up on your competition?

Im a beginner too, but ill try give a few advice and see if some more advanced players have something to add.

Move only each piece once, and only once ( This is important, because you dont want to lose tempo by moving the same pices more than once before all your pieces are developed) unless there is a tactic wich can gain you and imidiate advantage ( Winning the game, winning some material, or getting a favorable position)

Each piece you move should be moved in such a way that...

1. You king gets ready to castle so you have safety in your king position and develop your rook in a natural way towards the centre.

2. You take control of the center.

3. Your pieces should back eachother up defending each other

In general you want to move your...

Rooks to open files
Bishops to open diagonals
Avoid placing your knight on the edge of the board.

Now you do all this, and while you do it you try to hinder your oponent from doing the same thing.

GG, and GL with your tournament :-)

Above post pretty good. I'm a notch above beginner so I feel qualified to advise:

1. Make sure you can mate with a K + R vs. K.

2. Play 1. e4. Play 1. e4...e5. Play 1. d4...d5. It is easier to learn, and in the case of e4 lead to more open positions (more tactical...good learnin').

2a. This relates to controlling the center. But you want to control it with classicism, meaning with pawns. **** any type of hypermodern financhetto opening.

3. Always count how many times pieces attack and defend various pieces.

4. Usually castle, but not "predictably". Don't let'em line up the bishop on the A2 diag and then castle into it.

5. Middle game is about who's minor pieces are superior. Knights want advanced posts, bishops open lanes.

6. The opening is about tempo; Whoever's pieces move forward by exchanges favor that person.


6 random points of suspect validity. Enjoy this great game!

You should just practice tactics. If you learn an opening and they dont play the opening you are screwed. If you learn a line of attack and it has sharp moves you might miss one and you are screwed. If you practice tactics you will start seeing the moves without a book.