Beginner chess players usually learn better when guided by an experienced and skilled coach. With proper guidance, new players can learn the best tips and get the best tutorials to improve their skills and techniques online. You can access reputable coaches specializing in teaching novices—and all lessons are taught over the internet. Here is an overview of popular chess tips and tutorials you can learn:
- Know the goal of chess – The ultimate objective in chess is to achieve a checkmate, which means trapping the opponent’s king. Checkmate is a term with Persian origin, from the phrase ‘Shah Mat’, which literally means ‘the king is ambushed’.
- Opening goals – The major objective of opening play is to be in the best position when playing White, and equalize when playing Black. White moves first, which may give it a slight advantage, but without strategy, the opponent could obtain the biggest advantage. Hence, when opening, it is advisable to develop pieces by rapidly mobilizing those on practical squares where they can have the most impact during the game and enable them to communicate harmoniously. It is advisable to move the king to a safe place, too, and gain control of the centre squares.
- General rules – Every piece has its own manner of movement. A piece can move to another square or capture one of the opponent’s pieces, replacing that piece on that particular position. Knights, however, cannot move over or go through other pieces.
When a player has no legal moves available and not in check, the situation is a ‘stalemate’, and the game ends in a draw. A checkmate occurs when the king is in a check position and there are no more legal moves for escape. Checkmate ends a game, and the player whose king got checkmated loses.