Chess Tips and Explantions

    Beginning your journey in chess is an incredibly exciting experience! Many newcomers are advised to explore YouTube videos to boost their skills, but it can be challenging to identify the most reputable channels. If you’re keen to enhance your chess abilities, I suggest checking out these excellent YouTube channels: Gothamchess, Chess Talk, and GM Hikaru (Hikaru Nakamura). I found a particularly useful video from Gothamchess that offers excellent tips for beginners to start winning games. Credit Gothamchess Link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_KAc128DlMY     I will also be including a puzzle in every blog from now on. Below is the puzzle. I will reveal the answer in the next blog. Credit: Lichess            

    In chess, controlling the center is crucial to your success. Gaining control of this area is usually your first goal in a match because it’s often the most contested spot on the board. To boost your chances of winning, keeping a strong grip on the center is vital. One great way to do this is through the London system.     With the London system, you start by moving your queen's pawn and easily develop your bishop to f4. This clever strategy helps you seize control of the center from the very first couple of moves.   As you can see, winning becomes much more attainable when you prioritize center control, underscoring just how important it is in chess.  

      Notation is when you note down your moves. This can be very confusing for people who do not regularly play chess. On a standard chessboard, there are letters on the x-axis and numbers on the y-axis. For moves like casting, capturing, and checks, there are special symbols. Captures are x. Checks are + Castling is o-o. If you do Queen side casting, then it's o-o-o. Now, when you notate, you must say which piece you are moving. You put this in front of the square name to say that you moved. The following are the letters corresponding to each piece. Queen=Q. King=K. Bishop=B. Knight=N. Rook=N. Pawn=P. . Each square has its own letter name, like d3.  You can find this information by looking at the square, then look up the board at the borders. At the top the there will be a number. If you look to the right of the square and go to the borders, you would find a number. Then put the letter in front of the number, and you will have the name of the square. Then you must ...