Blog with Columns

Shortcuts To Chess Improvement

Shortcuts To Chess Improvement

The road to chess improvement is normally a long and difficult struggle which requires a lot of hard work and commitment. According to accepted wisdom you should:

  • practice as much as possible by playing lots of games, especially at slow time controls
  • analyse your own games (and others) preferably with a stronger player, or with a pc
  • solve as many tactics problems as you can every day
  • take lessons from a good coach, or use an effective teaching tool like Chess Mentor

Stuff that for a game of soldiers, eh? Even if you are doing all of the above, surely there must be some shortcuts to improving your game? A few nuggets of advice, or ways of thinking about chess and approaching the game? You bet your sweet bippy there are!

1. Play Each Game Like Your Life Depends On It
Psychology plays a huge part chess, as it does in any competitive game. If you’re not giving your full attention and effort to every game you play, why are you bothering at all?

Don’t be afraid of giving 100% every time and knowing that sometimes you will lose anyway. Have pride in every game you play and every move you make!

2. Play Real Chess, Not Hope Chess

Make sure that for every move you make you think at least three ply (half-moves) deep. So when you make a move you must have figured out what you think is your opponent’s best reply, and what you will do if he plays that.  That’s the minimum requirement to play Real Chess, and you have to do it for every move you play or you might as well be tossing a coin.

3. Use All Your Time In Every Game
Chess is a game which rewards deep thought and long analysis, so why on earth handicap yourself by only using a fraction of your time?  Experienced players will aim to use all their available thinking time in every game, whatever time control is being used.

Time should also be used wisely for each individual move.  If your move is forced, or you have just a few options of apparently similar strength then it makes sense to play quickly. However, if the position is rich with tactical possibilities, or you are about to make a big decision, then slow down and give it some real thought.  There are no take-backs in chess, or in life!

If you find you keep missing killer moves from your opponent, then before you make a move look for all the checks, captures and threats that he has available in response. That should cover most of the moves that could get you into trouble.

  1. Think Like Sherlock!

Imagine this common scenario: your opponent makes a move you don’t expect and you’re not sure why he played it.

Do you:

  1. a) shrug your shoulders, ignore the move and play what you were going to play anyway
    b) light your pipe, settle back for a few moments and figure out what your enemy is up to…
  2. Loose Pieces Drop Off!
    A “Loose” piece is a piece that is either undefended, or not adequately defended. Make sure you check whether any of your opponent’s pieces are loose and can be taken, or whether any of your pieces are vulnerable.

    Most players quickly learn to spot if a piece is en prise (can be taken), but even experienced players can miss a little tactic which means a loose piece drops off!

  3. Dream A Little Dream…
    A lot of faulty chess thinking is caused by what is technically known as a “Quiescence” error. You disregard a strong move because you think it’s impossible, or that the tactics in the position are over.
  4. Know How To Play Against Rabbits And Heffalumps
    In Simon Webb’s classic chess book Chess For Tigershe describes much weaker players as Rabbits, and much stronger players as Heffalumps.  It is important to know the right strategies for playing both these types of opponents.

    If you are playing a rabbit, you need to keep things simple and solid and look to punish any mistakes that the rabbit makes. Wait, and pounce when the time is right!

  5. “When You See A Good Move, Look For A Better One!”
    The great world champion Emanuel Lasker is credited with this quote, and there’s a fundamental truth to it.  When you are deciding on a move to play, you are not just trying to find a good move, you are trying to find the bestone.

Chess Tips & Tricks:Chess Knight

Chess Tips & Tricks:Chess Knight

Chess Knight is a chess piece on a Chess Board. Chess Knight also a very Special chess piece. It is describe as a Armed cavalry in King’s Army. It is get shaped as a Horse Head in real world. Even though cavalry are the fastest unit in a real world it is bit different in a Chess Board.  Anyway He is showing his Hidden attacks pattern even in Chess board as real World. Each player will get 2 Chess Knights in the beginning. White Knights are located on b1 & g1 and Blacks are located on b8 & g8 respectively.

Chess Knight has a Special move pattern. That is not horizontally nor Vertically niter. Also not diagonally. That is actually 2 Steps. First Step Knight jump 2 Square Distance Horizontally or Vertically. Then jump a single Square Distance to Left or Right. See the image Below.  This is a Single movement. This explain Knight has a special movement pattern that all other Chess pieces.
White Knight in the image shows his attacking power. He can Attack in 8 positions. The most Special fact is that Knight is a Jumper. He will not care about other chess pieces on the Road. it needs to be Empty or Enemy’s Chess pieces on any of doted Square He can travel without considering all other facts.

Chess Knight is used in fork Attacks in Chess board very Frequently. He is the Most popular attacker in for fork attacks. Whenever Knight comes to play into the ground we have to very careful with his fork attacks.

Knight has same price to a Chess Bishop. Knight has not a long range but bishop has that. Even though Bishop can cover only a single color and Half of the board. But Knight can reach to any square. But it may be too late.

Another special fact is that When a Knight make a Check it must move the King or it must capture that Knight. We can not block him attacking path. If we get a Check attack from a bishop or a Rook we can block those attacks by using any of chess piece without moving the King. But that is not happening with Knight Attacks.

Knight is the Only one who can challenge to the Queen. Queen can’t attack back or capture Knight at once.  Also keep in mind that Chess Knight is getting killed or trapped easily.

City Business’s white-glove logistics labor

City Business’s white-glove logistics labor

City Business has noticed the demand for customized crating and packaging solutions. The average shipping company has weight and size limitations, and many can’t offer crating options for fragile and high-value items. Their team of experts will design and build a crate for ones precious shipments’ unique requirements. At City Business they contemplate many factors when designing their crates, including the weight, dimensions, value, fragility, and final destination requirements of the shipment. Inside the crates, one will identify custom packaging, blocking and bracing. These crucial elements ensure the item arrives safe, damage free, and on time. In other words, they don’t just place an item in a crate or box; they carefully consider the greatest packaging procedures available. City Business’s white-glove logistics labor is here to give the most excellent moving experience with quality packaging, pickup, and transportation of belongings. Their movers are professionally trained in moving artwork, antiques, pianos, electronics, equipment, and more. Whether one is moving one item or an entire house or office, City Business contains the experience and the equipment to handle any and all of moving necessities. They provide an in-house Notary Public service to their community and customers desiring international shipping from Los Angeles. They assist on a daily basis for Mortgage Lenders, Real Estate Brokers, Attorneys, Accountants, Escrow Divisions, and all other local professionals. For the greatest and most dependable service around, contact them for an appointment and fees. Their Third Party Logistics (3PL) services can be scaled and fitted to meet special needs based on market qualities and demands. Their 3PL services include warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, transportation or a combination of all logistics operations. By providing warehousing and distribution services, value-added services, and warehousing logistics services, City Business can become an integral part of ones business’s supply chain.