Category: Chess

Let’s go back to your childhood, you are all set to play your favourite board game, and you have a bowl of sizzling hot popcorn coupled with your favourite drink. Simpler and easy times. Wasn’t it? But little did we realize how much board games were helping us.

Board games are fun, engaging, and one of the most engaging activities that all of us would have indulged in as a kid. But what if we told there is more to board games than what our eyes meet, and they are more than just games.

Board games are an essential part of a child’s growing up, and they actually shape a lot of things.

We Have Listed 8 Reasons Why Board Games Are More Than Just Games.

1. Enriches The Mind and Brain Cells

playing-chess-enriches-mind-and-brain-cells

There is a lot of brain activity that goes along with playing a board game.Playing board games keeps your brain cells stimulated, and this helps in developing a healthy mind. They activate parts of the brain involved in cognitive functioning, such as memory formation, decision-making, problem-solving, and more.In general, board games invokes curiosity and also promotes creativity and hence is one of the best ways to keep your mind stimulated and afresh.

2. Reduces Stress And Improves Overall Well Being

Board games are fun to play, and the numerous giggles and laughter that comes along with playing it make sure that your blood pressure is at the right level. In today’s times, there are numerous things that we hustle between, and to escape the hustle and bustle, board games can be one of the best ways. In a study, it was found that playing board games release happy hormones like endorphins which will aid in improving the overall well being of an individual. 

3. Promotes Teamwork And Builds Relationships

playing-chess-promotes-teamwork

Most of the board games are played by numerous people together. And then there are a few board games like Chess that are played by two players. Whether it is a two-player board game or multiplayer game, it promotes teamwork and aids in improving socializing skills and building relationships with others in a fun and engaging way, and board games are the best.

Kids who grow up playing board games find it much easier to socialize with others. It is also one of the best ways for elders to widen their network, form friendships and relationships, and flee the mundanity. 

4. Teaches You Life Skills

A simple board game can prepare you for life. How is that, you ask? Well, board games are not all flowers and roses. You win sometimes, and you lose sometimes. These uncertainties will teach you that you win some and lose some in life. Board games will also help you tackle tough situations, just like how we do in real life.

Board games are one of the best ways to learn to be a sport. A board game is very much like a life game. The only difference between a board game and life is that you don’t have multiple lives or get to play the game of life again and again. 

5. Builds Confidence And Self-esteem 

According to Manhattan Psychology Group, playing board games boosts self-esteem and play a major role in enhancing the confidence of an individual. Imagine you are playing a board game, and you win the game at the first move? You feel ecstatic, and this gives a sense of accomplishment.

These factors contribute a lot to positive self-esteem. The fact that board games accustom individuals to different uncertainties of the game and help them tackle it can positively affect developing self-confidence. 

6. Develops Motor Skills And Eye-Hand Coordination

playing-chess-develops-motor-skills-and-eye-hand-coordination

In a board game, the players get to handle small pieces of coins, and this is a major factor in helping them develop motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Board games rightly enhance gross motor skills and fine motor skills. For growing kids who have trouble with eye-hand coordination and delayed motor skills, playing board games can come in handy.

Did you know that it is also found that board games can actually stimulate the areas of the brain that are involved in language skills and improve the efficiency of your language? Rolling the dice, moving the coins, handling the card and shuffling the sets can actually do so much more. 

7. Board Games Teach To Set And Reach Goals

It is no doubt that board games require a certain amount of planning and strategy. To win any board game, people need to plan, have a specific strategy and carry out the tactics. Board games help set goals and also make use of techniques to reach the end goal, and kids who play board games will learn these from a young age. Thereby being ready to hustle through life and reach their goals and destination. 

8. An Escape From The Technology Arrest

We are all stuck in a technology loop. Working hours together in front of laptops and scrolling through the Instagram feed till our thumb hurt has become a normal thing.

Board games help escape this technology arrest and will give you a break from the digital world. Connecting and interacting with others in the real world and playing board games is one of the greatest joys. 

No matter what your age, indulge in board games and make sure that the kids in your homes indulge in playing board games as well.

If you are looking to learn a board game, then enroll in Kaabil kids chess coaching class

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Conclusion

Every board game has its advantages and benefits. But for kids, nothing comes close to the skills a game of Chess can bring. From improving cognitive skills to improving memory power, there is so much that Chess can do to improve a kid’s growth.

Want to kick-start your child’s Chess journey with one of the best online Chess training platforms? Then enrol now in Kaabil Kids. With a Grandmaster designed curriculum and FIDE-rated trainers, ensure the best Chess training experience for your kids.

Want a sneak peek into our training methodology? Then join our free demo class and then make your move!

Which is your favourite board game? Let us know in the comments below!

All of us would’ve played the game of Chess at some point in time in our childhood. And for all the right reasons, Chess was included in most school’s extra-curricular activities. Even our parents encouraged us to take up the board game. So, why is this game given such high importance? Especially while growing up?

Chess trains the growing brain in childhood, unlike any other activity. Right from improving memory to helping students do better in the other aspects of life, Chess helps a lot. The main reason for this is the very nature of the game. Chess requires a lot of thinking, planning, calculating and strategic thinking, some of the skills that are important in life in general.

Here are some of the reasons your child should learn Chess:

One of the more popular reasons a child should take up Chess is that it improves their mathematics. With many concepts and approaches being the same, Chess and Math go hand in hand.

Here Is How Playing Chess Can Improve Your Child’s Mathematics

1. Helps You Calculate Better

Maths is all about numbers, and so is Chess. One of the first things a child is taught while learning Chess is the pieces and their points. So they understand why sacrificing a 5 point Rook for a 1 point Pawn is not a good idea. A simple calculation can tell them that they will be 4 points behind and lose the edge over the game while doing so.

This introduces basic addition and subtraction and also improves basic understanding of numbers and how to handle and manage them. In addition to this, they are also required to calculate multiple moves simultaneously and figure out their outcome, which again helps them improve their calculation abilities.

2. Helps In Memorizing Formulas

Formulas are a set of steps that helps you derive an answer. And Chess begins with exactly that. Players of every level, be it beginner or Grandmaster, have to be ready with a few openings, to begin with. These openings have a set of fixed moves that, if played correctly, can give them an advantage in the beginning.

There are hundreds of openings for both White and Black, and if a player wants to get better and understand the game well, they have to learn them. This makes children familiar with the concepts of learning set moves and steps to arrive at a solution. And they can apply these fundamentals while learning maths.

3. Helps In Solving Mathematical Problems

Math problems are easier to solve after constantly practising the basic concepts they are based on. Which again draws parallels with Chess. Chess puzzles are something that one has to practice regularly in order to be better at the game of Chess. Puzzles push players to think tactically and look for solutions in any given position, something that is key in solving math problems.

4. Helps You Be Patient And Concentrate Better

Math, Chess, or any other problem in life, one has to be patient in order to see every little threat and opportunity to solve it. This aspect of life is honed with Chess. While playing Chess, a player takes their time, looks for the various moves and tries to make the best move that makes the most logical sense.

This makes the players understand the value of patience, critical thinking, taking a step back and keeping a calm mind. Math can never be solved in haste. One has to understand the problem and all the information provided to solve it the right way. And it can be done by patiently reading and understanding it correctly.

5. Helps You Analyze And Understand Problems

After every game, it is advisable for Chess players to analyze their games and understand the reasoning behind each move. By analyzing the game, one can figure out where exactly did they go wrong or which move gave them a win.

Similarly, in math, steps are just as important as the final solution. Playing Chess can help kids understand the value of analyzing each step and not just the final result.

6. Helps In Strategic Thinking

One of the key skills required to excel in maths is the ability to think strategically. Predicting, making calculated assumptions, and implementing the right theories and formulas are how you grow in math. The essence is very much the same in Chess. One has to calculate their moves the right way, logically predict their opponent’s moves and make calculated sacrifices and combinations of moves to win.

7. Helps In Improving IQ And Overall Performance

Research has proved that kids who play Chess had higher IQ and grasping power than kids who did not. This makes it easier for them to understand the theories, formulas, steps, etc.

There are a lot of parallels between Chess and Math. And playing the game regularly can hone the right skills that can come in handy while doing math. So begin your Chess journey now!

Conclusion

If you are looking for the right mentorship for your Child, Kaabil Kids is the perfect place to ensure the holistic development of your child’s skills. With a curriculum designed by Grandmaster Tejas Bakre and a team of FIDE-rated players training them, children can master the game in no time!

So enroll now and take the first step!

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Chess is a game that drives interest from both amateurs and professionals. And every player, depending on their age, their professional level, their experience, and their practice, views the game in a different way. There are many skills one must master in order to grow in Chess.

There are tactics, strategic thinking, analytical thinking, and many more. But one of the key factors in the game is the player’s ability to foresee the moves.

To play effectively, a player should be able to predict what his opponent might reply to his move and what the next few moves are going to look like. This is called seeing ahead in Chess. Some players who have just started playing the game may gain the ability to see 1-2 moves ahead, and that comes with regular playing and understanding the dynamics of the game.

Let’s Take A Look Into How Different Levels Of Players Can See The Number Of Moves Differently.

Beginners

As a beginner, calculating and seeing a few moves ahead is not the first thing that comes to mind. They majorly focus on learning the basics, the movement of pieces, openings, etc. If they can grasp all the basic concepts, they can move on to learning lines, strategies, and other advanced aspects of the game. And this is where foreseeing comes into the picture.

A beginner, once familiar with the game, can see up to 2-3 moves ahead, but that too only in the case of forced moves. Usually, when a Grandmaster thinks ahead, he knows the most obvious and logical move the opponent might play, and accordingly, they plan their moves ahead.

moves-can-you-see-ahead-in-chess

But for beginners, there is no guarantee that the opponent will end up playing the best move. Hence, thinking ahead isn’t that easy for a beginner, but it can be done if you play a lot and improve your game.

Intermediate Players

These are players who have played the game for a while, know all the basics and complex aspects of the game, but haven’t reached an expert level. Let us assume their rating to be around 100-1500.

These players have played enough and can predict a few moves. And the opponents will also play the most logical moves, hence making the prediction process easy. These players can also see 3-4 moves ahead in any part of the game. This helps them prepare better openings, set up traps, and work towards checkmates.

Grandmasters

The mind of a Grandmaster works differently. In any given situation, they mentally have a board and think of all the possible moves and the possible outcomes. They don’t just see many moves ahead, but many moves ahead of each move they think of. They can calculate hundreds of combinations in their head and play the best move in the position.

Grandmasters have been known to play against some of the strongest computers and beat them. In 1996, Gary Kasparov beat IBM’s Deep Blue computer and showed the human mind could comprehend moves better than a computer.

grandmasters-chess-moves

Grandmasters are always on the lookout for “Candidate moves”, which are all the possible initial moves that feel natural in one position, but later require deep calculation.

To see how Grandmasters think, watch any friendly match Grandmasters play online, and they will walk you through their thought process. This insane calculation was one of the many seen on Hikaru Nakamura’s stream.

How To Improve Your Chess Vision

As a beginner, what are the different activities you can do to make your ability to foresee moves and calculate better? Let’s have a look:

  1. Do a lot of puzzles consistently
  2. Play regularly and recognize patterns
  3. Always look for the weakest spot in the opponent’s position
  4. Before making every move, see if your opponent has any Checks or Captures against you
  5. Play patiently and think of the best and the most natural move your opponent can play against you
  6. Look for forced moves which are either checks or leads to winning pieces

If you are a beginner, it is best to have a mentor or a coach to help you understand and predict the moves. A coach can help you analyze your games, help you understand how to calculate and how an opponent might retort.

Conclusion

If you want to begin your Chess journey, then Kaabil Kids is one of India’s best online Chess training platforms. With a module prepared by international Grandmaster Tejas Bakre, they train the students in all the aspects of the game. All their trainers are FIDE-rated and can help you understand the small intricacies of Chess, which in turn can make you think ahead. Thinking ahead is an integral aspect of professional Chess and something every titled player trains hard on. This helps them gain an advantage in the opening, win pieces in the mid-game, and win in the endgame. So practice and hone your chess foresight now!

Chess has been a popular board game that many people have always loved to play and still love to play. Chess is a two-player board game played on a 64 square arranged in an eight by eight grid board. 

Playing Chess has many benefits like increasing focus, boosting memory, creativity, decision making and planning skills, boosting self-awareness, and contributing to cognitive development on the whole. More than anything, Chess is a great form of entertainment and engagement. 

Given the benefits of playing Chess, there are numerous people wanting to learn and play Chess. From kids to adults, the population of people playing Chess are numerous and overwhelming.

Did You Know That There Are Nearly 605 Million People Who Play Chess Regularly Worldwide? 

This rightly explains why there are numerous chess coaching classes in Chennai and in many other places. If you are interested in learning Chess and looking for coaching classes in Chennai, then go through this blog to find the right place that suits you the best. 

Here Is The Top 10 Chess Coaching Classes In Chennai To Boost Your Gaming Skills

1. Kaabil Kids

If you are looking for chess classes in Chennai, then you should definitely consider Kaabil Kids. Kaabil kids is the most accessible and affordable online chess training platform. The kids will be trained by professional chess trainers. Kaabil kids have rightly trained many kids to learn and play Chess. This has been a game-changer for many. 

Their training is inquiry-based and takes a collaborative approach. This provides the kids with the space to learn and evaluate the possibilities of different moves they can make in the game. 

The course lasts 2 years, and the children participate in tournaments and numerous events, leading them to get a holistic understanding of Chess. 

Kaabil Kids ensures that the needed assistance is provided even after the coaching has been completed.

Few of The Notable Aspects Of Kaabil kids Chess Coaching Class. 

1. Kaabil kids is the world’s best online live chess learning platform 

2. The course curriculum is carefully designed by the Grandmaster 

3. The trainers are highly experienced and FIDE rated. 

4. They make use of robust performance measurement tools in their course.

5. Their pedagogy is innovative and highly graspable 

5. Their teaching is structured around the implementation of child psychology 

Book Demo Class

Chess curriculum 

Level 1 is the beginner level, and the players will be introduced to the fundamentals of Chess. 

Level 2 is the intermediate level where the players will be trained to face school level and state-level tournaments. 

Level 3 is the advanced level. The players who cross this level will become FIDE rated players. 

Level 4 is the most advanced level, and the players will become experts in Chess. Players who cross this level will be able to ace international tournaments. 

Contact

Phone: +91 98110 23524

Website: www.kaabilkis.com

2. Chess Gurukul 

Chess Gurukul is one of the most reputed and well-known chess coaching classes in Chennai. Chess Gurukul offers both online and in-person academy chess coaching in Chennai. The students who have been trained from Chess Gurukul have participated in many national and international tournaments and have won accolades for the same. 

Contact 

Phone: +91 98840 79943

Website: www.chessgurukul.com

3.KQ Chess Academy 

KQ chess academy believes in the phrase that everyone is a champion, and it helps develop every chess enthusiast into a champion. They offer modern classrooms, essential tools and materials for learning, lectures and seminars and much more. KQ chess academy offers numerous options like online classes, academy classes, private classes at the academy and private classes at the student’s premises. It is one of the best chess classes in Chennai. 

Contact

Phone: +91 94444 75095 

Wesbite: www.kqchessacademy.com 

4. Rapid Chess Academy

Rapid chess academy is the most sought after chess class in Chennai. The rapid academy believes in the phrase, “Chess is the art which expresses the science of logic.” Rapid chess academy is known to offer chess coaching in schools, activity centres, corporates, colleges, online classes, home coaching and more. Rapid chess academy also has chess stimulation software that promotes fun based learning making it the best chess coaching in Chennai. 

Contact 

Phone: +91 98658 15524

Website: www.rapidchess.in

5. VBS Chess Academy 

VBS chess coaching classes in Chennai is pretty popular. VBS has conducted many state and district level chess tournaments and has rightly encouraged the students to participate in them. They are known to offer customized chess coaching for both beginners and intermediate players. 

Contact

Phone: +91 97890 98424 

Website: www.vbschessacademy.com

6. Anna Nagar Chess Academy 

Anna Nagar chess academy has been in the industry for over 10 years and is known to offer valuable chess coaching in Chennai. The coaching is split into three levels; beginners, intermediate and advanced levels and the right coaching is offered. 

Annanagar chess Academy is also known for conducting inter-club tournaments, holiday camps, private coaching centres and more. They also sell chess board sets and informative chess books.

Contact

Website: www.anca.in 

7. C cube

C cube is one of the well-known chess classes in Chennai. C cube is known to offer both online and offline classes for kids. The coaching covers all aspects from the beginners level to the advanced level. They teach all tactics and practise traps. The kids are encouraged to indulge in more play sessions. C cube is also known to offer free demo sessions, and you can check them out as they are one of the notable chess coaching classes in Chennai. 

Contact

Phone: +91 99629 87760

8. Krissh Chess Academy 

Krissh chess academy is a small yet effective chess classes in Chennai. Krissh chess academy believes that Chess is a royal game and does its best in offering the right coaching to many kids. Located in Annanagar, Krissh chess academy has trained many students making them good chess players. 

Contact

Phone: +91 97911 04577

Website: www.business.google.com/website/krissh-chess-academy

9. Sadurangam GM Chess Academy 

Sadurangam GM chess academy aims to develop many grandmasters in Chess. Sadurangam has trained many young players and shaped their skills, helping them to become top-rated players in Chess. Sadurangam is spread across many countries like India, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, UAE, and Singapore. Sadurangam is one of the trustable chess coaching classes in Chennai. 

Contact

Phone: +91 98947 90209

Website: www.sadurangamacademy.blogspot.com

10. Elite Chess Academy 

Elite chess Academy is another notable academy known to offer chess coaching classes in Chennai. Elite Academy is run by highly qualified chess players. They are known to offer chess coaching, conduct chess tournaments, sell chess books, chessboards, chess clocks and more. 

Contact

Phone: +91 81440 41880

Website: www.chennaichess.in

Conclusion

The above are the top 10 chess coaching classes in Chennai that will help boost your gaming skills. If you are interested in enrolling on the best chess coaching class in Chennai, then contact us or leave a comment below. 

It’s always a big deal to get your hands on your first ever Chessboard. And to get started, one has to understand the Chessboard basics. Most of us must have had either the small plastic one or the one with magnets, and with those small pieces, everyone began their Chess journey.

While some left their Chess story there, some took it seriously and upgraded to bigger and better Chess sets. And with that, they started their advance Chess coaching for beginners.

There are many types of Chessboards and pieces—plastic, vinyl, marble, steel, etc. But the feeling of holding wooden pieces is unlike anything, and any Chess player can vouch for that.

Just like every other sport, Chess also has an international standard set for the boards, pieces, clocks, etc. Each aspect of the game has to be followed according to the rules and regulations.

In Chess, these standards are set by FIDE (International Chess Federation), and they change from the type of game and the type of tournament. Let’s take a look at the basics and guidelines to understand the game better.

The Chess Board

Chessboard basics start with the squares. The board is made up of 64 squares in an 8×8 grid. The squares are alternatively coloured and identical. All the squares and all the sides of the Chessboard should be of the same size. In the beginning, the Chessboard should be set up in a particular order, where one half has the white pieces, and the other half has the black pieces.

Each square is identified with a letter and a number. The vertical squares are lettered from a-h, and the horizontal ones are numbered 1-8. And based on this, the squares are identified.

The White pieces are to be placed from a1-h1 and a2-h2. And the Black pieces are to be placed from a7-h7 and a8-h8.

Chess Board Dimensions

Different governing bodies have different standards set for the board and square sizes:

According to the USCF (United States Chess Federation), the square size should be between 2-2.5 inches. In tournaments, the USCF maintains 2.25 inches squares.

According to FIDE, competitive Chess should be played with a square size of 5-6 cm, and World Championship to be played with a 2 inches square board.

Chess Pieces

According to the FIDE, Chess pieces should be made of plastic, wood, or any other material imitating them. The height of the pieces should be kept as follows, with 10% differences allowed:

King: 9.5 cm

Queen: 8.5 cm

Bishop: 7 cm

Knight: 6 cm

Rook: 5.5 cm

Pawn: 5 cm

In FIDE competitions, Staunton style pieces have to be used and shaped in a way that they are distinguishable from each other.

The Black pieces should be dark shades of Black or Brown. And the White pieces should be White or Cream or other light colours.

Basic Chess Guidelines

The King’s base diameter should be maintained between 40-50% of its height.

The base diameter of pieces should be 75-80% of the square. This ensures the pieces are clearly visible and rests comfortably on the squares.

Why Do We Need The Right Guidelines And Measurements To Play?

Everyone has their own preferences for their favourite type of pieces. There are chess boards and pieces that are best for playing, and then there are some that are only for collectors and showpieces. So go ahead, and find your favourite Chess sets!

If anyone is asked about the history of Chess, India automatically comes to mind. And it is true in a big way. What started as a small board game played by the Kings has grown to be a very popular game that everyone knows about.

The journey and history of Chess have been a colourful one, despite being played on black and white squares. From Murphy to Magnus, Tal to Teimur, or Alekhine to Anand, let’s look at the robust history of Chess. And the training has evolved from learning from books, from mentors, to online Chess Coaching.

Origins

The history of Chess, as believed, goes more than 500 years back by an Indian board game, Chaturanga. It is believed to be the predecessor of the modern game and has been developed ever since. From India, the game moved to Persia and slowly throughout the world.

Modern Chess as we know it can be traced back to the 1800s. Unlike the modern players, Chess in those times focussed on quick and tactical moves and not long, planned, well-thought moves. This is what was called the Romantic era of Chess. This was the era where we saw the development of many major openings, and players like Paul Murphy, Howard Staunton, and Adolf Anderssen dominated the game.

Development

Slowly, the game started taking shape, as we know. The official terms of Grandmasters and World Champions started having a bigger impact and got official status. The first known World Champion title went to Wilhelm Steinitz in 1886. From then on, there were quite a few champions, and the last one in this particular line was Alexander Alekhine.

From then, the official list of FIDE World Champions began, with Mikhail Botvinnik from Russia becoming the first one, thus starting Soviet domination.

The late 1900s

The late 1900s of Chess saw the USSR players take over the world of Chess, with the likes of Botvinnik, Spassky, Tal, Petrosian, Smyslov, and many more, winning all the major tournaments. Success in Chess became synonymous with USSR.

This streak of Soviet players was broken by the American, Bobby Fischer, in probably the greatest and the most well-known Chess championship ever. The Fischer-Spassky 1972, Championship match at Reykjavik, Iceland. This concluded with Fischer as the winner and a hope that the Soviets could be beaten.

Fischer vs Spassky in 1972 World Chess Championship

The Shift

Some of the last legends of the 1900s era were the legendary Russian Grandmasters, Gary Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov, till the new age players arrived. They reigned the Chess world for decades and were a household name across the world.

Apart from them, when Fischer came to the limelight, he was regarded as the greatest player of all time. But Fischer stopped playing competitive Chess after the match with Spassky and then forfeited his title later on.

Fischer also contributed 2 huge things to the game that will be a pivotal part of Chess long after his death. He devised the Fischer clock, based on which all the modern Chess clocks are made. These clocks add increment time after every move. He also started a new variant of Chess, called the Fischerandom, which later came to known as Chess 960.

Instating an Official Body

There were many disputes when it came to instating a body of Chess. After all that, FIDE(Fédération Internationale des Échecs or the International Chess Federation) turned out to be the current governing body. There were many attempts right from the year 1914 to form an official body, and they failed many times. And FIDE was finally formed in 1924.

In 1986, Grandmaster Gary Kasparov created the Grandmaster Association, which lasted till 1993. He then started the Professional Chess Association, which reigned from 1993 to 1996 as a competitor to FIDE.

Since then, FIDE has been the sole governing body, conducting Olympiads, World Championships, and thousands of other Tournaments, and is also in charge of the rules and handing out titles.

Modern Chess

Modern Chess has come a long way from the time it started. After Kasparov, Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik and India’s Viswanathan Anand became the legend of the game. Viswanathan Anand became a veteran of the sport by winning a streak of World Championship matches and defending the title for more than 7 years.

His streak was then broken by the current World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, who by many, is considered the Greatest Player of all time. Magnus Carlsen from Norway has successfully retained his title from the year 2013 and has achieved a rating of 2822, which is the highest of all time.

Modern Chess has grown to have many interesting and nail-biting formats to invite a larger crowd. There is not just Classical Chess, but also Rapid Chess (10-60 mins), Blitz Chess (less than 10 mins), and Bullet Chess (Less than 3 minutes).

Players like Anish Giri, Vidit Gujarathi, Hikaru Nakamura, Praggnanandha, Nihal Sarin, Ian Nepomniatchi, etc., are now well-known faces in the games and are keeping the spark of the game alive with their firing gameplay.

Chess prodigies are slowly increasing, ensuring the future of the game is bright. 

Women in Chess:

In the beginning, Women playing the sport wasn’t a usual phenomenon. From that day and age to today, the development has only been upwards. It was only in 1927 that the first Women’s World Championship was conducted, which was won by Vera Menchik.

Now, most of the Chess tournaments are open tournaments, and both men and women can participate. Some of the biggest names and strongest women players of all time include Maia Chiburdanidze from Georgia, Judit and Susan Polgar, Hou Yifan, and Koneru Humpy.

To encourage more women in Chess, there are separate women titles in addition to the usual IM and GM titles like WGM and WIM.

With so many tournaments played worldwide, so many mediums to watch the game, and so many platforms to learn and play the game, it is without a doubt that the Chess fever is just starting and is here to be.

Conclusion

The best way to master the game is to make sure you start early. And if you are looking for the perfect Chess platform for your child to learn the game, then Kaabil Kids is the place to be. With a curriculum curated by Grandmaster Tejas Bakre and his team of FIDE-certified trainers, be ensured with quality Chess training for your kid. The curriculum ensures holistic development with an in-house psychologist that will help your kid grow mentally.

Book Demo Class

Which do you think is the most powerful piece in Chess?

The Queen? The King?

The Pawns! Well, everyone has their own perspective and expertise with certain pieces, but if you know how to handle the pawns well, they can wreak havoc and give you a stronghold of the entire Chessboard, and even the most basic Pawn moves can take on Queens and Rooks. And who can forget that Pawns have the ability to change into any piece once they reach the last rank.

And that is why when you start your Chess journey, it is important to observe your Pawn moves and see what’s working and what isn’t. That is why if kids plan to pursue Chess professionally, online chess coaching for kids is a great way to brush up their Chess skills.

So to make the most of the Pawns, it is very important to make sure how you move the first few moves. These moves will ensure your Pawn structure throughout the game.

WHAT IS A PAWN STRUCTURE?

Pawns, unlike other pieces, have the least mobility on the board. And hence to make the most of them, they have to be set in a way that together, 2 or more pawns create restrictions or attacks. The way the pawns are set is called a Pawn Structure.

Pawns are the only pieces that do not move backwards. And hence whatever formation they make are either permanent or long-term structures. So, each Pawn move has to be made with care to ensure even the most basic Pawn moves are effective.

WHY IS A PAWN STRUCTURE IMPORTANT?

So let us look at a few basic Pawn structures that every beginner should learn about:

1.Isolated D Pawn Structure:The Queen’s Gambit Isolani

This pawn formation comes primarily out of the Queen’s Gambit position and has been a very successful weapon of the legendary World Champion, Gary Kasparov. In this position, the game revolves around the White’s extended D pawn. If Black can capture that Pawn, it will give them a big structural advantage. But if White can extend that further to D5, it can get a great development advantage.

Kasparov is well known for sacrificing the D4-D5 Pawn and then unleashing an attack from his other pieces that pose a great threat to the opponent.

2.Caro Formation

As the name suggests, this Pawn structure is majorly formed with the Caro-Kann opening. It gives both sides a solid structure to play and ensures a long strategic game. With the Pawn on D4, White has a slight edge over the position, and Black has to work throughout the game to try and equalize the position.

There is something for both sides in the position. White with the D4 Pawn has great control on C5 and E5 square. And Black has 2 Pawns on the 6th rank, ready to prevent any advancement ideas of White.

3.Sicilian Dragon

The formation is so named because the Pawn structure resembles the Draco(Dragon) constellation. White’s most common move is E4, and the Sicilian Defense is the best reply to that move. And in the Sicilian opening, the Dragon formation is an effective way to prevent any D4 ideas which White might implement to gain centre control.

For White, there is a good outpost in the centre and a chance to attack the Kingside. And Black has a chance to fianchetto the Bishop and play with an attack on the long diagonal.

4.Stonewall Formation

Stonewall structure is one of the most popular and common Pawn structures that are symmetrical in nature and results in closed games. In this structure, both E4 and E5 squares are blocked by pieces of both sides; the players approach carefully as to how to take back the control of those squares.

Players have to make good use of their other minor pieces to capture the pawns creating this structure and exchange their pieces wisely.

5.D5 Chain Formation

This chain that usually favours White is majorly formed from the King’s Indian opening. This position arrives when Black tries to attack White’s central Pawn, and instead of capturing it, White extends its D Pawn. This is a closed game where attacks can be seen happening on the opposite side of the board, where each player tries to start the attack before the opponent.

The players fight for space against the other player. White has a slight edge as the D5 Pawn marches ahead as the leader with an army of connected Pawns behind it.

6.E5 Chain Formation

E5 Pawn formation is a mirror image of D5 Pawn formation, where White has space on Black’s Kingside. White extends its Pawn to E5 and takes control of the 6th rank. Black, on the other hand, tries to capture the leading E5 Pawn and weaken the structure.

Similar to D5 ideas, there is an opposite side attack here as well, and a race as to which side will attack first.

7.Slav Formation

The Slav formation focuses on C file and is formed out of the Slav, Catalan, and a few other openings. This is one of the most common replies to White’s Queen’s Gambit. The position leads to space advantage, and a favourable position for White and Black is left to find counterplay throughout the game. But overall, Black’s position is solid, and there is no immediate threat.

8.Rauzer Formation

Rauzer is a Pawn structure that is formed after the King’s India opening. Apart from the slight imbalances of the C Pawns, the Pawn structure is fairly similar. The reason Black’s C Pawn advanced just 1 square is to control the D5 square and stop White’s Knight from coming forward. And White tries to gain space and control towards Black’s ranks.

There is no conclusive statement that these basic Pawn structures guarantees any sort of win over any side. You have to play carefully and ensure all the right moves in order to make the most of the advantage each Pawn structure has to offer.

The principle to play a game of Chess is pretty straightforward, make all the best moves, and win the game. One slip and all your good moves so far will not matter anymore. But to play safe and ensure a comfortable and solid position, you need to have a solid foundation. And that is where the concept to learn Chess openings come into play.

Chess openings are the first few sets of moves that you play at the beginning of your game. These openings have to be carefully planned and studied to ensure that you have a counter move for every move that the opponent has to make. Hence every beginner has to learn them in the beginning of their Chess journey by either learning through books or taking up online Chess coaching for beginners.

Why Should You Learn Chess Openings?

Terminologies In Chess Openings You Should Be Familiar With

Grandmasters and other titles players are familiar with most of the openings and all the deep lines within them.

As A Beginner, How Do You Learn Chess Openings? Let’s Have A Look

1.Figure Out Your Playing Style

Before you find your preferred opening, before you start delving deep into the kind of moves you will choose to play, figure out what kind of a player you are. There are various Chess-playing styles that include attacking, defensive, positional, technical, tricky, calculative, dynamic, practical, etc. Each playing style is characterized by how the player thinks and how he responds to the moves on the board.

Once you figure these out, it will be easy to narrow down a few sets of openings, which will make it easy for you to learn Chess openings.

2.Find Out A Few Openings You Are Comfortable With

Once that is sorted. It’s time to learn a few openings. And in the beginning, you really can’t expect to grasp all the hundreds of openings that exist. Just narrow down 2-3 openings as White and 2-3 openings as black, and start exploring.

Make sure the openings compliment your playing style and are comparatively simpler for beginners. The best way to approach it is to start playing whatever opening comes naturally to you, then stick to it and start exploring.

3.Trail And Error

Playing the opening again and again will tell you how differently your opening can branch out. And with trial and error, you can get better at it. Let’s say playing Knight at c3 didn’t work in one game. Then try finding an alternate move in the next game. Be consistent, and master the opening.

4.Refer Openings Books

There are a lot of great books that will take you through all the intricacies of all the major openings. This will teach you about the moves and different branches of those openings and how to tackle the same opening if your opponent plays it.

Some of The Best Books To Learn Openings Are

5.Check Databases And Learn

If you want to undergo deep study about all the different lines of a particular opening, go for some trusted databases and powerful Chess engines. Databases contain all the games that were ever played, and they can bring up specific games and their results for every move played. This can show you which move has brought wins, draws, or losses.

On the other hand, Engines can analyze any given position and showcase the best possible move in that situation.

6.Have A Mentor Or A Coach Help You

A guide is of great assistance when you begin your Chess journey. They help you overcome any hiccups in any openings and teach the best lines for the counter moves. They can also help you in analyzing your games after matches and tell you what could’ve been better.

One of the best online Chess coachings for beginners is Kaabil Kids, which helps kids master openings and understand mid-games & endgames. They have a team of FIDE certified trainers and a curriculum prepared by Grandmaster Tejas Bakre to help kids get a holistic development in the game.

7.Follow Players And Their Games

Like the beginners, Grandmasters and professional players also have their preferred openings. So identify those players, watch their matches regularly, and watch them unfold your opening in the most creative way possible.

While you watch the game, one thing you can practice is to guess the Grandmaster’s next move and their thought process, and this will give you the practice of looking at every position professionally.

8.Implement What You Learn And Have Room For Improvment

If you think you know an opening by knowing a few sets of moves about them, then you are far from right. Don’t skip on any opening without playing it enough or exploring all the possible move combinations. If you start an opening, be completely thorough and comfortable before adopting a new one.

Conclusion

Chess is a game where players are always on thin ice. There have been games where a player has played an incredible opening, got a solid advantage, and lost a game by making just one bad move. A good opening doesn’t ensure a win, but it guarantees a good position, many opportunities to attack, and a safe way to approach the end of the game.

A chess player’s diet is important. Like every other athlete, a chess player needs to be well-fed on a balanced diet of knowledge to reach the next level. And for this, Chess books are a must-have. Even in the age of Online Chess Coaching, books do not take the back seat.

Various Chess books have been written for decades by many masters of the game, and every book serves a different purpose. There are Chess autobiographies of Grandmasters, Chess books for beginners that introduce you to the game, and Chess books that will teach you different stages of the game (Opening, Mid-game, Endgame).

Chess Books May Be Difficult To Read And Follow For Beginners, As They Have Many Chess Notations.

But the best way to go about it is to have a Chessboard set up near you when you sit to read and learn the book or have an online board ready on your phone. Seasoned players have the power of visualization, making it easy for them to understand.

Why to Ready Chess Books

Want to get started with your first Chess book?

Here Are The Top 10 Chess Books Every Chess Player Should Read

1.Logical Chess: Move By Move By Irving Chernev

Logical Chess is an excellent book recommended by top Grandmasters. It was originally published in 1957 and is still relevant even after 6 decades. It was written by Irving Chernev, a Russian-American Chess author.

logical-chess-move-by-move-by-irving-chernev

Irving showcases 33 instructive games that will teach you why each move is played. The book takes you through the process that starts after you’ve learned the basic moves. This gives you a clear idea of how to approach your games and think while you make your moves.

2.My System By Aron Nimzowitsch

my-system-by-aron-nimzowitsch

Aron Nimzowitsch was one of the greatest players of his age. Many Chess openings and defences are named after him, the most popular ones being the Nimzo-Indian defence and the Nimzowitsch Defence.

My System is a highly influential book that takes you through Chess theories. It was originally written in 1925 and is divided into 3 parts: ‘The Elements’, ‘Positional Play’, and ‘Illustrative Games’. The book can teach you a lot from Nimzowitsch’s career, as it takes you through about 50 of his games.

3.Think Like A Grandmaster By Alexander Kotov

Alexander Kotov was Soviet Grandmaster and Soviet champion and a distinguished Chess writer. His book, think like a Grandmaster takes readers into the minds of Grandmasters and how they think and calculate during the games.

The book gives you solutions as to how and when to analyze, select candidate moves and different aspects that determine the success of a game. The gist of the book can be taken from its apt title, ‘Think like a Grandmaster’.

4.My 60 Memorable Games By Bobby Fischer

If you know Chess, you know Bobby Fischer. Probably one of the greatest players of all time, all of Bobby Fischer’s games are unique and interesting on their own. In his book, Fischer covers his games from 1957 to 1967. Unlike other Chess books, which covers Grandmaster’s wins, Bobby Fischer also covers 9 drawn games, and 3 losses, as they were equally instructive.

The book was a success among the Chess community and is often considered the best Chess book ever written. 

5.Grandmaster Preparation: Calculation By Jacob Aagaard

Jacob Aagaard is a Scottish Grandmaster and a Chess author with many books in his name. His book Calculation is one of the many books in his Grandmaster Preparation series. In this book, he shows an effective training plan and how to think differently and efficiently to a Grandmaster’s level.

It takes you through different thinking strategies like candidate moves, traps, prophylaxis, intermediates, and many more.

6.Secrets Of Practical Chess By John Nunn

John Nunn is an English Grandmaster and a celebrated Chess writer, publisher, and mathematician. In the book, John Nunn teaches you how players of any standard or playing style can level up their game by making most of their talent.

The topics include how to defend difficult positions, how to study openings when to calculate, how to avoid mistakes, and a lot more!

7.Endgame Manual By Mark Dvoretsky

Mark Dvoretsky was a Russian International Master and a Chess writer. His book, Endgame Manual, is regarded as one of the most instructive books on Endgame by beginners and professional players.

The book is perfect for players looking to master and sharpen their Endgame tactics. It covers all the different Endgame concepts and teaches you how to defend and convert a winning position to a win.

8.Winning Pawn Structures By Alexander Baburin

Alexander Baburin is a Russian-Irish Grandmaster whose book is one of the best references to master Pawn structures. Learning the manoeuvres with Pawns is very tricky, something even computers can’t handle with accuracy.

The book teaches you the different approaches, tactics, and patterns you need to plan to have a solid Pawn structure.

9.Pump Up Your Rating By Axel Smith

If you are taking up Chess on a professional level, it becomes all about numbers, ratings, and titles. Axel Smith, a Swedish Grandmaster, in his book Pump up your Rating, helps you increase your titles and reach for professional ratings.

pump-up-your-rating-by-axel-smith

He does this by covering all the important aspects of your game and giving a peek into both the technical and psychological aspects of the game.

 10.My Great Predecessors Vol.1 and 2. By Garry Kasparov

Gary Kasparov is undoubtedly the most well-known name in the Chess World and one of the greatest players to play the game. The series, My Great Predecessors, has 5 parts and covers some of the legends of the game that existed before the Kasparov Era.

my-great-predecessors-vol.1-and-2.By-Garry-Kasparov

Volume 1 and 2 talks about the earliest champions of the game, including Paul Morphy, Steinitz, Capablanca, Mikhail Tal, Smyslov, and many more.

Conclusion

Chess Books are always a great gateway into the world of Chess and are available to cater to every player’s specific needs. Which is your favourite Chess book?

If you are looking for quality Chess coaching for your kids, then Kaabil Kids is the best Online Chess Coaching platform, to begin with. With a curriculum crafted by a Grandmaster and a team of FIDE-certified trainers, Kaabil Kids ensures a holistic skill development of your Kids.

To get a sneak peek into our teaching methodology and curriculum, attend our Free Demo class and then make the right choice!

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Every major sport has multiple aspects about it that can be mastered. In Cricket, one can master batting, bowling, fielding, or wicket keeping. In football, one can master attack, defence, or goalkeeping. But Chess is all about moves. Just one skill to master over years and years of practice will turn out to be the bridge between a Chess player and a great Chess player.

In every Chess match, the outcome is solely decided by one question. ‘Which player is able to come up with better moves?’. A professional player would always remember lines to some of the most famous and basic openings, and after the first few moves, they get creative and come up with their master moves. Each move is made with utmost precision and by seeing a few moves ahead.

But Why Is It So Important For Beginners To Improve Their Chess Moves?

But Why is it so Important for Beginners to Improve Their Chess Moves

If beginners improve their moves, it ensures them being good at the game, and being good at the game helps them in:

So, As A Beginner, How Do You Get There? Let’s Take A Look

Best Online Chess Coaching for Beginners

1)Review Your Games

How to improve your Chess moves? By making your Chess moves better! This can happen by analyzing the moves you made and checking if there were better moves in that scenario. It doesn’t matter if you have won or lost your game. If you have lost a game, find out what different moves you could’ve made to win, and if you have won the game, find out what different tactics could’ve won you the game in a cleaner manner. Analyze your game either with a Chess engine or with your trainer to know what you could’ve done better.

At Kaabil Kid’s, after every game, the kids sit with the trainers to analyze and figure out better moves in the positions. This makes them understand the moves better and prevent the mistakes from happening in their other games.

2)Practice Basic Opening Traps

As beginners, learning some opening traps come in really handy. These traps won’t just help you win games but understand what tactics are and how different pieces combine to create an attack on the opponent.

Openings traps are useless against higher rated players, but for beginners, they’re a weapon that can teach you a few different lines about your preferred opening and how to deliver checkmate. So get a few traps in your daily playing routine, and understand the moves a little better.

3)Have A Few Steady Openings Prepared

Every Chess player has their own preferred opening. But while beginning, it’s very tough for a player to master one opening. They constantly experiment but fail to master one opening that works best for them. Having an opening, in the beginning, helps beginners stick to a few sets of moves and not be overwhelmed by thousands of random moves.

Kaabil Kids helps kids learn a few basic openings that are easy to understand at a beginner level and slowly master as they progress. This helps them build confidence at the start of the game and create a plan in the beginning.

4)Play Every Day

It is impossible to learn the moves of the game from the beginning to checkmate your opponent. A player usually checks out the first few moves of the opening and how to respond to different moves by the opponent, but they have to improvise and adapt after just a few moves. So, the only way to truly master your moves is to play every day and learn through trial and error.

Once you lose a game, you will understand at which point did the game slipped away, and the next time the situation arises, you can play a better move. So regular playing is a big component.

5)Follow Professional  Matches

There is a lot of Chess going around the world right now. There is a new tournament every few days where some of the top Grandmasters battle it out among themselves. The quality of Chess displayed here is something young players and beginners can learn a lot from.

Watch and follow these matches with professional commentary to understand the logic behind the moves and their breakdown. Most of these matches are accessible for free on YouTube and other Chess websites.

6)Learn Some Famous Games

Professional Chess players are well versed with almost all the major games played by the top Grandmasters. Among the millions of games in existence, there are many that are considered classics.

As a beginner, it might be a challenging task to learn all the games, but you can handpick a few classics from your preferred opening and learn some famous games in them.

7)Have A Trainer/Mentor

Having a trainer or a mentor to guide you in your Chess journey can make the learning process a lot easier. They can help you understand the moves, see your moves and analyze them, and give you quality feedback needed to become a better player.

At Kaabil Kids, we have FIDE-rated trainers helping the kids out in their Chess goals and our chief mentor in the form of Grandmaster Tejas Bakre. The team is dedicated to making the Kids quality Chess players and making them ready for all the challenges that may come their way.

8)Challenge Yourself

One of the best ways to ensure and calculate your growth is by constantly challenging yourself by playing against higher rated opponents and bots. Every player will respond to your moves in a different way. And so, you have to get out of your comfort zone once you have figured out to beat opponents in your rating.

Go a step ahead, go for players better than you, and test your moves against them! Kaabil Kids has a 24/7 playing platform where students can play games anytime with anyone!

9)Solve Puzzles

Solving puzzles is the Chess equivalent of net training in Cricket. Puzzles give you a certain situation in which you are required to come up with the best move that will win you the game. This trains your mind to not settle for mediocre moves but go for winning moves instead.

Kaabil Kids has a platform that gives the students a chance to solve hundreds of puzzles from their puzzle library. Kids can implement their learnings through these puzzles and get better at calculations and tactics.

Conclusion

Chess is something that requires mastery of moves to master the game. Being logical, tactically strong, and creative on the board is what is required when you are in action. So try these options, and slowly hone the Grandmaster in you!

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