How Soon Do You Go For Checkmate?
by: Guest
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Word Count: 506
How Soon Do You Go for Checkmate?
This approach separates the men from the boys, it weeds out the social players from the serious ones. When a new player starts to learn chess his or her biggest mistake is to go for the checkmate too soon. I have heard it many times in competitions when there is a optimistic shout of "Checkmate " only to find it is a false call. This where inexperience shows through. It happens when a chess strategy has not been thoroughly thought through to its conclusion.
So how soon do you go for Checkmate? For the new start the first aim is to build up a solid defence. Forget about for the moment. Get all your main pieces out first into open play but do not venture over into your opponent's half yet. Move the least pawns possible to accomplish this. Leave your rooks on the back line and leave your Queen there too. Castle on the King's side preferably. I promise you, without me even seeing what you have played, you now have a platform to begin an attack . You could do a lot worse than start with the Sicilian Dragon.
My next strategy if I was just learning chess would be to sit back for a minute an analyse what your opponent is planning. If there is no immediate threat of a checkmateor losing a piece, then an only then should you consider an attack.
Initially I take a good look at the overall situation and I look for 3 things. Has my opponent left any of his own pieces vulnerable. If so i would forget about checkmate for the moment and go for that piece. If you can go a piece up it will make getting acheckmate a whole lot easier.
2/ If my opponent has not left a weakened piece has he left a weak square or more. If so I would try to place a Knight or a Bishop in that square.What is a weak square? Well it is a square that if occupied by an opponents piece would control that part of the board and would be very difficult to move. It is usually found when your opponent has moved his pawns too far forward.
3/ If there were no opportunities open then it is now time to evaluate an a checkmate strategy. Look for the weakest square around the King. Start to aim your pieces in the King's direction. Bishops are good for this as they are your long range missiles. Remember before you attack you must think it out to the last detail. If your opponents peices are mainly on the other side of the board away from their King then your attack hs a good chance of succeeding.
The main point is do not try to checkmate your opponent immediately unless he or she is a very weak player and has made an awful blunder. Build up your defence then look for your opponents weakness. Then , and only then go for the Checkmate.
About the Author
The author has been playing chess for over 40 years. You can read even better articles than this on his blog at http://chessstrategy.blogspot.com
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