Time management in the game of chess

Here are few steps that will provide you with an upper edge in the game of chess.
1) Make a physical movement. You can shuffle your legs, move around in your chair, move your arms up and down, or wiggle your toes. This will provide you relaxation. (5 seconds; total time: 5 seconds)
2) Look at the chess board with a vision, the ability developed by going through micro-level chess drills. (10 seconds; total time: 15 seconds)
3) Understand what the opponent is threatening. (20 seconds; total time: 35 seconds)
4) Write the opponent moves on the score sheet. (5 seconds; total time: 40 seconds)
5) If the opponent has serious threat, then respond. If not, then calculate the tactical sequence. If no tactical sequence exists, implement a plan. (70 seconds; total time: 110 seconds)
6) Write down my moves. (5 seconds; total time: 115 seconds)
7) Imagine the position after I make my and use chess vision to check the position. If chess vision does not locate any problem, make the move and press the clock. If chess vision does locate a problem, go back to step 1. (10 seconds; total time: 125 seconds)
8) Make sure that you have pressed the clock.

Alternatives to CT-ART 3.0

If you do not have access to a computer, you should make effort to get it. New computer can be purchase with a monitor for under $400 and used computer can be purchased with a monitor for under $200. If, you are not able to buy a computer, then you can solve the problems directly from a book.
Combinational Motifs by Blokh is an excellent book. Even the software CT-ART 3.0 is based on this tome. Unfortunately, it is arranged by theme, so you will have to jump around the book to order the puzzles by difficulty. Solve this problem by photocopying the book and the counting out the tactical puzzles and rearranging them by difficulty.
The Manual Of Chess Combination by Sergey Ivashchenko is also a goog introductory book with over 1,300 positions.

CT-ART 3.0-A Great program for seven circles

For seven circle method you will need a program known as CT-ART 3.0. It is a great program with a excellent teaching tool and has a built in chess program. The teaching tool provides hints when errors are made and the built-in chess program is available to analysis alternate variation. This program will save you hundreds of hours. Since, you did not have to enter complicated positions manually into the chess program. CT-ART 3.0 is available on the internet. It consists on about 1209 tactical puzzles and with a built-in seven circle schedules. After you are finished with seven circle schedule, you will find great improvement in your chess playing capabilities.

The Seven circles-Improve your tactics

It is rightly said that until you are at least a high class A player, your first name is ‘tactics’, you middle name is ‘tactics’, and your last name is ‘tactics’. If you ar4e ale to follow the seven circles improvement strategy, you will experience a vast improvement in your calculation and pattern recognition in a four-month period.
Before starting the seven circles, you will need to collect about 1000 tactical problems. Then you will go through this set seven times. You will take 64 days to make the first pass through all of the problems, averaging about 16 problems a day. Then you will cut the amount to 32 days and go through the problems again. You will repeat this problem and end up doing all the 1000 problems in one day.

How to create your own chess vision drill?

First of all, you must understand the essential feature of chess vision drill and its simplicity. The goal is to strip away the complexity that is usually presented on the chess board and focus on just one concept at a time. Once that feature has been isolated and a chess vision drill has been created that captures that feature, the drill is repeated over and over.
As long as you follow these steps- simplification followed by repetition- you can create your own chess vision drill to work on the weakness in your game.
The diagram shows a position to understand the importance of chess drill.

The Knight Attack Drill

The king attack chess version drill improves your ability to attack the king. After you finish this drill, your ability to finish off the attack when opposing king is exposed will be greatly improved.
Place a white queen and the black king on the board. Put some pawns in front of the black king. Now moves the queen in the minimal number of positions where it can checks the king and cannot be captured.
In the diagram, there are many possible two moves solution: e4-e8, e2-e8, b2-h2, f5-f8, f2-f8 and g6-e8 are just some of them.
Once you have found a solution, move the queen to another square on the board and repeat all the process. Continue until you have calculated a check from every square on the board.

Pawn mines drill

The pawn mine drill is opposite to the Pawn grab drill. Instead of focusing on the capturing of the pawns, you should focus on moving a piece to a target square without landing on any square that a pawn attacks.
For example, see the example given.
What are the minimal moves the rook must makes to reach h5 without landing on a square where it can be captured by a black pawn? Note that h3-h5 does not work because on h3, the rook can be captured by the g4 pawn. Another two-move path, c5-h5, does not work because the rook can be captured by the b6 pawn.
The shortest number of moves is three. The path c2-h2-h5 is an example, as are c1-h1-h5 and c8-h8-h5. For drill try to focus on finding all the minimal paths.

Pawn Grab Drill

This drill will help you to see the quickest way to move your piece to capture your opponent’s pawns. This drill is particularly useful for the rook and the pawn endings.
To work this drill place a white rock on the square and then place any number of black pawn on the board. See the diagram given.
Now I your mind’s eye, calculate the shortest number of moves required for the rook to capture all the pawns. Now moves the rook to each square on the board and repeat the process.
After you have gone through each square on the board with this particular pawn, set-up yourself and you will notice different patterns.

The knight flight Drill

The knight flight is the grown up version of the knight sight. Here, instead of moving the knight along the shortest path between adjacent square, you will work on being able to see the shortest path between any two squares.
To execute the knight flight drill, start with the knight on a1 and move it to b1 in the shortest number of moves, just as the knight sight drill. As with the knight sight drill, physically hit the knight moves to, but do not move the knight itself.
Once you have completed the a1-b1 circuit, move the knight from a1-c1. The shortest path is now just two moves; b-c1. As above physically hit the b3-square and the c1 square with your finger.
With the knight on a1 continue through the standard loop, going through the entire square on the board.

The Knight Sight

This micro drill is known as knight sight. It is designed to make the squares that a knight can move to ‘pop out’. Begin by placing a knight on a1 and physically hit the square that it can move to (c2 and b3) with your finger. See the given figure for your reference. Then move the knight to a2 and repeat the process. Continue until you reach a8 and then move back to b1, going row by row until you reach h1.
Once your knight meets your standards, you are ready to move on the next step. Place the knight on d5 and calculate the minimum number of moves that it takes the knight to d4. You can prove that it takes exactly three moves. By doing this you will be able to move to every position on chess board, when required.

Concentric Square- the Chess Vision Drill

Let us practice this thing with the help of an example. Start with placing the black king on d5 and a black rook on d4. Now start placing the white queen on every square where the queen can safely forks the Black King and Rook. Once you have determined that there are no such square, move the rook in a square around the king i.e. square e4, e5, e6, d6, c6, c5 and c4, and look for the fork and skewers. When you are able to find such a square, physically lift up the white queen and place it on the square. Note that the black king can recapture the Queen after Queen Capture the rook is not valid option. Focus only on the position in which the capture of the rook is safe.

The overworked piece

It is the basic rule of nature that no man can serve two masters. And in chess, no piece can simultaneously guard two pieces without becoming a target of attack. The principle is clear and simple: a piece which is performing more than one function is especially venerable to hostile attack.
Let us understand this concept with the help of an example. In the given diagram, the black Queen plays a vital protective role. Consequently, white can win by constantly harrying The Black Queen until it is forced to give up its protective function. Everything is clear from the given diagram.

Queening combinations

This is one of the most important of all the tactical themes. For successful queening of the pawn is equivalent to being a Queen ahead. And even if your opponent loses “only” a piece in getting rid of the new Queen, he has suffered a disastrous material loss.
Since successful pawn promotion is so valuable a resource, it offers considerable scope for striking sacrifices of material. Thus, it is well worth while to sacrifice one’s queen in order to promote to a new Queen which gives checkmate in the act of queening.
In the given figure, it is interesting as showing how the potential queening possibility can inspire a player to create a whole series of pretty tactical stokes. Given a clue of the situation- in this case the location of a pawn on the seventh rank- a player can think up one resourceful move after another. But the initial impetus is the most important of all, and that is why it is of great value to be well aware or the enormous power of the pawn promotion.

The venerable first rank

Some of the most brilliant combinations ever made have come about exploiting the venerable first rank. This happens when the castled king is hemmed by pawns in front of him, and his first rank is unprotected by a queen or rook.
Let us explain this with an example. Observe the given diagram. Here white can offer his queen and the rook, relying on the weakness of the Black’s unprotected first rank. Such sacrifices look startling, but they become quite obvious, once you are familiar with the weakness which they will exploit.
learn this scarifies and you will teach your opponent a nice lesson.

Surprise move

Occasionally we see moves that are so remarkable that they do not fit into any systematic classification. Or even if they do, they are so astounding that their surprise value is the most impressive thing about them. Still other surprise moves are notable because they violate a standard rule.
To consider the last group first, examine the given diagram. It is well known that a rook is helpless against far-advanced passes Pawns, and our first impulse would be to dismiss this position as a perfect case in point. Yet White does not resign; he allows black to queen, and then sacrifices his Rook. Suddenly it turns out that White has a mate in three! Instead of being dismayed at this violation of general principles, we are of course delighted.

Defensive combinations

This may seem a surprising subject for a book on tactical motifs. But defense is not merely passive, and in fact the best defense is never merely passive. Resourceful defense often calls for a through mastery of tactics. Without such mastery, many a desperate position would utterly collapse.
Let us explain Defensive combination, with the help of an example. See the given diagram. In this diagram, White, who is just about to lose his Queen, seems on the point of resigning. Yet he evolves a neat plan for winning Black’s Queen in return. And in the last analysis, this plan depends on a Knight Fork.
It has been best said that counter attack is the best defense.

Trapped man

The most common example of this theme is the trapping of bishop in net of pawns. This case of trapped man can be best explained with the help of example. Trapped man example has been show in the diagram. This opening trap is also known as “The Nosh’s Ark Trap.”
But other units can be trapped, too, and strangely enough the queen, the mightiest of all the pieces, is particularly venerable to a pincer movement executed by pieces of lesser value.
This is one of the best attacks you will see in your chess game. Nevertheless, this attack is old, but it is quite effective.

Queen sacrifice

No matter how experienced and sophisticated a chess player may be, he is always thrilled by a queen sacrifice. This is understandable, for the queen is far and away the strongest of all the chess forces.
Precisely because the queen is so powerful, the sacrifice of the piece must necessarily bring in substantial returns. Mate in usually the sequel of queen sacrifice. Let us explain this with an example. See the given diagram. Here White offers the queen in a manner which is surprisingly but hardly generous. He threatens mate, and when the queen id captured, he mates just the same. Still, such a sacrifice deserves our praise, for it take real imagination to see the possibilities in such a position.

THE HELPLESS KING

When you are subjecting your opponent’s king to a very powerful attack and he lacks adequate support by his pieces, you can make all sorts of brilliant sacrifices.
In the given diagram, black runs into one of the most curious checkmates ever performed on the chess board. His king is driven right down the board and mated by a castling move. Such extraordinary happenings are to be expected when a king has already been harried toward the center of the board.
Even in the endgame stage, with material simplified, the king may be exposed to serious tactical dangers. So we should take a care of these things.

Attacking the guard

This is universally true that attack the one first which guard the opponent. It is a very important chess logic which means if piece A guards piece B, then attack the piece A first and chances are that you win one or the other.
Generally there are some hostile pieces in the opponents closet, with the motive of of stopping your attack to the other crucial pieces.
for e.g. in figure, Black's Knight at King 5 is attacked by Queen and Bishop and defended by Queen and Bishop. So White removes the guarding Bishop in order to attack the Knight.

Interference move

It is again a type of attacking move, making the opponent feel helpless. It comes into ply when defender is forced to block him self. He will have a choice to move one of the two pieces to the same critical square. So whichever piece is moved to that square, it blocks the operation of other piece. In this, there is INTERFERENCE in the moves and the opponent is left helpless.
For e.g. in diagram, White’s first move leaves Black in utter confusion. If he captures the Rook with his King pawn, he is subjected to mate. And if he captures with his Queen, the result is again same.

Clearance Sacrifce

Sacrifice is crucial in every aspect and same holds true in the game of Chess.
Sometimes, you have a very attacking plan in your mind but due to non availability of a specific square, you are not able to apply it. So making a sacrifice, in order to clear the way for your plan is known as CLEARANCE SACRIFICE.
For e.g. in diagram, White clears its square King 5 by sacrificing Knight. Though this move seems senseless but it was necessary and further it is followed by a Queen sacrifice. So after these two senseless moves, the Black is subjected to double Check and a Check mate. So now you can say, these weren't senseless moves.

Resourceful defense

There are books always compelling on various attacking positions but less stress is laid on the defense moves. It should be noted that defense is never passive. Even masters find it difficult to apply their tactics for a resourceful defense. Such a defense is necessary to avoid collapsing at the crucial moments of the game. For e.g. in diagram, when White is about to lose its Queen, seems very helpless and about to resign. But you can notice, he plans a technique to take away Black’s Queen in return. You can see, this plan is implemented on Knight fork.

Compelled Move

Sometimes in a game of chess, you are in a position that you will be in loss as soon as you will make a move. This situation is called Zugzwang. It is a German word, meaning compelled to move. For e.g. in diagram, White's first move still leaves Black secure. But note carefully, any Black move will cost it a material loss. Hence, it is restricted to pawn moves only. So in this situation, once Black has made all the pawn moves, it will have to lose material.
Usually a move considered as a blessing in the chess game, but this one is a curse..!!

Chess Community

You can find a place to play online chess games, compete with your friends round the globe, listen to the guest chess lectures and many more adventurous chess activities. These places are generally known as chess communities known at international level. Also there is a facility to maintain your own chess ratings, invite your friends for a personalized network competence and many more things.

Chess game timings ranging from as low as 10 seconds to unlimited time can be played using the online software of these communities. Furthermore, you can have a detailed analysis of your game from an online chess master available with the chess community.
So every chess lover should be a member of at least one international chess community to get the latest happenings in chess round the globe.

Digital Chess Clock

Digital Chess clocks have replaced the traditional mechanical clocks.These type of clocks are very useful. These have some added advantages over the earlier time clocks.It contains large moving lever for changing turn. It is easily noticeable with large 12-13 mm time display. There is a single front button to reset the time. Most important, it has a battery back up of up to 10 hours. Also, there is a facility of exceed time display i.e. negative count. There is a different time display for each player. Few other functions are :

# Also there is warning sound for last 5 seconds.
# Sound function can be switched off and on during the game
# 4 years battery life with 2 X AA batteries used.
# Dimensions: 14.4 cm X 13.4 cm X 7 cm.
# Clock and Battery weight: 250 grams

X-ray or Skewer attack

X- ray attack is just opposite of Pin attack. In the X-ray attack , there is a movement of respective pieces. In this, a piece attacks a hostile piece that is situated on a line with the another piece but with lesser value. Furthermore, when the attacked piece moves off the line, it exposes the second piece to capture. This process is really very effective as shown in the diagram.

For e.g., when White’s rook maneuvers the Black forces into an X-ray position. There upon White’s Rook X-rays the Black’s king and thus wins the black rook.

Funny but true...

Here are few funny but true daily life chess quotes, just have a look:


I had lunch with a chess champion the other day. I knew he was a chess champion because it took him 20 minutes to pass the salt.

***
Chess may be the deepest, least exhaustible of pastimes, but it is nothing more. As for a chess genius, he is a human being who focuses vast, little-understood mental gifts and labors on an ultimately trivial human enterprise.

***

I failed to make the chess team because of my height.

***

Chess is as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an advertising agency.

The Weak Castling move

No doubt in almost 90 percent cases, castling makes the king safe from the opponent’s attack but it is a mistake, assuming that castling makes the king absolutely safe. For example: In fig, the king is exposed to attack even when it is castled, due to the gap in the castled pawn position.
This type of mistake offers make you lose devastatingly. Further more, there are numerous attacks that may make use of open lines, leading to the hostile king. This way, even castling move cannot save your king from opponent forces.

Chess Pieces you will love to have

Chess lovers always prefer to go for Chess pieces and sets having very decent quality. To choose among the various sets, they should possess sound knowledge regarding the material of these sets as it is very hard to find good quality chess sets and pieces.

1. One should possess regarding the pieces and set material. Usually they made up of wood, crystal, stone etc. Best type of pieces are made up of Budrose and Ebony.
2. Secondly, usually pieces are hand made or machine carved, so one should examine them closely, which shape you require, resembling the original shape.
3. Finally, if you don't want have any basic knowledge regarding the material and pieces, ask any good chess player or chess lover.

It is a fact that playing chess with your favorite pieces always makes you feel good internally .