Are you always fascinated by people who sit across from each other, carefully examining their opponent and the moves they make over a table of chess? Playing chess is not just a hobby but it is how many people exercise their brains and get the thrill of the game. Do you want to become a chess master? You should definitely give it a go!
Benefits of Playing Chess
Enhanced Memory
If you struggle with your memory, then playing chess can help you improve the way you remember things. The game exercises your ability to memorize different moves and what they can result in.
According to research, Chess grandmasters have heightened auditory senses that help them retain auditory memory. Since chess players have to be very attentive during their games, they improve their memory by recalling all the moves they and their opponent make.
Improved Creativity
Researchers have concluded that students who played chess had better creativity in comparison to students who did not. This shows how chess players use their minds creatively since they have to come up with moves and ensure they improve their chances of winning.
Heightened Focus
Chess is a hyper-focused game that demands players to be attentive through and through, calculate every move, and pay attention to what the opponent is plotting. The impact of playing chess could be seen in students with ADHD. It helps such students channel their hyperactivity and pay undivided attention to the game alone.
How to Become a Chess Master
Before you start your journey to becoming a chess master, it is important that you get yourself a good set of chess. It is best to get a wooden set as it is a classic and will give you the feeling of an expert right away.
The Setup
The very first thing you need to learn is to set up the chessboard. Lay the board out in a way that each player has a white box on their right-hand side. The pieces of chess are always arranged in the same manner. You can use up two rows to set up the pieces.
The second row has all the pawns and in the last row, you have to place the rooks in the extreme corners followed by the knights. Place the bishop’s right next to the knights. Add the bishop and finally the queen. It is important to place the queen on the same colored box for each side. Lastly, place your king on the square that’s left.
The Moves
There are 6 different kinds of pieces and all of them move differently. You cannot move the pieces over others. For instance, if there is a piece before the king, you cannot move the king. To do so, you will first have to move the other piece. However, if there is an opponent’s piece in front of yours, you can move that to replace the opponent’s.
If you make that move, you will capture their piece. This is the entire point of the game. You must capture as many pieces as you can. If you are having difficulty understanding the concept, you can read a book and get the details you need.
The King
The King is without doubt the most important piece of the game. It can either help you win or be the reason for your loss. The rules allow you to only move your king one square. However, that move can be in any direction you want. Typically, your king does not move into the center of the game and is always attacked. When an opponent captures your king, the move is called ‘check’.
The Queen
Your queen is the strongest piece. You can move your queen in the straight direction which can be any of the allowed moves. Your queen is not allowed to surpass your own pieces. As soon as your queen captures the piece of an opponent, her move ends.
The Rook
You can place the rook backwards, forwards, towards the sides, and far, according to your preference. The rooks protect each other and work simultaneously to help you win the game.
The Bishop
You can move the bishop only in the diagonal direction, but you can move it as far as you would like. It is also worth noting that you cannot place the bishop on the contrasting color.
The Knight
The movement of the knight is like an L. You can move the knight two spaces up in a single direction and then move it at a 90-degree angle.
The Pawn
The pawn’s movement is different than all the other pieces. Despite moving forward in one direction, they can still capture the opponent’s piece diagonally. You can only move your pawn one square forward in one move and then two spaces in the next move. You cannot move the pawns backward in any direction.
There are different chess openings you can learn if you want to become a chess master. Chess openings are the way to begin your game using different strategies and ensuring that you win. There are several books you can find online that will help you ace your openings for different strategies.
Chess games can take up a lot of time. Many players can make several minutes just to make a single move. This is why in chess competitions, people use digital clocks that record the time for each move. If you want to be a master, you should be quick on your feet and make the right moves within the shortest time possible.
Conclusion
Chess is a great hobby and it is very healthy for your brain. The game can help you improve focus in almost everything you do. So, instead of wasting your time lazing around, it is a great idea to learn to be a chess master!
