1. Chess Strategies Component Skills Strategies Prototype Josh Waters, Ty Fenn, Tianyu Chen

2. Managing Own Pieces Once you’ve learned the rules of chess, managing your own pieces is the most basic tactic you need to learn. It is relevant for the entire game, and by doing it appropriately you are more likely to win the game.

3. Managing your own pieces can help you close in and checkmate the opponent’s king. Click on Example headers to see specific examples. Example 1 In this example the bottom white is keeping the black king to the side of the board. This allows for the other rook to come over and checkmate the black king. Click the picture on the left to see. In this example the white queen can capture the pawn below the black king and checkmate, because the white bishop is protecting her. By managing your own pieces appropriately in this case, the white can win this game. Click the picture on the left to see. Example 2

4. Examine the white bishop on all of these boards. Is the white bishop working with another piece effectively. Test yourself on the following chess puzzles. In this case, the white bishop IS working effectively with the pawn behind it. The combination of a bishop and a pawn protecting each other is very strong, making it difficult for black’s queen and knight. Here, the bishop is attacking very effectively on the black queen, being backed up by the knight. Notice, however, that black can block the bishop’s attack in a few different ways. Unfortunately, the white bishop is doing very little to help the white rook. While it is protecting the rook, black will only lose a pawn in the end, a sacrifice worth making. YesNoYesNoYesNo

5. Here we have a scenario early in the game. White has a great opportunity to use two of his pieces together to make a devastating attack on black. Can you find it? Check out this example and pick the best move! White Bishop to C7, taking the pawn. White Knight to C7, taking the pawn. White’s G Pawn to G3, protecting the Bishop. That’s it! By taking that pawn with the knight, we put the black king in check. If black takes the night with its queen, the bishop takes the queen. If black moves his king away, your knight can take the rook in the corner. When the knight attacks the king and another piece at the same time, it’s called a “fork,” and they can be very powerful. While that is a nice attack on black’s queen, he can just move the queen to a different square, not really doing that much damage. While, that isn’t a bad idea, you have the opportunity to do something better. If you don’t do it this turn, black might notice and stop you from doing it to him. Save that move for later.

6. Stacking Stacking is a tactic that you can use to stack your pieces next to each other so that they can protect each other. It is formed on the straights (the Ranks and/or Files) by stacking Rooks and Queens; while, on the diagonals, a Bishop and Queen are stacked, or combined, to increase the power directed at the enemy's position. These stacking techniques can be effective in checkmating the opponent’s king.

7. Stacking in practice In this example, we can see how stacking can wear away the opponent’s defenses until the black king is defenseless. Keep in mind that you need to have more pieces attacking than black has defending. Click on the board to the left to cycle through the process.

8. Stacking in practice In this example white queen and bishop are stacked. Click the picture on the left to see.

9. Blocking Blocking is a tactic often used to prevent or stall check. Blocking is performed by moving a piece in the path of the attacking piece.

10. Blocking is a tactic often used to prevent or stall check. Blocking is performed by moving a piece in the path of the attacking piece. Click on Example headers to see specific examples. Example 1 Example 3 In this example you have put the king in check with your white queen. Because he may want to castle in the future he chooses to block with the rook on d8. Click on the board to the left to see. You have put the black king in check with your bishop. In order to block, black moves his unmoved pawn forward one square. Blocking in this case would also allow the black king to attack any white piece that takes that pawn. Click on the board to the left to see. You have put black in check with your bishop. Black blocks with his knight, removing the threat of check and stopping your pawn from advancing. Click on the board to the left to see. Example 2

11. In which example can black use blocking? Blocking is a tactic often used to prevent or stall check. Blocking is performed by moving a piece in the path of the attacking piece. Click on the image to see if you were correct and get details. Correct! Black can block with his bishop by moving it to e7. Because of the position of his pawn and Queen he is well suited to deal with this attack. Incorrect. There are no pieces available to block. Black can get out of check by moving his king to e7. Incorrect. Due to the position of the two white pawns (preventing a block) and the white knight, black is in checkmate.

12. Which scenario is the best use of blocking? Blocking is a tactic often used to prevent or stall check. Blocking is performed by moving a piece in the path of the attacking piece. Click on the image to see if you were correct and get details. Incorrect. Because of his two rooks blocking will only ensure that black lose its bishop and remain in check. Correct! Black can block this check with all of his remaining pieces. But by blocking with its pawn black will ensure that any trade is in his advantage.

13. Capturing the attacking piece Capturing can be used as a defensive tactic by using a free piece to take the piece that is checking the king.

14. Click on Example headers to see specific examples. Example 1 Example 3 The check to black is easily handled by moving the rook from a8 to a4 and capturing whites attacking piece. Click on the board to the left to see. White checked black’s king with the king side bishop. Luckily black had a knight in range to take the piece. Click on the board to the left to see. In this example white made the mistake of moving its attacking piece to close to the king. The king gets out of check by taking the piece himself. Click on the board to the left to see. Example 2

15. In which example can black use capture? Capturing can be used as a defensive tactic by using a free piece to take the piece that is checking the king. Click on the image to see if you were correct and get details. Correct! If black moves the queen to h3 he can capture white’s remaining bishop. Incorrect. Black has no pieces that can attack the queen. However the bishop could move to f6 to block. Correct! Both the black knight and the black queen can attack the white pawn on f6.

16. Which scenario is the best use of capture? Capturing can be used as a defensive tactic by using a free piece to take the piece that is checking the king. Click on the image to see if you were correct and get details. Incorrect. Given the options it would be better to move the king than to sacrifice the queen in a capture move. Correct! Either of blacks pieces can capture the attacking piece with no threat and move in to a better attacking position themselves.

17. Evasion Moving the King away from check is always an option. Keeping this in mind many players will try to force evasion to setup checkmate.

18. Click on Example headers to see specific examples. Example 1 Example 3 The Black king can only evade to one location h7. Click on the board to the left to see. The King is under attack by two piece, but can evade to several squares. G6 is a good choice because it puts pressure on the attacking knight. Click on the board to the left to see. The white queen has initiated check. Because of black’s own pieces and the attack lane provided by the white bishop, black can only evade to b8. Click on the board to the left to see. Example 2

19. In which example can black use evasion? Moving the King away from check is always an option. Keeping this in mind many players will try to force evasion to setup checkmate. Click on the image to see if you were correct and get details. Incorrect. The black king is in checkmate! Correct. The black king is being overwhelmed, but he does have one evasion move to b7. Incorrect. White has unwittingly put black in stalemate. Black may not make a legal move, but is not under check.

20. Which scenario is the best use of evasion? Moving the King away from check is always an option. Keeping this in mind many players will try to force evasion to setup checkmate. Click on the image to see if you were correct and get details. Correct! Black has more spaces to choose from to setup offensive and defensive strategy. Incorrect. Black has only a single location to go and would soon be cut off. Blocking may be a better strategy in this situation.

21. Managing your Opponents Pieces Knowing that your opponent will do what he can to prevent check, you can manipulate his pieces a little. With the right moves, you can create openings to win the game.

22. Sometimes you can force your opponent to move a piece out of your way. Click on Example headers to see specific examples. Example 1 Example 3 If you look on the position to the left, you’ll see that you could run your queen up the board and checkmate the black king if that pesky black knight weren’t there. So let’s first check the king by moving the bishop down and to the right one square. This forces the black knight to intervene, blocking the attack, but also moving it out of the way of your queen. Click on the board to the left to see your queen checkmate the black king. Example 2

23. Click on the board that has the scenario in which it is easier to manipulate black’s pieces? Sometimes you can force your opponent to move a piece out of your way. Click on the image to see if you were correct and get details. Incorrect. The lack king has too many pieces in the way. There is no effective way to manipulate black’s pieces. Correct. By using the white knight, you are able to move the black rook out of the way. Click on the board above to cycle through the moves.

24. This one is a little bit trickier. Select the move that you think will manipulate black’s pieces in your favor. Move the Knight to G8 Move the Rook on column D to D8 Move the Rook on column H to H7, taking the pawn. Move the Bishop to h7, taking the pawn. Incorrect. Moving the Knight will put the black king in check, but then it will be taken by black’s F7 pawn and black won’t be any easier to check mate. Incorrect. Moving that Rook all the way to the back will put the black king in check, but it will be taken by black’s rook in the corner. All that does is put you down a rook. Incorrect, but you’re getting closer. The problem is that by taking that pawn, you don’t put the black king in check, forcing him to make a move. Black can still do whatever it wants. Correct! The trick here is to actually move the black king to a more vulnerable position. By sacrificing a rook to get the black king in the right spot, you win the game. Click on the boards to cycle through the rest of the game.

25. Pins One of the most effective ways to manipulate your opponent’s pieces is to pin them to your opponent’s king. Look at the examples below. On the left, the black knight can stop your rook from checkmating the black king. On the right, the black knight can’t move because if it did, the black king would be under attack from your bishop. This means that the black knight is pinned and you checkmate the black king.

26. Let’s look at more situations with pins. Click on the Example headers to move on. Example 1 Example 3 Once again, your White Bishop could checkmate the Black King if it weren’t for the Black Rook’s ability to block your attack. However, if you have a White Rook here, it prevents the Black Rook from blocking the attack from your Bishop because it is already blocking an attack by your Rook, pinning it down. This example is a great use of a pin. If you can tell, the White Queen is pinning the Black’s G Pawn to the Black King, preventing it from taking the White Bishop. On white’s next turn, the Queen can checkmate the Black King, using the White Bishop to protect it from the King’s attack! Example 2

27. Click on the board that has the scenario in which a black piece has been pinned to its king. More fun with pins! Incorrect. Yes, the White Bishop is attack the Black Knight next to the Black King, but the Black Knight can still move away if it wants. Correct. The White Rook has effectively pinned the Black Knight to the Black King, despite being protected by a pawn. White can move its Queen to C8 and checkmate the Black King. Incorrect. While the White Bishop is lined up with the King, there are two Black pieces between the attack and the Black King, meaning that either one of them can still move. Of course, if one does move, it automatically pins the other.

28. Now let’s try to use a pin to win the game! Look at the board to the left and click on the piece that you think should be moved next. That’s incorrect. You need check the king in a way that uses the pin to your advantage. Correct, you need to move the Queen first. NOW click on the square to where the Queen needs to move. Great! Thanks to the pin on the Black Bishop, the Black King has to escape to the only square it has left. NOW, click on the piece that can checkmate the Black King! That’s not the right piece. You need to get the Black King in one move. Look at what squares it has left and see what White piece can cover those squares. Great! That’s it! By pinning the Black Bishop, White was able to push the Black King into a position where White could easily checkmate him! Pins are powerful! Queen Left Rook Right Rook Move to H7 Move to E8 Move to H4 Queen Left Rook Right Rook

29. The End Now that you’ve learned about manipulating pieces, enemy tactics, stacking, and pins, go out and practice these techniques with other players, because playing the game itself creates some of the best learning experiences you can have with the game!