For a chess player, winning the titles is very important in establishing his credentials and proving his talent to the world. The title of Grandmaster signifies pinnacle of the competitive chess world. The fact that number of chess Grandmasters has yet to cross four-figures even after a century of competitive chess tells us how tough it is to get this coveted title. It is not easy to be conferred with this title. One has to play in big tournaments, acquire precious ELO ratings, win most of the matches, defeat high ranking players and then only he can fancy the chances of being a Grandmaster. One has to follow certain protocols set by the Federation International des Esches (or FIDE), which is the governing body that awards the honour of Grandmasters.

Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain in his lifetime. Once a player gets this title, he will hold it for the rest of his life. Other chess titles are FM (Fide Master), IM (International Master) etc but Grandmaster is the peak of the chess summit. Abbreviated as GM, the title applies same value to both men and women players. There are number of Women Grandmasters (WGM) who also holds the GM title. Nona Gaprindashvili became the first woman to receive the GM title in 1978 after winning the world championship. It is the dream of every chess player to be awarded with the title of Grandmasters. Viswanathan Anand was the first Indian to get this title and since then quite a number of promising Indian players have been awarded with the title of Grandmasters.

If we have to name one player who really made a difference to the Indian chess world then it must be Viswanathan Anand. He is a genius who has earned several titles and conquered opponents all over the world. New generation of Indian players like P. Harikrishna, Koneru Humpy, Tania Sachdeva, Krishnan Sasikiran and Parimarjan Negi are calling the shots in international chess. The future of Indian chess looks secure in the hands of these players along with the emerging crop of brilliant tacticians.

Talking about players, Viswanathan Anand is definitely a legend who has many firsts to his credit. Anand, alone has taken Indian chess to new heights. He became the youngest national champion at the age of 16 in the year 1984. He was the first Asian to win world junior championships in 1987. Anand was the Indian Grandmaster and finally, he became the first Indian to win World chess championship in year 2000. He has also won several prestigious tournaments and is considered the best player in rapid version of the game.

Dibyendu Barua was the Second Grandmaster from India and his talent was exceptional. Koneru Humpy is arguably the best woman at the Chess Board that the nation has ever produced. She is also the World No. 2 player in the ranking among the female chess players. Krishnan Sasikiran is a prodigious talent and to his credit, he is second only to the legendry Vishwanathan Anand according to the FIDE ratings. Parimarjan Negi is the youngest Indian to earn the much coveted Grandmaster title in the sport.

No doubt, chess is a complex game because of its components, pieces and rules. Parents need to decide when their child is ready to learn the game. Each child is different and some learn it fast whereas some others are pretty slow at understanding the moves. Parents need to very patient while teaching chess to the child. If children don’t show immediate results, don’t get discouraged. Very few children have unlimited attention span and that should be taken into consideration. A child by nature is restless and chess is a long game. It wouldn’t be fair to expect the kid to sit still for long hours. Parents need to generate interest in the minds of kids for this wonderful game.

It is easy for children to get confused while learning complex games. Be ready to answer all his questions. Children who play chess get better at reasoning skills, logical solutions and in understanding the complex patterns. The game also helps in the improvement of attention span and concentration power. They also develop strategic thinking and determination. It is up to the parents to make learning chess a fun activity for the children, Chess can be a life-altering experience for the kids. Parents should make sure their kids are learning the basics of chess in an enjoyable fashion.

In the initial phase, players basically try to understand the board, different chess pieces and their moves. It is important to understand the basic rules and how different pieces move. Once, the player has understood the basics and has started to feel comfortable with the 64 square board, he focuses on making crucial chess strategies. Making right moves and anticipating the actions of opponents is very critical in deciding the outcome of your game plan. It will also help you in holding your own against more experienced players and make the whole experience even more intellectually stimulating.

People interested in learning chess have several ways to master their skills. Books are the most important source of learning chess. You can try checking different moves and see, how the book explains. Learning from a more experienced player is also a wonderful way to master your game. For that, one can join a local chess club and ask some of the better players if they can watch a match of yours or if they would be willing to teach you. One should also try playing in chess tournaments or watch match tournaments to learn chess strategies. This way, you will be able to get immediate feedback and can also ask questions about your game. One more way to learn chess is by playing a computer chess game or playing online. Most of the online chess sites have forums and groups where one can discuss moves and strategies with players from all skill levels and abilities.

For the purpose of teaching and learning, chess can be broken down into various facets. The initial lessons pertain to learning how the pieces move, and about other rules of the game. These are basics that a player must know and then only he can move further. One important chess lesson is the chess opening. One can memorise different opening moves with black and white pieces and some other times, the opening moves are decided by your opponent’s moves. Strategy is perhaps the most vital term in the game of chess. It involves pawn structure, piece placement and making right moves in response to your opponent.

Chess lessons place major emphasis on tactics and combinations. This can be termed as the short-term strategy where you learn to sacrifice small pieces for bigger advantages and how to manoeuvre certain mid-table movements.  End game is another important part of the lessons. Majority of the pieces are traded off in this phase of the game.

It is important to get proper chess lessons if you want to take your game to the next level. You can consult a chess coach who will provide you with important lessons. There are other ways to learn chess lessons as well. For example, you can try books or e-books or join a club. You can also download chess programs that contain all the crucial lessons. Many players prefer to look at video lessons to perfectly understand the moves before they are actually played. If you have the desire and passion for the game, you will manage to master chess lessons sooner than later.

There are three major stages of a chess game; opening stage, middle stage and end stage. Playing defensively can only help you in saving the game and not in winning it. So one should play aggressively and try to build a decisive lead by the time game reaches middle stage. One should never make a hasty move. Take your own time to plan a move as one senseless and hurried move can destroy your complete game plan. It is strongly recommended that a successful chess player has to plan at least three moves in advance while playing chess. He should also think of the possible moves that his opponent can make.

One should always make his sacrifices wisely. It would be a bad idea to sacrifice a chess piece for a piece of lower value. While making moves, it is important to plan your control over the center, pawn structure and king safety. Moves should be such that pieces are placed on appropriate squares so that they can create an impact on the game in your favour. Safety of king should be given top priority. Once the opening game is over and you are well into middle stage, try thinking of your moves and its further impact. Spot holes in defences and exploit it. Try promoting the pawns by making right moves and never let the opponent off the hook.

Chess tricks help you in finishing the game well and early. However, there is no magic formula. But yes, you can always try these tricks and see the result yourself. To begin with, one should never move his knights before the bishops. It is important to centralise your pieces. One should keep the crucial pieces out of action during the initial part of the game. If you move them early, you expose them and also offer a chance to your opponents to gain early movement advantage.

King should be kept out of action. Blocking your pieces can prove detrimental to your game plan. Do not move many Pawns up. Moves should be aggressive but not too attacking too soon. Some crucial chess tricks for beginners are,

The Caro Kann defence

GIGO Gambit

Fool’s Mate

The Fried Liver Attack

A pretty trap

Owen’s defence

From’s Gambit

Traxler’s Counter Attack

Albin Counter Gambit

These are few of the chess tricks that one can apply during the game. Apart from these, one should focus hard on the moves made by opponents. Why he has made that move? Are my pieces in danger? Plan your moves in advance. Don’t delay the attack. You should make your moves in such a way that your opponent is not able to figure out your plans.  Understand the true worth of each and every piece. While trading pieces, think of all the aspects related to it. It’s not just the number of pieces you and your opponent have, it’s also about their combined values. Finally, keep a watch on the time and make your moves fast so that you will be able to gain control over the match.

Chess is played on a chessboard highlighted by square blocks. Whether you are a newbie or a pro, you will need to get a chessboard to learn, practice and master this game. There are plenty of wonderful chess sets available in the market. A chess set includes chess board and the pieces. Available in diverse materials like stone, wood, plastic and metal etc, chess sets have turned a new leaf in recent times. Now, there are variations of designs available in different abstract and cosmetic forms. The themes of new chess sets will mesmerise you. Many chess sets have ancient themes whereas some others have Star Trek or The Simpsons as the major theme. You can play using these chess sets or simply use them as display or even offer them to your colleagues as corporate gifts or promotional items.

The most common chess set design is Staunton set. Named after the famous player Howard Staunton (1810 – 1874), Staunton set was registered by Nathaniel Cook. Wood and ivory was used to make the sets. The best part about this set is ease of identification of each piece. FIDE events permit usage of only Staunton sets. Another famous chess set was designed by Lewis Chessman and pieces were carved from ivory of walrus tusks. Other famous historical chess sets are, St George Chessman, Drinks chess sets and The Levantine chess set. If you are planning to make one yourself then you can use wood or plastic. Just make sure all the pieces are clearly visible and understandable and perform their functions to the fullest.

1 King

1 Queen

2 Bishops

2 Rooks

2 Knights and

8 Pawns

All the pawns are placed in the second row and rest of the big pieces are in first row. The final goal of each of the player is to checkmate the opponent’s king. You will need to begin with learning to set up the chess board. King and queen are placed in the center of the first row and surrounded by rest of the pieces. The rooks are in the corner whereas knights are placed beside them. Now, let’s have a look at movement of the chess pieces.

The player who has the white pieces will be entitled to make the first move. All the pieces have different movements. If King is the most important piece in the chess board then it also is the weakest in terms of movement. It can only move one block at a time in any direction. The Queen has the honour of being the strongest piece in the game, and she can move any number of squares either vertically, horizontally or diagonally in a straight line. Queen is actually a wonderful combination of rook and bishop and perhaps the most important piece in a chess game.

Rook can move any number of squares in vertical as well as horizontal line. It is a powerful piece while working and protecting others. The Bishop can move as far as it desires but only diagonally. The Knight looks like a horse and moves in an interesting way. It first moves two squares horizontally or vertically and then can turn left or right to move one more square. Knight is the only piece that can jump over others. The last one is the Pawn that moves forward by one block at a time but captures diagonally. However, it can move forward by two blocks in its first step.

Some other important rules of the game are promotion, castling, En Passant and finally Checkmate. Though, the rules may appear complex but once you get a hang of it, it is fun to play.

If you are looking for low end chess sets, you can have them for very little. The cheapest chess sets are made from plastic. Many large toy companies offer plastic pieces and boards bundled with other major board games like Checkers. For a beginner, it is definitely a cheap game to learn. You don’t need to invest in fanciful kits and things like that. The fact that plastic is very durable makes it even more appealing chess set. Many chess beginners or players prefer to join chess clubs where they get to play with other players and hone their skills. Chess clubs usually use less expensive chess sets like vinyl boards. The best part about vinyl boards is that, they allow easy portability and can be moved to any locations.

If you are interested in quality chess sets then, you have got plenty of options. There are many chess specialty shops that offer numerous chess sets in different designs, materials and styles. You can also check out new chess sets on different websites dedicated to chess. If you are wondering about types of materials then, you have got wooden chess sets, marble, leather, glass and pewter. That’s not all. Some high profile chess players go for chess sets made of precious metals and stones etc! Yes, you heard it right. Chess sets are also available in gold, silver and ivory. Now, that must be one royal chess set. Chess sets are also available in different styles. The most popular style is Staunton chess set and it is used in major tournaments. You also have the choice of going for fascinating digital chess sets.