6 Tips and Tricks to Play and Win Chess Like a Pro

Chess is a strategy game that requires patience and since it is one of the intellectual games, we need to put our best foot forward if we have to win. In this blog, we will discuss with you how to play chess like a pro and some excellent chess tricks to win fast the game. Before we get into it, let us have a look at the history of the game.

Chess and India: A piece of history

Chess was born in India way back in the 6th Century. Epics like Mahabaratha have mentions of the game as ‘Chaturanga’ though who invented chess is unknown. Chess is one of India’s contributions to the world culture. From a game played by the kings, it has evolved into a favourite game to play indoors and a professional sport. No wonder Indian chess players lead the chart of the world’s best chess players. D. Gukesh, a Chess grandmaster of India has scripted history becoming the youngest World Chess champion. India also tops the list of best-performing countries in the International Chess Federation rankings

Benefits of playing chess

Among all the games to play indoors, chess stands on top with the numerous benefits it offers.

• Builds confidence: Playing chess builds confidence. As you master the game with chess moves to win and take calculated risks, your confidence also improves.

• Develop creativity: One needs to think outside the box about chess tricks to win fast. You need to get creative with unique moves against your opponent. DIY crafts for kids are also great for developing creativity.

• Improves memory: Chess players will have to recall every move and pattern in the game. This exercise improves their memory.

• Helps you focus: Every movement is critical in chess which demands deep focus. A chess player cannot afford to miss out on the opponent’s move.

• Brain workout: Chess game exercises both the logical and creative side of the brain thus keeping it sharp.

• Develops perspective: Chess teaches you to see from the other person's point of view. Only when you know your opponent’s perspective, you can plan your move to win.

• Strategy and planning skills: As you create and execute your chess tricks to win,  you improve your planning skills.

• Problem-solving skills: Chess is the challenge of solving a complex problem. It improves analytical thinking and decision-making skills.

• Thinking skills: The game of chess improves critical thinking skills as you evaluate your opponent’s move and make chess moves to win.

Do check out our blog on 10 Best Strategy Games That Will Make You Genius

Best Chess Tricks That Turn You Into A Winner

Were you also inspired by the story of Queen’s gambit from the popular Netflix series and are wondering how to become a chess grandmaster as she did? Well, we definitely are! So we thought why not pull out some tips and tricks to play chess that will help us and you play like a pro? Playing chess with friends has always been fun but the final moment when you get to checkmate your opponent feels different, doesn’t it? We have formulated some chess tricks to win fast from real-life champions of chess. So make sure you stick to the end to find out! 

1. Open With A Pawn

‘The understated’ or ‘the underdog’ trick to play chess game is the opening move of a pawn. As you already would know, the pawn can move two blocks at first and then it follows the path of a single square per move. So, moving the pawn in front of the king or queen to make space for bishops and rooks who travel in a specified manner to enter the game is our first trick to play chess. This ensures that you have both big and small chess pieces ready to capture the enemy while your king stays safe. Think of it like setting up the starting line in a Hot Wheels car race. Your chess pieces are ready to zoom into action!

2. Castle Your King Into Safety

The king stands as the supreme chess piece in the chess board game, so if you’re wondering what is the trick to save you from checkmate, it is this. Castle or rook comes into play when the blocks between the king and rook are clear. Move your king two squares over to rook and your rook moves to cover the king’s other side. These cool chess tricks will help you attack the opponent’s king if he fails to castle his king and save your king at the same time! 

3. Always Be Aware Of Traps

The most integral tip for winning a chess game is alertness. If you slack out or feel like you’ve got it in the thumb of your hand, then you are making a mistake. Be on your toes and deliberate what your opponent must be thinking. Is he or she laying traps? The observation of your opponent’s tactics will provide the plan of action for you to win the chess game. This is how to play chess like a pro!  Think of this like moving a remote car for kids through an obstacle course. You must anticipate potential obstacles and traps ahead.

Here is where Garry Kasparov, Russian Chess Grandmaster and former world chess champion lesson on tricks to win chess comes in. He says, “Don’t forget that chess is a two-player game. Your strategy may be undone by your opponent if you don’t disguise your true intentions and create multiple threats” We got it, chess grandmaster! 

4. Attack when your opponent least expects it

The middle of the game is the battleground for attackers, all your chess pieces are out and about. This is the time your opponent spends planning their escape towards your king. Move as many chess pieces as you can into the line of attack without disturbing the castle defence around your king. A minor fault and you will get your check to seal the victory with simple tricks to win chess. Just like how a toy train can unexpectedly change course and surprise everyone in its path!

5. Find the worth of each piece on your board.

We wouldn’t call this a trick per se, because it really is a smart move. While planning your next move on the chessboard, understand the worth each chess piece in the chess set brings for you. Losing pieces in chess is incredibly easy so you need to make wise decisions when swapping players. The mating of some players can actually bring you to the chess endgame so make sure you don’t trade a rook or a bishop only to save a pawn!
 

Magnus Carlsen, the current chess world champion also highlighted the value of various chess pieces in one of his interviews, he said, “Learn basic mating technique, like mating with queen and rook or two rooks and queen against the king is very useful as it gives you a lot of confidence that you can finish off the game” So, there we have it – how to play chess like a pro! Make sure to keep your rooks and queens close if you wish to learn the best chess tricks.

6. Patience is your best friend.

Chess is one the most incredible brain development games, and rightfully so because it requires you to observe, think, plan and attack. Patience is the key trick to winning chess, consider it the most vital one too! If you play too fast without putting adequate thought into the next move, you are bound to lose! Just like building something great with building blocks for kids cannot be rushed, slow and steady wins the race with this chess board game.

These were the 6 cool tricks and tips to play and win chess like a pro, and have fun while you’re at it! If you are looking for a classic wooden chess set then don’t forget to check out the foldable wooden chess set from our collection and practice all the chess tricks you’ve learned!  

Fun facts about Chess

On your journey to knowing how to play chess like a pro, have you ever come across the following fun facts?

• The longest chess game ever lasted 20 hours and 15 minutes, ending in a draw.

• There are 1.70x10^29 ways to play the first 10 moves of a chess game.

• Placing one grain of wheat on each square of the chessboard doubles each time, reaching 9.22 quintillion grains on the 64th square.

• DeepThought was the first computer to beat a grandmaster in 1988.

• The longest chess game theoretically possible is 5,949 moves.

• "Checkmate" comes from the Persian phrase “Shah Mat,” meaning "The King is dead."

• There are over 1,000 chess openings to learn.

• Chess clocks were first used in 1883, with the first world championship in 1886.

• The Queen used to move just one square diagonally before becoming the strongest piece in the 15th century.

• During World War II, top chess players also worked as codebreakers.
  

Conclusion

The game of Chess is a powerful exercise for the mind and brain. By applying our tips for playing chess, you can start your journey towards playing like a pro. Practise these tricks to play chess and challenge your friends. Every champion today once started just like you. Keep practising and you might be the next chess grandmaster!

Check out our great collection of chess sets and other board games! Our vast collection of kid's toys online shopping at Snooplay awaits you.

FAQ on Chess

Who invented chess 

The origin of chess is believed to be in India around the 6th century. The inventor of the game is unknown.

How many squares are there in a chessboard?

A chessboard has 64 squares arranged in an 8x8 grid with alternating light and dark squares in colour.

Is chess good for kids' brains?

Yes. Chess is excellent for developing cognitive skills.  Playing chess is a good brain exercise and improves planning and strategic thinking. If you are looking for birthday gifts for kids, a chess set would be an excellent choice.

What is the best age to start chess for kids?

Kids can start learning the basics of chess at about 5 - 6 years of age. Start with simple moves and rules and with age, their playing and strategic thinking skills will also improve.