Beginners? Chess Tactics and Strategies: How to Get Better at Chess Quickly

Posted by IchessU on July 2nd, 2015

If you wish to get better at chess, you will have to spend a lot of time studying and practicing, and playing against people who know chess well. There are many ways by which you can improve your game skills and it will speed up your learning if you practice consistently and take extra measures that will enhance your tactics and strategies.

One of the most effective ways you can improve your chess rating from being a novice player to a more experienced player is by practicing with tactical puzzles. Online, you will find many web applications as well as chess trainers through which you can access different kinds of tactical puzzles that will help you improve your tactics.

If you are just beginning to get a hold of the game, it would be best to save opening books for later. Many beginner players make the mistake of spending too much time studying opening books that are too complicated for their current rating. Most opening books are written for stronger, more experienced players and assume that readers already know a lot of stuff. These types of books will only leave you in circles, wondering why specific moves were chosen for specific tactical preparations and strategic placements. If you are only beginning to get a grip of your own game style, it would be better to learn some “open” openings (or openings where central pawns are swapped off) and then relying on tactical play in the mid game, which is often where novice games are made and decided.

Studying basic opening principles is a more practical approach to openings than forcing yourself to understand complex opening tactics that only stronger players can fully understand. You will eventually reach a level of expertise when these types of tactics will be more useful in varying your game.

One of the most used tips in beginner chess is to play a lot of games and it is so because experience plays a huge part in playing better chess. Joining formal classes, playing a lot of over the board chess, or joining an online club or class are all great ways to earn experience and match wits and skills with players within your range or are better than you. Continuously challenging yourself and getting the right instruction are also great ways to speed up your progress in chess.

About the author:

Albert Fishman has been involved in teaching chess since 1996 and is part of the IchessU coaching staff.