Entertainment
Playing Chess Tips
Chess is played on an 8×8 grid of alternating colors known as a chessboard. There are 32 total game pieces, divided into two colors, which are referred to as chessmen or chess pieces. While black and white are the most common colors used, and thus give names to the two sides of play, any two colors can be used, given that one is distinguishably lighter than the other. Before the start of a game, the two players decide who will play White and who will play Black, either by a coin toss, or some other method (such as the loser of the last game automatically plays White). It is important to note here that the board must be aligned so that the right-hand corner of the board on White’s side is a white square.
A well-played chess game has three stages. In the chess opening, the players bring out their forces in preparation for combat. The middlegame begins as the chess players maneuver for position and carry out attacks and counterattacks. The final stage is the chess endgame when, with fewer pawns and pieces left on the board, it is safer for the Kings to come out and join the final battle.
One of the most important things to know as a guideline for playing chess is safety. It is critical that you will keep all of your pieces safe. That being said you should always try and take your opponents pieces if you see that they are not safe. When trying to scout unsafe pieces of your opponent you should always keep in mind the values of each piece: A Queen is worth about 9 ½ pawns, Bishops and Knights are worth about 3 ¼ pawns and Rooks are worth about 5 pawns. If you take a Rook for a Bishop or a Knight then this is called “The Exchange” and is worth about half a piece (Bishop or Knight).
