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In this article, we list the best chess skills that will have the most impact on your performance over the board. Visualization; Evaluation; Calculation; Tactics; Strategy; The better you get at developing these skills, the higher the Elo you will have. You’ll also learn what to do in order to get better at each skill. 1. Visualization
Mar 25, 2013 · There are 9 skill one must master to play effective chess. They fit together like building blocks to a puzzle. If one piece is missing the picture as a whole is left distorted. Strong player have at at least some degree of mastery of all these skills.
- Visualization. Visualization is the ability to see in your mind the positions reached when certain moves are made – without making them on the board – and seeing them so clearly you can accurately consider the implications of each new position.
- Calculation. Calculation refers to your ability to calculate the consequences of your opponent’s move, as well as the consequences of your intended move.
- Tactics. A chess tactic is a move (or a forced combination of moves) whereby you achieve an objective. Such objectives mostly refer to winning material or giving checkmate, but can also refer to strategic objectives, ie.
- Evaluation / Analysis. Evaluation refers to your ability to tell who has a better position and to specify which aspects of the position favors you, which aspect favours your opponent, and make a call to say which side has favourable winning chances, drawing chances, or whether the position is dynamic (evaluation can easily change) or unbalanced (factors are difficult to compare) or unclear (difficult to say – things appear messy).
- Selective calculation ability. Many players believe that master and grandmaster level players are able to calculate variations similarly to the computers, 20-25 moves ahead in any position.
- Ability to precisely play simple positions. Nothing separates a strong player from a weak player more than the ability to precisely play simple positions.
- Ability to realize whether to play for a win or a draw. Another very important skill that all strong chess players have is the ability to realize whether to play for a draw or a win.
- Ability to quickly evaluate a position. Only a few seconds on analysis is needed for a strong player to understand what’s going on in one or another position.
- Understand the principles of the opening. The principles of the opening revolve around control of the center, piece development, and king safety. Comprehending these principles allows you to make strategic decisions from the beginning, preparing for a strong mid-game and eventual endgame.
- Control the center quickly. The center of the board is the key battleground in chess. Controlling it provides greater mobility for your pieces and can limit your opponent's options.
- Don’t bring your queen out too early. Prematurely developing your queen can leave it vulnerable to attacks. While it's a powerful piece, it can easily become a target and force you to make unnecessary moves to save it, disrupting your overall game plan.
- Develop your knights before bishops. It's generally advisable to develop knights before bishops in the opening. Knights have fewer options in the beginning, and moving them early helps avoid unnecessary confusion about where to place them later.
Jun 14, 2023 · Some of the skills that chess develops are critical thinking, problem-solving, strategic planning, decision-making, patience, concentration, pattern recognition, creativity, resilience, and emotional intelligence. These skills benefit adults and children and are invaluable in numerous areas of life. Keep reading to learn more about the skills ...
Jul 28, 2017 · One of the most common questions we receive is something like “what should I work on to get better at chess”? Of course, it is impossible to generalize for every single player, but the training chart gives a pretty good idea of what most chess players should focus on.