After watching Queen’s Gambit, I decided to learn chess…

Principles and lessons about chess (Still keep updating)

I decided to learn from the best. So I watched Master Class by Garry Kasparov. Here are some lessons

Tactic #1: Double Attacks

Double Attack means threatening two pieces of your opponents at the same time. It could be made by a rook, bishop, queen, knight, pawn, or multiple pieces attacking two or more key pieces. If your opponent's pieces are close to each other and on the same color of squares, you have a good chance to “fork” with a knight.

You should always look for opportunities. For example, looking for pieces that your opponent is hanging (without protection).

If you are the one being double attacked, don’t panic. See if there’s a way to get one piece out at a time, and resolve the threat. Checking your opponent could be the first thing to look for, or counter-attacking (Double Attack, Skew, or a Pin).

The Double Attack can be used in attack and defense.

Tactic #2: Skew

The Skewer can also be called the X-ray attack. You could sacrifice one piece to create a skew. It’s an attack by a line piece, queen, rook, or bishop. And normally the piece under attack is the piece more valuable than the one behind. And when this valuable piece has to move, then the less valuable is lost.

For example, the bishop (protected by the pawn), is attacking the queen with a rook behind it. Another example is attacking the king with a rook, with a rook behind the king.

Tactic #3: Discovered Attacks

Discovered attacks or discovered checks, is when you check your opponent while attacking another valuable piece of your opponent. Like pushing a pawn to check, while the bishop attacks the rook. By opening one piece, it opens up another piece to attack.

Double Check is a type of discovered attacks, where two pieces check at the same time. It is deadly because the king must move. Taking one of those attacking piece is useless.

The Windmill is checking with using the rook with a bishop behind for multiple checks.

Tactic #4: Pins

The Pin is where you are attacking a less valuable piece, with a valuable piece behind (can be protecting it or not protecting it), so the less valuable cannot move. Otherwise, a valuable piece will be taken.

A pin can be used to deflect your opponent's piece. Like force your opponent to take your rook, and advancing the pawn.

A relative pin is where you an attacking a piece that is well protected by the opponent. But kind of hinders your opponent’s movement, but they can move the piece being attacked anyway.

An absolutely pin is where the piece behind your pin is a king. So your opponent absolutely cannot move their piece.

Tactic #5: Deflection/ Attraction

Deflection/ Attraction means forcing your opponent to move a piece (probably the King) into a square, where you can take advantage in the next move (like Skewing, Check-Mating etc).

Another common form is sacrificing your piece (even Queen or Rook) so that you can get into a higher advantaged position. Or attacking your opponent’s piece to force it to move away.

Tactic #6: Interference

Interference means using your pieces to prevent your opponent’s pieces from normally communicating with each other.

For example, two rooks that are protecting each other could be interfered with by a protected pawn in between.

Or sacrificing a piece so that your opponent's pieces block one another.

Tactic #7: Overload

Look for opponent’s pieces that are doing multiple functions at once. For example, protecting the king and a piece. You can pin, attack or deflect that piece.

Patterns: King traps at the corner

If you see the King is at the corner of the first or last rank, with 2–3 pawns in front of it on the second rank. A rook or a queen going straight to the same rank as the King attacking it is deadly.

Principle #2: Control the Center

Having the queen in the center is extremely powerful. It controls most of the squares on the board.

Principle #3: Watch for your opponent's tactics

The Stalemate could be your opponent's tactic, be aware of it. One way to solve Stalemate is to create a checkmate attack.

Principle #4: Maximizing your outcome

Sometimes you take a smaller value piece, but it could give you a greater advantage in the game.

Sometimes immediate attacks don’t give you the advantage, like checking and attacking the queen. You need quiet moves.