Chess Training

1. Double Check - An interesting situation where we check the opponent's
King with two pieces at the same time. This can be a
powerful move because the only way out of double check
is for the King to move. The attacking piece can't be
captured because there's two pieces attacking and there
isn't a useful interposition either. Note how the Bishop
moves to check the King and opens an attack on the King
by the Rook.

2. Pin - A very useful tactic where you move a piece such
that you attack one of your opponent's pieces and that
piece cannot move to keep from being captured because it
would be moving into check and moving into check is not a
legal move. Notice how the bishop attacks Black's Queen.
If the Queen were to move to avoid the attack, Black would
be moving into check. The Queen can take the Bishopto neutralize
the attack but White takes the Queen with the Rook. That's
a great trade for White.

3. Value of pieces - When deciding whether to make trades or
not a good rule of thumb is to assign point values to certain
pieces. Below is the widely accepted values of the pieces.

Queen: 9  Some people say 10

Rook:  5

Bishop: 3   Some people say 3.5

Knight:  3

King: 2.5  Not that you'll ever trade a King

Pawn:  1

4. Knight Fork- This is a very powerful tactic. This happens when the knight moves to
attack two or pieces at the same time. Only one can move to
avoid being captured. So, you get to take the other piece. It
is especially powerful when one of the pieces being attacked
is your opponent's King. Because he must move out of check. In
the situation below the Knight has Black's King in check while
attacking three other pieces. That gives White lots of options
once Black moves out of check. I'd get his Queen. Forks can be
made with other pieces as well. See the pawn fork in the second
picture.

5. General Strategy- Here's some generally good ideas.

• Early and through the middle of the game try to control the center of the board.
• Keep Knights away from the two outside edges of the board.
  Unless there's a good reason not to.
  
• Keep bishops on the longer diaginals on the board. They control
  more squares that way and makes them more powerful.
• Castle early.
• Keep your king in a position throughout the game so that he
  cannot come under attack with a single move. This keeps
  the opponent from being able to check you and force you to move.
• Study all of the famous openings. This way you'll already know
  what the best early moves of the game. The first 20 or 30
  actually.
• Learn what the phrase "discovered check" means. You can plan for
  this to hide your planned attacks from your opponent.

6. Discovered Check Example - Note how moving the Bishop cause Black's King
to be placed in check by the Rook.The Bishop simultaneously
attacks the Queen. A very useful tactic.