Chess is one of the most ancient and most popular board games in the world. It’s enjoyed by people of all ages, and can be played competitively or for fun. Whilst chess can often be highly engaging, there are ways to make it even more exciting and difficult. In this article, we’ll provide some tips to make your chess-playing more fun and challenging than ever.
What Is Chess?
Chess is a board game that’s designed for two players (or e.g. four people in teams of two). It’s played on a square board divided into 64 squares of alternating color. The game is thought to have originated in India around 600 CE, and the aim is to checkmate your opponent’s king. This can be done by trapping their king so it cannot move, or by capturing all the pieces that defend it.
The players must agree on which color chess pieces they’ll each use. The player controlling the white pieces always makes the first move. After that, players take turns moving their respective pieces. The game can end in one of three ways: checkmate, stalemate, or draw.
Use A Timer
Stopwatch Timers
A timer is a device that records the duration of an event and it’s usually made of two parts (a start button and a stop button). Chess timers have an extra feature: they can be set to buzz or beep at certain intervals. This is useful because it keeps both players from taking too much time on their moves. If each player has five minutes per move, it makes the game more challenging because players will need to think quickly about their next steps.
The internet is a great place to start if you want to buy a timer. Specialist websites provide reviews of the 7 best chess clocks (with or without delay functions) and you can see photos, specifications, pros, cons and prices. It’s possible to learn about digital or wooden mechanical versions and to read related posts on chess sets, tables and cases.
Countdown Timers
You could also use a countdown timer instead of a stopwatch version, for added excitement. A countdown timer starts at a certain amount of time and counts down until it reaches zero. This accentuates the feeling of running out of time and generates a sense of urgency for each player. You can find countdown timers online or in stores that sell Chess supplies.
Play With A Friend Or Online
One way to make chess more fun is to play with a friend. This way, you can have someone to talk to while you’re playing and it can help make the game more challenging. Additionally, playing with a friend can help you learn new strategies and improve your skills. If you take on a more experienced or stronger opponent you’ll be able to improve your game and it will help increase your level of competition.
Chess can also be played online against other people from around the world. They’ll each have different levels of experience as well as different strategies, to keep you on your toes. Additionally, there are many websites that have online forums where Chess players can talk about their games, share tips, and get advice from more experienced players. There are also tournaments that players can join which offer cash prizes to the winners.
Play Against A Computer Or Join A Chess Club
There are many different software programs that you can use to play against a computer. Some programs allow you to set the difficulty level, so you can gradually increase the challenge as you improve your skills. Others let you choose from a variety of different Chess games, so you can mix things up and try new tactics. Some software even has features that let you analyze your games after you’ve played them, so you can see where you went wrong and learn from your mistakes.
The benefits of joining a Chess club include having access to experienced players who can help you improve your game, as well as meeting new people and making friends. You’ll be able to test your skills against other players of all levels, and you may find yourself becoming more competitive than you ever thought possible. Who knows, you might even end up winning some tournaments!
Set Up A Tournament Or Change The Rules
To make Chess more fun, why not set up a tournament with friends, family, or strangers? Tournaments add an element of competition and can make the game more exciting. There are many different ways to set up a tournament, so do some research to find the best format for you and your friends. In some cases, people decide to increase the stakes. This could mean betting money on the outcome of the game or playing for keeps (meaning the winner gets to keep the chess set). This would make you think more carefully about each move, also adding an extra level of excitement to the game.
There are many different variants of chess, so why not try something new? You could play with different numbers of pieces, or change the rules of movement for them. By adding or removing pieces from the board, you can change the dynamics of the game. You could try playing with a piece that can move in any direction, or – if you’re feeling really adventurous – you could even create your own variant of Chess!
Final Tips
Here are some final suggestions for you to consider:
- Learn more about Chess by reading specialist websites and blogs
- Watch tournaments and videos, and read tutorials
- Join a Facebook group for Chess lovers
- Try out different opening moves and tactics to surprise your opponent
- Place your pieces in difficult positions for your opponent to conquer
- Take risks because sometimes it’s worth sacrificing a piece or two in order to gain an advantage over your opponent
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to bring new life to your Chess games. You’ll learn more and be challenged more – plus you’ll be having fun with others in the process.
Photo via Unsplash
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