Chess : Before You Even Begin Learning

Common myths about chess and how to choose the right online chess instructor. 

Almost everyone associates chess with intelligence. The truth is, you don’t have to be any kind of genius to be able to master chess, so says the highest rated grandmaster in chess. Yet it is one of the most common myths about chess. 

Most common myth   

You have one misunderstanding out of the way. What then does one need to be able to finish off opponents in just a few striking moves. Tact and strategy, yes. Commitment, most definitely. Hard work – the most important quality needed. 

When all grandmasters were put together, what was common among all of them was just one skill. Dedication. Time spent on the game, and love for the game. Along with practice, taking part in tournaments, observing top chess masters’ games, their opening strategies, endgames and checkmating patterns is good to improve skills, say experts. 

Attend individual and group coaching sessions. Playing with different opponents help you better. There are several options for live and online chess summer camps, today. Make use of opportunities.  

Looking for the right instructor

Thanks to online e-learning platforms, you can learn any skill you desire, from some of the best instructors around the world without taking a step outside home. They may come as pre-recorded sessions, or as live training and are most often quite affordable. 

A good chess instructor will understand your pace and decide the right chess regimen for you, that is challenging, fun and yet serious. This is why you must choose an interactive live class. Taking a free trial session helps you assess your instructor before you commit to a course. 

Here are a couple of questions to ask your chess instructor at your first trial session before you sign up for a live online course. 

Questions to ask

What is the best opening in chess? There is no one answer because this will depend on your distinct playing style. Are you a tactical player or a strategic player. Your chess instructor will be able to tell. Again the importance of having live training as opposed to pre-recorded online sessions.

What first move is the best? Again there are several popular choices. It will depend on how aggressive you want to play. Assess your opponent’s strengths and choose one that fits you both. Your chess master should be able to guide you better.

If you are a beginner at chess, you should probably start with e4, which is the Italian game. Also, players who don’t like to attack or even lead, from the beginning of the game should definitely work on the English opening. Although it is rare, learn to move your Knight first. After all not every first move must begin with a pawn. 

Having said that, play for the sake of playing. Not to win. Sometimes you need to lose a battle to win a war. When you hurt from losing is actually when you will remember your mistakes and learn from them. So keep playing with others in your family. or invite friends online to play. 

The more you play, the more you develop your sense of intuition, which is by far the most important skill needed for chess. More than scheming 20 moves ahead, what your gut tells you about your opponent will likely lead you to the Kings pavilion. 

Just a quick note that infynikids.com organizes tournaments for all chess lovers. You don’t have to be an existing student or pay to join the tournament. Tournament dates will be announced on our homepage at www.infynikids.com. Just drop us a mail and we will slot you in for a challenging match.   ~ Anjana Das