Quick Chess Strategies

Quick chess strategies are useful to create short little victories to improve a position or to create tiny diversions while you work on a long-term plan. Use some of the following strategies to show some attacking dominance. Whether you are a beginner or a strong player, the following strategies can be useful. The sheer annoyance of your plans may be enough to throw your opponent off!

Quick Chess Strategies in the Opening

Castling

Since the object of the game is to checkmate your opponent, getting your King to safety should be quick chess strategy in the opening. Kingside is the castling side of choice as it takes two less moves to get your King to absolute safety. Queenside is okay, especially if the opening line requires it or if castling that side presents a unique attacking opportunity. Try to get your King to safety within the first ten moves, noting how many moves you must make to do that.

Attacking the King Bishop's Square

Most opening lines take an average of 12-15 moves before players go their own way. So what if pieces are out, there are no distinguishable lines, the number of moves hasn't even reached ten, and there are no obvious attacking routes? Check out your opponent's King Bishop's square, especially if he or she has not castled yet. This square is often vulnerable and often overlooked. (Picture Above). See if you can formulate a plan around attacking that square. Some things to consider:

• See what pieces can get over to protect that square if you start attacking it. Also check out how many moves it would take.
• Can your opponent simply defend that square by pushing the F-pawn up one or two squares? Then forego the attack.
• Study the middle of the board. Is your opponent's mobility restricted because the middle is hampered? If you are white, then some of black's defense requires staggering pawn formations, which limit the move of any pieces on the Queenside. Any piece that takes two or more moves to get over to defend the F-square isn't useful.
• If your opponent has not castled, then the F-square is prime for attack. It's possible you could dislodge the King, preventing him from ever getting to safety.

Middlegame Strategies

If you are stuck on a plan of attack, then forgo thinking three or four moves ahead and just play for the moment. A word of warning, though: it's possible you'll be vulnerable for quick attacks by your opponent.

• Attack with a pawn. This quick chess strategy is useful if your opponent is formulating a plan and you need to thwart him. Move the pawns so that they attack future squares your opponent may need or so that they attack pieces that are poised to swoop into squares that directly attack your position.

White's Queen is out early, and Black will attack it to develop his own pieces

• Focus your efforts on one or two pieces. Is your opponent relying on one piece, or does he or she have a piece that is in the open?

Quandrant Attacking

In your mind, break up the chessboard into four quadrants. Each quadrant will have sixteen squares with four rows and four columns. Obviously the King will be in one quadrant, which you can leave alone for the moment. Pick another quadrant which has many of your opponent's pieces and begin to attack that section. Within three or four moves, you should see your opponent changing his plan to defend your attack. Then, in another few moves, you move onto the quadrant with the King.

Opening Up the Castling Pawn Formations

When a player castles, there is usually a pawn formation protecting the King. Eventually, you'll have to bust through. So what's the easiest way?

1. Pushing your own pawns forward. This has two results: one, you may exchange pawns, opening up files and the area around the King; and two, you may also force your opponent to move his own pawns which would open up the space around the King.
2. Making a sacrifice. If you have some momentum in attacking, then sacrificing a piece for a pawn around the King may be in order.

Endgame Strategies

Brute Force Minimizing

One of the best quick chess strategies in the endgame is to reduce your opponent's forces when you are ahead. Chess players usually rely on point values to quickly keep track of who has the advantage. Whether you are one pawn ahead or two pieces ahead, one of your goals should be to exchange pieces. Doing that will minimize what your opponent can attack or defend with.

The Queen and the Rook ready to force the King to the edge

Rolling the King to the Edge

As the board starts to clear and squares are easier to attack, you should attempt to get your opponent's King to the edge. Depending on what pieces you have will determine how easy it will be. Rooks and Queens work well together in shrinking the area Kings are allowed to move. Rooks and other pieces like Bishops and Knights make it hard to roll the King to the Edge, but it can be done.

Patience

The best quick chess strategy occurs throughout the game: being patient. While working on your plan, your opponent will be working on his. Moves happen that will hamper your progress and will frustrate you, but you can't show your annoyance by making a rushed moves or telling body signs. That is the quickest way to a loss.

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