15th October

Today, Tony talked about how important it is to have a plan when you play a game of chess.

There are several steps to take:

* develop your pieces

* protect your King

* castle early

* play knight before bishop

* attack the centre.

This is the Italian opening that we practiced today.

Go over this a few times so that you are familiar with the moves and can recognise when it is being played.

Now try to develop it from first the perspective of white, then black. 

We also learned about endgames.

It is very important that you can finish well and gain as many points as you can. 

You may not be able to win a particular game but with practice, you may be able to get a draw.

the-most-basic-endgame

More practice!

 




Here is a position we got in class and it's Black to move. What is the danger?  What is White up to? Can Black protect the King?

Try this at home!

Can you see how the White Bishop can 'capture' all the Black pawns if they didn't move?

White can win this game, but how?

Remember, when a pawn reaches the opposite rank, it gets promoted to Queen. 

Try each set-up a few times, and if you have someone to play with, swap places so you can practice from both perspectives.