If you are like me you enjoy playing chess but hate losing more
often than you win. For me at least, winning often seemed more
of an accident than skill. Well, having many hours of trial and
error, studying moves my opponents made, looking at what I was
doing, etc. I came up with a few basic ideas on how to improve
my playing skills.

In the beginning, there was the middle

The first moves of the game are essential to your strategy. They
can also be the hardest to decide. From my experience, I have
found that controlling the middle of the board is a good way to
start. Whether the game takes place on the left side of the
board or the right, taking control of the middle will allow you
to be ready and in control of how the game pans out. Put your
pieces in the middle, protect them as best you can, and gain a
better feeling of control.

Pushing past the defenses

Once the game is a few moves in, it is time to start the push to
kill the king. Chasing the king around with a single piece only
to put it into a place where it is little use is not a good
idea. However, a single piece can be extremely powerful in the
right place. Look at the chess board. Divide it in half so your
pieces are on one side and your opponent’s are on the other. Try
to get one of your pieces past that middle line in a place where
it is well protected. By getting your piece firmly in your
opponent’s territory you are hindering how and where they can
move, making it easier

The King can be more than a weakness

The King, as you know, is what decides a win or loss in chess.
Generally it is a good idea to keep him protected. Placing a few
pawns in front of him is a good defense and will buy you more
time to take your opponent’s King. However, when there are fewer
pieces on the board, the king can be used to influence and
threaten pieces. Send it past your pawns and and you can
influence how your opponent moves his pieces. It is a bit more
risky, but can win games.