Chess

We’ve all heard of the normal chess game but did you know that there’s more than one style of chess? There is another version of chess that is quite fun to play and very quick. This version of chess is known as speed chess and can be played in person or as an online chess game. In this version of chess you not only have to be strategic but you also need to be quick thinking. A chess clock is used to keep track of how long a player has to make their move. These chess clocks have two clocks and each individual clock can be stopped at will as they are counting down. A player automatically forfeits the match if they do not make their move before the chess clock timer runs out. Speed chess can be played on a board or can be played in an online chess room. Many websites exist where you can play online chess for free but they may require that you become a registered user of their site.

Who should play?

Speed chess isn’t really for those who aren’t familiar with the game as it is a lot more difficult than regular chess. It is a form of chess which is better for those players who are quite advanced at the game and are well equipped with vital knowledge of the game such as rules and strategies. Speed chess still has the same basic rules as standard chess with only a few rules changed in order to facilitate the quick game play.

What’s the difference?

In order to play speed chess you need to be well aware of the movement limitations because the act of making an illegal move at any time during the match will result in automatic forfeiture by the player who made the move no matter what the chess clock timer is at. When playing speed chess it’s important to take notice on both your own and your opponents’ clock because you could miss an opportunity to win if your opponents’ clock runs out and you fail to call the victory. If a players clock runs out then the player left with the active clock will automatically win as long as they claim the victory otherwise the game continues until they notice that their opponent is out of time. A great twist in speed chess is that even if you would have been victorious in a standard chess match you will lose if you run out of time regardless of where your pieces are on the board.

And your time starts now

The chess clock is usually set at around three or five minutes but on rare occasions players may set other timings instead. Speed chess is a very fast inspirational game to watch and to play. The best way to learn chess in order to brush up on your skills to play this lightning speed version is by playing free online chess games against other human players and computerised opponents. Speed chess is also available at many online chess websites and it’s recommended that you first have some practice against the computer before going head to head with a real life opponent.

To many people, it may seem that the game of chess is nothing but a mere sport, an idle amusement or a pastime sport. However, the game of chess, which is being played since the 6th Century A.D, has much more to offer to a person than just a sport.

A broad definition of the game of chess is revisited here once again to have a better understanding of this board game.

“The game of chess is a trial of skill between two parties, in the alternate use of equal means of a specific character, for the attainment of certain ends.”

The words “trial of skill” mentioned in the definition is a clear indication that the game of chess is a fair game and there is no room for outside influence, chance, or luck in the game.

The words “in the alternate use of equal means of a special character” refers to the fact that each player is provided with equal number of similar pieces, the difference being just the color of the pieces, and each player is allowed to move the pieces only once at a time.

The goal of the game is to corner the opponent’s King and claim victory by saying Checkmate.

In order to claim victory in a game of chess, one has to display attention, concentration, analysis, planning, decision-making, patience and execution of a series of moves aimed at cornering the opponent’s King. Lack of any one of the above-mentioned qualities might result in a mistake or miscalculation and ultimately result in a loss of the game.

If we apply the same analogy to the life, some interesting similarities come to light that might help us explain the popularity of this fascinating game since the 6th century.

A small mistake, or a miscalculation, or a sudden rush of blood is all that is required to change the course of a person’s life. Many of the virtues that are needed for the game of chess are equally important in a person’s life as well. In that way, the game of chess is more related to the life and can teach invaluable virtues of concentration, patience, analysis and decision-making, which will shape the character and life of a person.

Chess is not a difficult game to learn, in the first instance. One needs to understand the relative strengths of the different types of pieces and their capabilities, as well as the basic rules governing the game. As one starts playing the game, he or she will start gaining experience and skill in the game and indirectly develop the traits of attention, concentration, patience and such other virtues.

One problem is finding a partner to play chess. Here the technology comes to the rescue. Online chess is the answer, where the barriers of time and distance are eliminated. The game of chess is so popular across the world that at any given point of time some people will always be available in the internet waiting to play the game. Even if you cannot find any one person, you can test your skills with the computer.

Playing chess online is one of the boons to the chess-loving fraternity who can use the Internet effectively to enhance their skills, make new friends, share new ideas and in the process, improve their quality of life and character.

Chess is a challenging board game that requires a lot of thinking on the part of the players. The one predominant quality of the game of chess that helped this ancient game, played since the 6th Century, survive the travails of time and technology and still fascinate people across the world to take up this game is its fairness. In other words, there is no room for chance or a hand of god or luck to win in a chess game. The only possibility that can help you achieve success in the game is through an accident – an accident that results from the mistake of the opponent.

A mistake is possible in the game of chess due to inattentiveness, lack of understanding, lack of skill, lapse of concentration, pressure of time, and other emotional disturbances. This mistake on the part of a player is the passport for success to the opponent. This signifies the importance of not making mistakes in the game of chess to ensure that the word ‘checkmate” is not uttered to you by the opponent. Irrespective of your level in the game of chess, be it a novice, or a budding chess player, or a champion, or a grandmaster, attention is very essential for success in this game. The trait of giving importance to attention and not getting distracted with other aspects, which one should display while playing chess, helps him in his life to a greater extent.

What is attention? and how one can maintain high level of attention throughout the game?
Attention is defined as nothing but concentration of cerebral activity on a certain object. This concentration is essential in the game of chess. More so, to assess the position of the pieces in the board, the threats to one’s pieces and the opportunities to attack the opponent’s pieces, and such other things. This attention has twin benefits. Not only will it help have a better understanding of the game on hand, but also, in the process helps you to gain more knowledge about the game and recall this position at a later date in a different context and might help in taking the appropriate decisions.

If one were to improvise his skills on the game of chess and elevate himself to higher levels, he should not do any mistake in the game of chess and gain more in confidence and skills. In order not to make any mistakes, he need to concentrate on the game more and pay attention to the pieces on the board, assess the position and take steps not only to avoid making mistakes but also to latch on the mistakes made by the opponent.

It may not be out of context to point out that people with serious absent-mindedness have been suggested to take up the game of chess to help them get rid of this absent-mindedness. Research has shown that playing chess helped them overcome this problem of absent-mindedness.

The role of attention in the game of chess is best summarized by one of the grandmasters of Chess N. Grekov. In his words, “Chess demands…. a prolonged, a constant concentration of attention. It is quite clear that one can well achieve a winning chess position, but then …. as a result of relaxing the tension or failing to pay attention even for a second, turn a won game to a lost one. An essential pre-condition of perfecting one’s chess is to fight this failing.”

To many of us, the word “chess” refers to a board game played across a square board having 64 squares in alternate colors distributed across eight rows and eight columns by two players sitting opposite to each other with the board placed in front of them. Each player is provided with a set of 16 pieces comprising eight major pieces that include two rooks, two knights, two bishops, a Queen and the King, and eight minor pieces in the form of pawns. One set of pieces will preferably be in white color, called White pieces, and the other set of pieces would be referred to as black pieces. The objective of the game as understood generally is to capture the opponent’s King and say checkmate.

This is the general notion of the game. A little introspection into the game reveals that the pieces provided to each player at the beginning of the game have some different characteristics and unique capabilities. The pieces also follow some basic clearly defined rules and regulations with regard to movement across the board. Adhering to the rules of the game, which are very simple and can be grasped in no time, anyone can start playing the chess game.

One more thing most of the people might know about the game of chess is that it is one of the oldest games played since the early 6th century. Despite being played since the early 6th century and more popularized since the 15th century in Spain, the game of chess still attracts the fascination of many people across the world.

Now, coming back to the game, we found that each player is provided with the same set of pieces at the beginning of the game. There is no difference in the characteristics based on the color of the pieces. No player is allowed to make more than one move consecutively. In other words, both the players are provided with equal opportunities to make the moves. In each move, only one piece can be moved, castling being the only exception where two pieces exchange squares in a single move. The pieces are allowed to move only across the open squares or unoccupied squares. There is no question of jumping over the pieces, only exception being the Knight, which might hop over a square even if the square is occupied by another piece.

Misconceptions and myths surround the game of chess more than the ideal aspects of the game that can provide more sheen and shine to a person’s character and life.

At the start of the game, each player is provided with equal number of pieces. In other words, equilibrium is there at the start of the game. When each player is provided with same number of pieces and has equal powers or capabilities at his or her disposal, how can one corner the opponent’s king and say checkmate. The only possibility must be a mistake on the other player. If both players play to their skills and do not make mistakes, all that can happen is sacrifices and captures of the pieces excluding the King. That leads to the conclusion that the logical outcome or objective of the game is only a draw and not checkmate. CHECKMATE is only an accident in the game resulting from a player’s mistake and cannot be a logical outcome.

Some ignorant people might decry the game of chess as an idle amusement fit for the old people, while some others give the stamp of an intelligent sport. Chess is not just an idle amusement or an intelligent sport. It has more to offer for a person’s life and that can be only experienced and felt.