Online and regular chess strategy are pretty similar – the same tactics and movements that work in real life work online. However, the online experience does change the nature of play. To do well when playing chess on the Internet, it’s a good idea to know a few things about online chess strategy.
One of the main things that chess players online deal with is the faceless opponent. The anonymity that is so common on the Internet can be a factor that affects your game. Before playing a game, you have virtually no idea what you’re up against. This can be a disadvantage because you don’t know your opponent’s strengths or weaknesses. To do well in online chess, you need to find a way to work around this. There are different strategies that, when followed, can help make or break your game when playing online.
The key to a good online chess strategy is planning. Many people just start playing, waiting for the opponent to miss something and make a mistake. This isn’t always the most effective way to win at chess. Before starting an online chess match, you should come up with a well thought out plan.
A key element in your plan should be a clear goal. You can’t plan out the entire game, but having some clear idea of where you want the game to go. Start with a clear opening strategy – this will get your game going in the right direction. With a strong start, you can control the middle part, to an extent.
There will be, however, a point in the game where, inevitably, your starting plan will end and you have to strategize as you go, coming up with a new plan, play by play. There are a couple things to consider that will help you formulate your plan.
One thing to consider is advantage – who has the most control? What pieces are on the board? Do you have the physical advantage? This may not always be indicated by the number of pieces – it’s more important to consider what they can do. You may have a bunch of pawns and your knights left, but a lot can be done by your opponent if they just have a bishop and queen left to guard the king.
Another thing to consider when surveying the chessboard is the structure. How are the pieces distributed throughout the board? Are their any holes on either side? Are there any pawns that could be queened? Check for open lines and lines that could be opened. The key is to really analyze all the pieces on the chessboard and decide who has the most control. From this point, you can adjust and alter your original strategy so that it fits the way your opponent is playing.
Many online chess strategists suggest that you do not over calculate your moves when playing chess online. You don’t know your opponent – you don’t know what they’re going to do. As a result, spending a lot of time calculating moves can be detrimental to your game. Instead, think in terms of positions, of where things are placed on the board. This puts you in a more of an observer type of role – making you more objective and open to the changes you will have to make in your original plans and goals.
Not knowing who your opponent is or where their strengths or weaknesses lie can be either an advantage or disadvantage. The key to online chess strategy is to approach your game as an observer or investigator, studying the board and the piece positions of both players. This will allow you get an insight into your opponent’s mind, even if you never see their face.