In the game of chess, the pieces are everything. The way they move and your strategies in moving them can make the difference between winning and losing. There are some chess strategies for specific pieces that can help you improve your game and point you in the winning direction. That is, if you can out smart your opponent. Let’s take a look some specific piece chess strategies.
The Pawn
The pawn is considered to be the weakest piece in the game of chess. While there is strength in numbers, the pawns represent peasant folk from the medieval era. One great advantage that a pawn has is if it reaches the other side of the board (your opponents side) it gets promoted to a more important pieces; usually the queen. In the endgame these pawns can be as strong as a knight or bishop and will sometimes even decide the fate of the game. So don’t count your pawns out yet even though you think they are the least valuable pieces. They can be a strength if used correctly.
The Rooks
The rook is the second most powerful piece; it falls just after the queen. A good strategy for any chess player is to keep you rook as far away from open board as possible. The best place to keep your rook is on the first rank with no pieces in between so they can cover each other. The endgame is where rooks play the most important role. If they can make it to the seventh rank you can use them to capture enemy pawns, which can trap your opponent’s king which is sitting on the eighth rank. Don’t play your rooks too soon and watch for opposing knights who can trap and capture both rooks in no time at all.
The Bishops
A bishop will always stay on the same colored square and move diagonally so once your opponent captures a bishop it becomes easier for them to maneuver and take control of the board. Generally speaking, a bishop is about equal to the value of a knight but in certain circumstances it can be more powerful than the knight. The best strategy for the bishop is to keep an open game with action on both sides of the chess board. The bishop is strong because it has a long range across the board.
The Knights
Many chess players would agree that knights are less powerful than the rooks and sometimes even than the bishops. But because of the unique moving style of the knight it can surprise even the most advanced players of chess. The knights can move in eight different directions and unlike the bishop can visit all squares on the board. They are not limited to sticking to just one color. It’s almost impossible to block an attack made by an opponent’s knight piece. One of the best strategies for the knight is placing it in the middle of the board. Your opponent will have to keep checking where they want to move their pieces as the knight has so many different places it can move. If you can get two knights into the middle of the board, your chances of confusing your opponent and winning the game will increase.
The Queen
The queen is the most powerful piece on the board because of the flexibility in how and where she can move. She can present many threats all at the same time to an opponent. It is a better strategy to develop the queen after you have done so with the knights and bishops. You don’t want to lose her to a minor piece and lose your chances at winning.
The King
The best strategy for the king (if it is possible) is for him to stay protected in the corner behind his pawns. In the endgame however when the board is less busy, the king can be a powerful piece. By moving it to the center of the board it will give you more opportunities to threaten your opponent.
There are chess strategies for specific pieces in the game; these are only a few of them. There are many more out there if you’re willing to do your homework.
Leave a Reply