FREE chess training guide for parents and teachers via Webster University: http://www.webster.edu/documents/spice/chess-training-guide.pdf
One of the most common questions I face as a chess coach is what are some of the basic chess rules every novice player must know. Here is my recommendation:
Susan Polgar Power Principles of Chess
1. Control the Center!
The center of the board includes the squares e4, d4, e5, and d5. When you start a game, place your pawns in the center to occupy and control as many of these squares as you can. Location, location, location!
2. Develop Your Pieces as Soon as Possible!
Get your Knights and Bishops out right away. This should be done before you try to checkmate your opponent, some time in the first 6 or 7 moves if possible.
3. Castle as Soon as Possible!
Castle at the very first chance you have in order to keep your king safe. Remember, you can’t win if your king isn’t safe and you get checkmated first. So don’t forget to castle! Then after you castle, connect your rooks by developing your queen.
4. Keep Your Pieces Protected!
Don’t leave your pieces hanging without protection. Each and every piece you have is very valuable, so don’t forget to protect them. Protecting means if your opponent can take your piece, then you can take your opponent’s piece.
5. Have Fun and Win with Grace, Lose with Dignity!
This is my motto in chess. First and foremost, chess should be fun. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, it’s all part of the game. When you win, be a good sport and don’t trash talk or make fun of your opponent. When you lose, be an even better sport and not a sore loser. Shake hands and congratulate your opponent. This will go a long way toward making good friends.
For young players under the age of 10, I recommend Learn Chess in 30 Minutes DVD (www.chessmaterials.com).
Thanks for the tips. This is very important for me, a 925 rated player.
Nice. Thank you. I needed those tips as a coach
A. Weiler
I have a LOC (local organizing committee) meeting this afternoon for the 2009 Washington State Elementary Chess Championship. Since one of the young girls I that I coach usually comes to this meeting with her parents, I printed these Power Principles for her. Thanks.
Thanks for the power principles.
Certainly great help for me to guide my kids. Thank you.
6. Always end a Power Principle with an exclamation mark.
I printed these out to give to my daughter’s school club.
But I think that number 1 should be “don’t give away pieces!” I don’t know how many times I’ve seen kids leave a piece en prise or put it en prise. And they will intentionally sacrifice a piece for absolutely nothing in return.
About the “sacrifices” mentioned in my previous post. I was playing against one of the kids, she had K on e1, R on h1, pawns on f2, g2, and h2 (plus more material). I moved Qxg2. She said “I’m going to sacrifice that piece [the rook].” I said “you can save it by moving it to f1.” She said “I’m going to sacrifice it anyway.” And she did. I don’t know how to teach these kids to not do things like that. Forget teaching the Lucena position when they give away pieces for nothing.
Please don’t tell all those rules to Moro.
OMG! Thanks for this great+powerful tips! I can promote this tips to my friends in cyber world! ^_^ Thanks again 😉
I love that photo of Susan with the giant chess set.
I am the faculty chess club sponsor at my middle school/high school. Do you have any teaching aids you could recommend to me?
Susan it’s amazing. I apply the same principles to play and show some other people how to play chess. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Susan for those principals……they are of million dollars worth !!!!!!!!!!!