THINK

How to choose your move

n
Threat
N You MUST look to see if your
opponent has a threat, and if so, find
a move using the ABCD system

x
Hope
q You might have a chance to do
something to your opponent: perhaps
to take a piece for nothing, or make a
threat that cant be stopped (like a
fork or other double attack).

Improve

Next

r Nothing you have to do right now?

Then improve the position of your
worst-placed piece the piece that is
doing nothing, sleeping or stil parked
on its starting square.

B As you get better at chess, you will

start to form plans. Try and have
some sort of idea about what you are
trying to do at this point in the game.

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

Dealing with Threats

There are four different ways of getting out of trouble:

f
Avoid

J
Block

Just move your piece out of Block the attack by putting

the way
something in the way

d
Capture

G
Defend

Take the piece that is attacking Defend your piece, so if it is

you.
taken, you can take back.
But you might also be able to use Ingredient X: counterattack! If your threat is more
important than your opponents threat, then they wont get a chance to attack you!

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

C Self-Analysis S
How to get better at chess
1. Make a list of all the things you need to do to play
chess well heres my list so far...
ALL THE TIME

OPENING

Know all the basic kinds of

tactic (jumps mates forks pins
nets ties)

Get your pieces out

Spot your opponents threats

Castle

Get at least a stake in

the centre

Spot your threats, and the clues
Open up lines for your
that you might have a tactic to
rooks
play (loose pieces, unsafe king)

Play with a plan
MIDDLEGAME

ENDGAME

Keep all your pieces active

Use your king

Use all your pieces when

attacking

Win pawns

Pick on a weakness

Know what to swap and

what to keep on

Know how to finish off
your opponent

Now decide:
2. Which of these are you good at? Tick each one
3. Which of these do you get wrong? Underline these
4. Which is the thing you get wrong that makes you lose
the most games? Put a circle around it. What are
you going to do about it? Can you practise
something?
r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

How to win a game of chess

You have to do 4 or 5 things well

L
i
m

 Get all your pieces

out
 Win as many pieces
or pawns as you can
 Swap off pieces when
you're winning
If you haven't got enough left to
checkmate with, you need to:

J
 Checkmate!
G

 Get a new queen

Remember: checkmate is the end of the game, so if

you think there's a chance to do it earlier, go for it!

Do you know how to do all these things?

Do you practise any of them?
r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

The 6 basic
tactics
you

ight ust ind a

[ ates umps orks

Basic pattern for a

ate

cuuuuuuuuC
(rDb1kgw4}
70p0pDQ0p}
6wDnDwhwD}
5DwDw0wDw}
&wDBDPDwD}
3DwDwDwDw}
2P)P)w)P)}
%$NGwIwHR}
v,./9EFJMV

eat

owerful

ets

ins &

actic!
ies]

Basic pattern for a

et

cuuuuuuuuC
w(rDw1kgn4}e
7DwDbDp0p}
6pDw0wDwD}
5Dp0QDwDw}
&wDwDPDwD}
3DBDwDwDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
%$NGwIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Black wins the Bishop after 1...c4!

Basic pattern for a

ump

cuuuuuuuuC
(rhb1kgw4}
70p0pDp0p}
6wDwDwhwD}
5DwDwHwDw}
&wDwDwDwD}
3DwDwDwDw}
2P)P)Q)P)}
w%$NGwIBDR}a
v,./9EFJMV

Basic pattern for a

in

cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbDw4kD}
7DwDw1pgp}
6pDwDphpD}
5DwDw0PGw}
&w0wDNDw!}
3DwDBDwDw}
2P)PDwDP)}
%$wDwDRDK}
v,./9EFJMV

White wins after 1. Nc6+!

Basic pattern for a

ork

cuuuuuuuuC
w(rDwDw4kd}e
70p0wDp0p}
6wDwDwhwD}
5DqDw0w!w}
&wgwdw)wD}
3DwHwDwDw}
2P)nDwDP)}
%$wGwIwHR}
v,./9EFJMV

Basic pattern for a

ie

cuuuuuuuuC
w(rDb1rDkD}e
70pDwDp0p}
6wDwDwgwD}
5DwDQDwDw}
&wDwDwDwD}
3DwHw)NDw}
2P)wDw)P)}
%$wDwIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
1...Bxc3+ undermines the Queen

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

R
Find the

Test your tactics!

ate

cuuuuuuuuC
w(rDbDw4kD}e
70pDw0pgp}
6wDwDwDpD}
5DwDp1wDw}
&wDwDwDnD}
3DN0BDwDP}
2P)wDQ)PD}
%$wGw$wIw}
v,./9EFJMV
Find the

ump

cuuuuuuuuC
w(rDb1kDw4}e
70p0w0pgp}
6wDwDwDpD}
5DNDphwDw}
&wDw!wDwD}
3Dw)wDNDw}
2P)wDP)P)}
%$wDwIBDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Find the

ork

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+k+(
7+-+-+r+p'
6p+-sN-+-+&
5snpzpP+-wq-%
4-+P+-+-+$
3+P+-sN-+-#
2PwQ-+-+-zP"
w1+-+-+-+K!a
xabcdefghy

Find the

et

cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbDkgw4}
70p0pDp0p}
6wDnDwhqD}
5DwDwDNDw}
&wDwDPDwD}
3DwHwDwDw}
2P)PDB)P)}
w%$wGQIwDR}a
v,./9EFJMV
Find the

in

cuuuuuuuuC
(rDb1kDn4}
70p0pgw0p}
6wDwDwDwD}
5DBDwhwHw}
&wDwDpDwD}
3Dw)wDwDw}
2P)wDw)P)}
w%$NGQIwDR}a
v,./9EFJMV
Find the

ie

cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbiwDrD}
70p0pDpGp}
6wDwDwDwD}
5gwDPDwDw}
&wDBDwDw1}
3DQDwDwDw}
2PDwDw)PD}
w%$wDw$wIw}a
v,./9EFJMV

Answers:
ates : 1...Qh2+ and 2...Qh1#

ets : 1. Nh4

umps : 1...Nxf3+ and 2...Bxd4

ins : 1. Ne6!

orks : 1. Qh8+ and 2. Nxf7+ (one of

Spassky's)

ies : 1. Qg3 (one of Fischer's)

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

In the Opening

get your minor pieces out

towards the centre

get at least a share of the

centre

get your king into safety by

castling

get your rooks out of the

corners

In the middlegame

use space and open lines

to attack the enemy king
and other targets

always think about what

your opponent is trying to
do to you

look for tactics, especially

when you have a clue that
there might be one

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

In the endgame

attack and win enemy

pawns

move your own pawns up

as fast as possible to
become queens

get your King Up For The

Ending (KUFTE)

Winning and losing

If you are ahead:

 Don't relax
 Keep control
 Swap pieces off
 Leave pawns on
If you are behind:
 Don't give up
 Get some counterplay
 Swap pawns, not pieces

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

Making tactics work

Look at forcing moves like checks and captures

Checks
cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbDkDw4} Never play a check unless it does
7DwDpDw0p} something. But because everything
6pDpDp1wD} stops for a check, it can give you
5DwgwDwDw} time to do something great!
&wDwDwDwD}
1. Qh5+!
3Dw)BDwDw}
2PDPGw)P)} wins the Bc5 (a fork by the Queen)
w%$wDQIwDR}a
v,./9EFJMV

Captures
cuuuuuuuuC
w{wdrdwdkd}e Look at every check and every
{dpdwdp0w} capture.
{pdwdpdw0}
1Qxf3!
{dpdwdwdw}
{w)w!whwd} would normally be daft, but it
{)wdwdNdw} makes space for the knight fork
{wdwdq)P)} Ne2+ without giving White time to
{dwdwdRIw} defend
vllllllllV

Both at once!
cuuuuuuuuC
(wDw4rDkD} 1. Qxd5 looks promising but it
7Dp0wDp0w} doesnt work (can you see why?)
6pDwDwDw0} But
5DwDqDwDw}
1. Rxe8+!
&wDwDwDwD}
3Dw)QDwDP} Wins the Queen
2w)PDw)PD}
w%$wDw$wIw}a
v,./9EFJMV

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

I smell a tactic!

Look harder if you see loose pieces or an unsafe king

Unsafe king? Is there a tactic around?

cuuuuuuuuC
(wDwDwDkD}
70pDwDp0p}
6wDp4wDwD}
5DwDwDwDw}
&PDwDwDw!}
3DP1wDwDP}
2wDPDw)PD}
%Dw$wDwIw}a
v,./9EFJMV

If the black Rook wasnt on

the board, Qd8+ would be
checkmate.
And if Queens could bend it
like Beckham, Qe8+ would
be good.
1. Qe7!
Threatens mate, and
attacks the Rook, and stops
the Rook moving to d8,
and wins.

Loose piece? Is there a tactic around?

cuuuuuuuuC
(rDw1kDw4}
70wDpDp0p}
6w0bgpDwD}
5DwDwDwDn}
&wDPDPDwD}
3)wHwGwDw}
2w)QDw)P)}
%$wDwIBDR}a
v,./9EFJMV

The Knight on h5 is
obviously loose. But if you
attack it, Black will move or
defend it.
Aha! The Bishop on d6 is
also loose. If you can
attack both at once, you will
win a piece.
1. Qd1!
Simple but deadly!

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

Winning your first

chess games

Heres a junior game:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3
d6 6.Bb5 Bd7 [Diagram] 7.b3 a6 8.Bc4 b5
9.Bd5 Nxd5 10.exd5 Bb4 11.Bd2 Nd4 12.a3
Bxc3 13.Bxc3 c5 [Diagram] 14.a4 b4 15.Bd2
Bg4 16.h3 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qf6 18.c3 Nxf3+
19.Ke2 0-0 [Diagram] 20.cxb4 Rae8 21.bxc5
dxc5 22.h4 e4 23.Rc1 exd3+ 24.Kxd3 Qd4+
25.Kc2 Nxh4 26.Re1 Qxf2 27.Qg4 Nf3 28.Rf1
Qxd2+ [Diagram] 29.Kb1 Nh2 30.Qf4 Nxf1
31.Qxf1 Qxd5 32.Qc4 [Diagram] 32...Qxc4
33.bxc4 f5 34.Rd1 Re4 35.Rc1 f4 36.Kb2 f3
37.Kb3 f2 38.Rf1 Re1 [Diagram] 39.Rxe1
fxe1Q 40.a5 Rf3+ 41.Kc2 Rc3+ 42.Kb2 Qc1+
43.Ka2 Ra3# [Diagram] 0-1

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

1. Know all the rules

of the game, how
to set up the board
and what the
pieces are worth

2. In the opening:
(a) get your pieces
out

(b) Get at least a

stake in the
centre

5 3 3 9 3 3 5
(rhb1kgn4}
70p0p0p0p}
6wDwDwDwD}
5DwDwDwDw}
&Wdwdwdwd}
3DwDwDwDw}
2P)P)P)P)}
%$NGQIBHR}
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
(rDw1kDw4}
70p0bDp0p}
6wDn0whwD}
5DBgw0wDw}
&wDwDPDwD}
3DwHPDNDw}
2P)PDw)P)}
%$wGQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
(rDw1kDw4}
7DwDbDp0p}
6pDw0wDwD}
5Dp0P0wDw}
&wDwhwDwD}
3)PGPDNDw}
2wDPDw)P)}
%$wDQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

(c) Get castled

3. Next: win a piece

or two

Look for
undefended pieces

Look for
underdefended
pieces

Win material by
tactics

Make an attack
and win pawns or
pieces that way (or
get checkmate!)

cuuuuuuuuC
(rDwDw4kD}
7DwDwDp0p}
6pDw0w1wD}
5Dw0P0wDw}
&P0wDwDwD}
3DP)PDnDP}
2wDwGK)wD}
%$wDQDwDR}
v,./9EFJMV

cuuuuuuuuC
(wDwDr4kD}
7DwDwDp0p}
6pDwDwDwD}
5Dw0PDwDw}
&PDwDwDQD}
3DPDwDnDw}
2wDK1wDwD}
%Dw$wDRDw}
v,./9EFJMV

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

cuuuuuuuuC
(wDwDr4kD}
7DwDwDp0p}
6pDwDwDwD}
5Dw0qDwDw}
&PDQDwDwD}
3DPDwDwDw}
2wDwDwDwD}
%DK$wDwDw}
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
5. Win your
(wDwDw4kD}
opponents pawns 7DwDwDw0p}
6pDwDwDwD}
6. Move up your
5Dw0wDwDw}
pawns and get a
new Queen if you &PDPDwDwD}
3DKDwDwDw}
can (or win more
2wDwDw0wD}
pieces if you cant) %DwDw4RDw}
v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC
7. Checkmate with
(wDwDwDkD}
your extra pieces 7DwDwDw0p}
6pDwDwDwD}
5)w0wDwDw}
&wDPDwDwD}
34wDwDwDw}
2KDwDwDwD}
%Dw1wDwDw}
v,./9EFJMV

4. Swap off pieces

not pawns (and
win more pieces if
you can)

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

Diamond 9:
Why do you lose?

Being over- Being under- Not thinking

confident,
confident,
about your
attacked too playing too opponents
soon
quietly
threats
Mistake in
Didnt know
Mistake in
analysis e.g. what to do position e.g.
overlooked a next and got
made a
check
confused
weakness
Ignored the
endgame

Didnt
Didnt
understand develop fast
the opening
enough
you played

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r

r Exeter Junior Chess Club www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/juniors r