A Collection of Common Chess Questions – And Answers

Learning to play chess is an enjoyable journey, and the time it takes to become proficient depends on the individual and the time they dedicate to practicing and learning.

In general, it takes 1-2 years to build a solid foundation and consider oneself an excellent chess player.

It is important to understand that there is a difference between learning the basic rules and mastering the game:

Basic rules: Learning how the pieces move and capturing rules (e.g., en passant, castling) can vary from person to person. Some might grasp them in a day, while others take longer, like a couple of months.

Strategy and Plans: After grasping the basic rules, developing an understanding of strategy and plans takes longer. It usually happens after playing for about a year or more.
To speed up the learning process, we suggest the following steps:

Discover The Special Rules: Learn about additional rules, such as stalemate, draw, promotion, and the “threefold repetition” rule.

Learn Who Makes The First Move: White player goes first, then the players alternate.

Study The Basic Strategies: Start with basic opening principles, tactics, and basic end-game techniques.

Practice Playing Lots Of Games: The more you play, the better you’ll understand the game, and the faster you’ll improve.

In the game of chess, all pieces have unique functions and contribute to a successful strategy. However, certain pieces are considered more important due to their abilities and value on the board.
First and foremost, the King is the most crucial piece in chess.

The main objective of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s King, meaning that the King’s safety and positioning are paramount.
Although the King can only move one square at a time in any direction, it must be protected at all costs.

The Queen, on the other hand, is the most powerful and versatile chess piece. Valued at nine points, this major piece can move in any direction. Horizontally, vertically, or diagonally – and cover as many open spaces as available.
Due to its immense attacking power, the Queen is a vital component in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Alongside the Queen, Rooks and Bishops are essential to a solid game plan. Rooks, valued at five points each, can move horizontally or vertically across the board. Their long-range mobility makes them effective in controlling open ranks and files.

Bishops, valued at three points each, can move diagonally across the board, controlling the color squares they occupy. Two Bishops, one on each color, are a formidable duo when coordinating attacks and defenses.

Knights hold unique importance due to their distinct L-shaped movement. Valued at three points each, they are the only chess pieces capable of jumping over other pieces when necessary. Moreover, Knights are incredibly valuable in the early stages of the game, as they can quickly be maneuvered into optimal positions.

Lastly, while Pawns may be the smallest and least valuable pieces (one point each), they also play a significant role in the game. Pawns are essential for controlling space, opening up the board, and supporting other pieces.

Additionally, Pawns have the potential to be promoted to any other piece (except the King) upon reaching the opponent’s back rank.

By far, the shortest chess game ever recorded took place between two young amateurs whose identities have been lost. This game transpired in a tournament, and both players had Elo ratings of 1600 and 1700. While the exact details of this game remain a mystery. We know that the match lasted for a mere two moves. Making it the shortest game ever played.

Another noteworthy example is the four-move game between Frederic Lazard and Amedee Gibaud,. Two grandmasters who competed against each other in a Parisian chess cafe in 1924. Lazard, a renowned French chess master and problemist, emerged as the winner in this historically brief match.

For those interested in further examples of quick games. The following list provides a glimpse into some of the shortest grandmaster defeats:

N. Tchinenoff – R. Maillard (Paris, 1925)
R. Reti – S. Tartakower (Vienna, 1910)
NN – Du Mont (1802)
Molinari – Bordais (1979)
C. Gurnhill – H. Banks (St. Louis, 1984)
G. Greco – NN (1620)
Deming – Cornell (Indiana, 1980)
Barney – Mccrum (Dayton, 1969)

These short games demonstrate that, in the realms of chess, even the most accomplished players can sometimes be caught off guard by unexpected strategies or simple oversights. Leading to defeats in just a few moves. While these instances may be rare. They serve as a reminder that chess is a dynamic and ever-evolving game, full of surprises and captivating stories.

One of the most common questions we hear is whether a king can put another king into check or checkmate directly. To answer this clear and concise, no, a king cannot put another king into check or checkmate directly.

The rules of chess do not allow a king to move into a position that would put it in immediate danger, which includes moving adjacent to the opposing king. This means that a king cannot directly attack or put the other king into check. Such a move is considered an illegal move.

However, a king can indirectly contribute to putting the opposing king into check or checkmate by supporting other pieces on the board. In some scenarios, the positioning of our king may be crucial in facilitating the movement of other pieces to place the opponent’s king into check or checkmate.

For example:
We can use our king to help control important squares or to blockade opposing pieces, preventing them from defending their own king.

Our king may help in creating a situation where the opponent’s king is unable to escape and ultimately results in a checkmate.

In summary, while our king cannot directly put the opposing king into check or checkmate, it can still play a vital role in assisting other pieces to achieve a check or checkmate. Always remember to keep our king safe and use its strategic positioning to our advantage in the game.

The most well-known example of this is the Fool’s Mate. Which requires only two moves for Black to win the game.

To reach this checkmate, White must make a few particular moves, opening up their king’s defenses.

First, White moves their f-pawn to f3, then follows up by moving their g-pawn to g4.
These moves create an opening for Black to strike. When it’s Black’s turn, they should move their e-pawn to e6, and then deliver the checkmate by moving their queen to h4.

It’s important to note that the Fool’s Mate can only be achieved by Black in this scenario. However, quick checkmates can occur in various other situations, but most of these require several more moves than the Fool’s Mate.

Overall, achieving a checkmate in the least amount of moves requires both skillful play and some degree of assistance from the opponent, as they must make specific moves that leave their king vulnerable.

We would like to shed light on the astounding achievement of the youngest chess Grandmaster in history, Abhimanyu Mishra. Born in the United States, Mishra has redefined the term chess savant.

On June 30, 2021, he became the youngest Grandmaster at the age of 12 years, four months, and 25 days. By accomplishing this feat, he broke the longstanding record of Sergey Karjakin, which remained untouched since 2002.

Mishra’s success in becoming a Grandmaster at such a young age is a testament to his dedication, talent, and hard work. The previous record holder, Sergey Karjakin, achieved the title of Grandmaster at the age of 12 years and seven months.

While Karjakin’s record held strong for almost two decades. Mishra’s breakthrough goes to show that there are always new talents on the horizon who rise to surpass established benchmarks.

Karjakin himself has an impressive resume, having won the titles of World Rapid Champion in 2012 and World Blitz Champion in 2016. It will be interesting to see the heights that Abhimanyu Mishra will achieve in the world of chess, having started his journey at such young age.

In summary, Abhimanyu Mishra has cemented his legacy early on by becoming the youngest chess Grandmaster in history at the age of 12 years, four months, and 25 days. By breaking Sergey Karjakin’s record, he has shown the immense potential that young chess prodigies possess.

We eagerly await to see what new milestones and achievements Abhimanyu will unlock in his blossoming chess career.