Chess Strategy

In reality, none of us wants to be beaten at any activity, whether it's chess, rowing or boxing! Most kinds of human competition are quite simple and direct - this is not true for chess. Sometimes considered the pinnacle of gaming activities, chess holds a special place in our civilization.

Some authors have gone so far to state that chess has direct analogies with how we live our lives and compete, for example. In these aspects of living we need an an unbeatable strategy. When that strategy is defined, we engage tactics designed to attain the wanted result - which is victory! Foremost, we might characterize chess strategy and tactics.

The Difference Between Chess Strategy And Tactics

Strategy may be described as the whole plan, the 'big' design. In fact, this is a great way to separate chess strategy and tactics - strategy is the broad fashion in which we wish to get our victory. For example, we make up one's mind to guard the King and Queen solidly, and move minor pieces onward in an impenetrable wall. Another strategy could be to dominate the middle part of the board, breaking out with mighty pieces in a spearhead approach. We might have two leading offensives, or a hollow attack designed to mask the real attack.

It's seems moderately evident that chess in it's modern form evolved from actual battle scenarios in history, when the ebb and flow of armed conflict was not fast and strategy was really important. Naturally, larger numbers and overwhelming force can be (and usually are) determining factors, but a great overall strategy can be the deciding factor in many battles. In real life, and on the chess board, an opponent can be tricked into making decisions that cost dearly, simply because he isn't conscious of the actual plan of action whilst concentrating too much on movements that are immaterial to the actual attack.

Chess Tactics

Tactics could be described as the manner in which we utilize our single pieces to achieve the idea contained in our strategy. If we want to dominate the important middle board, which players should we move and where to? We should resolve how to protect the forward positions and maintain a defense against offensive moves. A subtle process is required to estimate which players we are willing to sacrifice during any unreal attack designed to wrong foot the opponent.

If our scheme is to maintain a defensive wall around the king, taking one example, which individual chess pieces are we willing to willingly lose, and how can we launch one or more attacks with the remaining pieces. The goal of tactics in chess is how to most efficiently utilize our 'players' in order to get the results characterized in our overall strategy.

This then is the difference between chess strategy and tactics - the overall plan or idea for winning the match against the detailed moves we want to make in the result.

About the Author:
Peter Bruce is a freelance journalist operating out of Toulouse in France. Subject covered range from shiatsu to chess strategy and tactics.

Chess Strategy

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