18/07/2021
EXCERPT FROM OUR CHESS CLUB
Chess is easy to learn, but impossible for a human to master completely. After the first three moves, there are one thousand and one alternatives, and almost infinite opportunities as the game goes on. It is practically a battle of wits. A chess game can last for over six hours between strong opponents on a classical level.
Hence, to become a genius in such a complex game like chess depends largely on how ambitious and industrious you are. A genius chess player once said, " Any reward that is worth having only comes to the industrious. The success which is made easy in any walk of life is measured almost exactly by the amount of hard work that is put into it". This virtue amongst others will spur you to develop your potentials and necessary skills in view to attaining excellence.
Some of the skills you must develop in essence includes: the basic and advanced chess traps, various checkmate tactics, pressure tactics (ability to keep forcing your opponents until they crack); intuitive skills; absorbing pressure and so on.
Another important point to note is your level of confidence. A loss may be quite devastating for confidence building. so you must try to limit how often you lose a chess game. However, losing games can as well fuel a dissatisfaction in you and power everything in you to become brighter and better.
Besides, your ability to think clearly depends on a heathy body and mind. Chess requires a lot of focus and mental strength. Regular exercise and constant practice will help a lot.
Having done all, it is imperative to learn from the best. Watch their games and self analyze them. You can learn from them from a distance in order to guide you and ascertain your level of progress in the game. With the help of a tutor, you can easily familiarize yourself with the different chess modes: Crazyhouse, bughouse, king of the hill, blindfold chess etc.; and the various chess rules and consequently the fast chess- rapid chess, blitz chess and bullet chess.
Don't be content, develop your intuition and you will soon beat your tutor. That's crazy but that's the ingenuity!
OJO JOSEPH OLUDARE
(A chess master and coach)