Free Chess Against Computer: Mind-Sharpener for Younger Generation

You get concerned with the trouble younger generations make. It’s either your sibling or your child getting into hot water with acquaintances or strangers. They divert their attention from a thing to another. They do demand and get bored too easily. They opt for new discoveries. They might as well love challenges the way older people do.

Kids, most likely, stick to online games as they start to surf the net and download games on their own. That is because of their will to win over opponents. Having a great score, if not perfect, makes their dreams come true not just because they are children but because to achieve is a goal.

These online games seem to be the early vices of the children of the modern world. You, as a parent or a sibling, get a budget for them fixed. But, sometimes, you run out of money or simply go broke because of their wants. You hesitate to confront them making them understand how much it pays to earn pennies. You cannot directly stop them afraid what consequences may affect your relationship with them. Then, you ask. Do they really need these computer games?

Parents weigh needs over wants. They look for the most wonderful but free things the world can offer to their children. And, a computer game to be downloaded for free may help them. For instance, free chess against computer is a mind- sharpener or eye-opener to their kids.

The free software may help enrich their bonding time. Teamwork is built that the child enjoys his past time in the computer not alone. The parent may let his kid suggest what moves to make though he’s already thinking. There is learning. Both of them teach each other. The conversation is worth the time but, the parent might not as well argue with the curiosity of children.

Thus, chess opening is important. The parent and the child’s idea of the first move against the computer should be one. This takes great opportunities to grab. This can be a time to test a kid’s wit or perhaps, whose genes he carries: the mother’s or the father’s? Or, this may test the parent’s ability to explain that their opponent is the computer and therefore, not human beings like them. And, they are not going to destroy the computer but prove to it that the human mind is superior to any other modern gadget. Or lastly, the game is challenging and for free unlike the others.

This computer chess game program may also inspire or encourage parents to examine themselves if they have the interest in the world-known game and can be masters of it. Or if not as role models, they may think of molding a chess master in their child. The bad that may come out from other games can now be replaced by the analytical and logical sense (the good) the child may acquire all throughout.

It pays however, to limit these free things in order to prevent computer abuse. Both parents and their children make one another wizards by good discipline.

Useful tips to learn chess tactics and strategies

If one were to improve his skills in the game of chess, he has to practice the game regularly, understand the importance of each and every piece, and the importance of the positions the pieces hold.

Mere learning the moves, basic rules of the game and memorizing some of the opening theories or movies will not be sufficient. It is here that the importance of chess tactics and chess strategies comes in to the picture.

Chess is a game that stimulates the mind and exercises the brain. It is a game where one needs to think deeply, concentrate with attention and plan a minimum of two or three moves ahead before deciding to make a move. One cannot make a random move of any piece to any empty square and get away with that random move. In the game of chess, if you make a wrong move or a move not backed by any reasoning or logic, then you are likely to be punished for that carelessness.

It is for this reason one needs to foresee and visualize not only the next 2-3 moves but also the response for the same from the opponent, because a plan devised or a tactic deployed by a player to corner the opponent’s king or gain some minor advantage over the opponent might be nullified by the opponent by a smart defensive move. Hence, one needs to use his imagination, creativity and visualization while deciding to make a move.

Chess tactics refer to a series of 2 or 3 moves carefully planned and successfully executed to gain some minor advantage over the opponent. A series of chess tactics will result in a strategy. A successful execution of a chess strategy, comprising of a series of chess tactical moves, will help in winning the game and saying “checkmate” to the opponent.

How can these chess tactics and strategies be learnt?

Analyzing the games of the grandmasters and trying to understand the logic applied by the grandmasters in gaining an upper hand over the opponent is one simple way of trying to learn the chess tactics.

Chess tactics can be employed to gain some spatial advantage or control over the blank squares in the board, to occupy an important square in the center, to capture a piece of the opponent or to block the advance of the opponent’s piece.

Reading books related to chess is one way of learning the game and mastering the art of applying tactics and strategies. A number of specialized books on opening moves, middle game and end game are available in the world written by various grandmasters and players of repute in this field.

Enrolling in a chess club in the nearly locality and playing with other players under the guidance of an experienced player is one very useful way of learning the chess skills.

The best way is to browse the Internet and find sites that teach chess, provide online chess and also contain vast amount of data. This is the best way to learn the game, in that the Internet is the storehouse for a vast number of games. You can find the games played way back in the 18th century and the 19th century by players like William Steinz, Capablanca, Lasker and others in the dedicated websites. Not only can you see the notations and commentaries on the game but one can literally play through the game, and learn the game in a relatively quicker time.

Playing chess helps kids develop latent skills

Children are capable of learning things quite quickly in their infant age. The way they are molded in their early age decides their future life. If the child is taught the good habits and is warned when he commits any mistake unknowingly, then it is natural that he will learn those good habits and do not go the other way.

But how to teach the children in their young age, when they will be more active and would love to play more, have fun and shy away from school homework, is the real challenge for the parents and the teachers in the primary school.

It is obvious that learning in fun would be ideal for the child. Children love having fun and play games the more.

What about the idea of teaching invaluable traits to the children in a fun way?

Is there a game or any other method that helps a child develop invaluable skills, stimulate the mind and train the brain?

Yes. Of course. It is the game of chess. One simple way children can latent skills in mathematics, reading and solving puzzles is by learning to play and enjoy the game of chess.

Children can be easily taught the game of chess. It is one of the most easiest games to learn and any person can learn this game in less than an hour or two, at the maximum.

Children will be taught about the basics of chess, the various pieces involved in the game, the values of the pieces and the unique features of the game.

Not all pieces have the same value. The pawns are the least valued with one point. The minor pieces of knight and bishop have 3 points each, while the rooks have points. The queen is assigned a value of 9 points, and the priceless piece in the board is the King. Because the loss of King results in the end.

King is the only piece that stays in the board right through the game and cannot be eliminated, removed or replaced from the board.

The children are taught the values of the pieces and encouraged to play the game bearing in mind the value of the pieces. Children will be made to realize the value of the pieces. As such, they will try to safeguard their valued piece more than the least valued pieces. This teaches the importance of value to the children and the cost of losing more-valued pieces in the game. This calculation of values and giving importance to value will help the child perform better in their mathematics subject and also improves the analytical ability of the child.

In the game of chess, the different pieces have unique capabilities. The bishop can move only in diagonals, the rooks can move only in horizontal and vertical squares, and the pawns can move only one square forward. The Knight moves in a unique “L” shape. Children should remember these basic aspects in the game and cannot afford to make mistakes in this aspect.

Learning the game and playing it for fun will help children improve their memory skills.

It is for this reason many countries have identified the importance of chess and introduced the game of chess as a part of their curriculum in the school, where children are taught the game and encouraged to play it frequently.

As the child grows and learns the game, he will start thinking, avoid mistakes, and develop the habit of concentration and analysis of positions in the board.

These are invaluable skills that are taught to children, which will help them become good citizens and have a better and organized future.