Understanding the Three Stages of Chess
It is commonly said that a Chess game contains three separate states which all give way to the game as a whole. The Opening Stage is where the board starts to be set by the players in order to launch their impending attacks. This is when the positions are fortified and players ready themselves for the oncoming game. The Middle Game is when the real battle begins to take place. Pieces are attacked and defended with great propensity here and many of the Chess pieces will be removed from the board. The Endgame is the final portion of the game, where players will use their remaining pieces to try and secure a win over the other. Each phase has its own important points that need to be considered by all players in order to play a strong Chess game.
The central four squares are considered to be the four strongest positions that one can hold in a Chess game. Having utter control over this area puts one in charge of the center of the board and gives players the largest area of reach. Attacks being made from the sides of the board are more easily deflected and having to rout oneself around the central area can be a hindrance.
Whichever player can control the center area of the game will be the one who can make the most direct attacks and has the most power in defending their own side. Fighting for control of this area early in the game is usually one of the first tactics of a strong opening. Another key portion is securing the King's position, normally by Castling. When a player will Castle a King and a Rook, not only does the Rook move closer to the center portion of the board, but the King will be buried deeper into a protected territory.
The Middle Game is all out war. The goal for any one player is generally to capture more pieces of the opponent than the opponent can capture of theirs, although the ultimate goal is to get into the best position for the Endgame. Generally, one wants to be able to capture pieces, if not for free, but by sacrificing only lower pieces than the captured piece is worth. This isn't always possible, however, and sometimes an even trade results, with a Knight for a Knight or a Bishop for a Bishop. The most important thing to keep in mind during a Middle Game, however, is to always be aware of the entire board. There are a lot of elements happening and by doing one's best to be aware of all of them, a Chess player can do a better job in protecting their key pieces.
The Endgame is solely about trying to force a Checkmate against another player. This is made possible by a player centralizing all of their remaining pieces, putting them within striking positions against their opponent. Another key strategy is working toward the promotion of Pawns, for when these Pawns can reach the other end of the board, they can be made into Queens and with these Queens, a Checkmate is easily possible. Knowing a smart endgame will only help in winning a game of Chess, but it is also key to fully understand every stage of the game. Only then can one grow into a truly great Chess player.
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