Chess For Juniors
By: Robert M. Snyder
Before I even started the book Chess For Juniors by Robert M. Snyder, I had no idea about the techniques or how to play greatly. Of course I knew how the pieces move from playing at lunch sometimes. However without knowing what my strategy would be, I would just move pieces randomly but sometimes I would get lucky and beat my opponent.
After reading the first 7 chapters of this book, I learned more things about chess, like castling. During my reading in chapter 8, one of the tips caught my eye, "From Diagram 101 you will see that: the King on a1 can move to only three squares, the King on e8 can move to five squares, and the King on e2 can move to eight squares. Limiting the number of squares that the enemy King can move to will make it much easier to checkmate it. Often the enemy King must be driven to the edge of the board before you can checkmate it." If the king was pushed to the corner it would be easier to checkmate it.
With this helpful tip I proceeded to try it out, when the king is into that position (the corner) I was able to achieve victory fairly quickly. When I saw the 3 pawns that haven't moved a single space, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to push the king into the corner and have him trapped there. So by using my remaining queen, bishop and horse I decided to take out as many of his pieces as I can, like his queen, rook, bishop and horse, not to mention his pawns also. Then by using my rook I was able to pin the king behind the 3 pawns so I could corner it, and by doing that I was able to achieved victory.Question: So far what tips about your subjects have you learned? Do you think the tips will benefit you for later?
Work Cited
Snyder, Robert Michael. “Chess for Juniors: a Complete Guide for the Beginner.” Chess for Juniors: a Complete Guide for the Beginner, David McKay Co, 1991, pp. 132–133.
