You may assume that using a chess strategy would be a straight forward case of applying science and logic to any given problem and working out a solution. If this were true, why do so many 5 and 6 year olds continue to astound us with their amazing grasp of chess combinations yet they have never had a science lesson in their lives.
No, there is more to it than logic and science. Is it possible to learn chess strategies? The answer to this is yes but you must put logic to one side because it is the apparent absence of logic and science which makes chess strategies the most wonderful and thrilling passages of play in any chess game.
Learning chess strategies and tactics will take time. And a good way to start is by reading as much as you can about chess. Learn from the masters, try to find out what they were thinking when they made that crucial move and more importantly, embed it in your mind so that it can be retrieved when you need it in a similar situation
If you want an example check out Legal's Mate. An average player would never had invented such an fantastic move. Nevertheless, having seen the mechanics of it, he can now use the same strategy or apply it to other comparable situations. It is more likely too that you will never let the same thing happen to you. That said, the study of chess strategies will never make up for the lack of imagination.
Many players believe that a chess strategy when carried out is a spontaneous creation brought on by a spark of genius. They are however, more likely to be triggered by an opponents error or weak play.
Remember, when applying a chess strategy that nothing must be left to chance. Do not assume an opponent will play along with you because this is what you have planned. Your opponent must have no options left open unless it is to sacrifice a piece or position to stifle your strategy. In this case your tactic may have been stopped in its tracks but you have still gained an advantage. Obviously you had taken this into account in your planning hadn't you?
The study of chess strategies is a must for the average player. Knowing the mechanics of chess combinations will help you grow in confidence and one day the opportunity will arise when you will implement your own chess strategy. A strategy that no one else has ever used because you and you alone have planned it. You have accounted for all your opponents counter moves and left no stone unturned. There is a smirk on your face and you cannot hide it., because you know it is the beginning of the end for your opponent. You know something your opponent does not know.
The study of chess strategies will never make up for a lack of imagination.
The author has been playing chess for over 40 years. You can view more articles like this at http://chessstrategy.blogspot.com
