The First Move
McHenry Area Chess Monthly Bulletin
Volume 1 Number 6                                 August 2004                                             Page 9 of 13

answer is a quick “no.” If you often answer yes to this question, it might help to change your style of play. And don’t stop looking for checks after you find one. Examine each of your opponent’s pieces for their ability to give check. Don’t worry about what to do at this point. Just make yourself aware of the situation. This is something you really don’t want to be surprised about, especially if the check gives a discovered attack. Many a won game has been lost because a simple check was overlooked.

3) What are the immediate captures your opponent is capable of? That is, which of your pieces are under attack right now? For the pieces under attack, how many times are they attacked?
 

Again, this isn’t the time to decide if they need to be defended—that will come later. You should look at each one of your pieces to evaluate their vulnerability. And that vulnerability might be fine for now. As long as you’re aware of it, you can put it’s importance into perspective.

4) Is the center under your control, contested, or does it belong to the opponent? Sometimes this can be answered by counting up each piece of yours that attacks each central square, and subtracting each of your opponent’s pieces that attack each central square. That’s a crude and superficial way to answer the question. But this article isn’t about how to evaluate that question, just be sure it’s on your checklist, especially in the
 

early parts of the game. If a mating attack is anticipated or underway, ask this question about the squares around the enemy king.

5) Do you have any very weak squares? That is, are there any squares on the board that none of your pieces attack? If those squares are close to your king, they make easy access for an enemy attack, and could be big problems. If those squares are in an area of the board you need to control, it could let the opponent counter your attack. If several weak squares are close to each other, their weakness multiplies.

6) Is your king adequately mobile? If your king is crowded in and has no legal moves, or only legal moves along one straight line, then checkmate