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Tips and Tricks to improve your middle-game in chess

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When it comes to chess, learning the game may seem easy, but mastering it could definitely take a while. Being a two-player strategic board game, chess has been prevalent amongst us since a long time now. Moreover, it helps build cognitive skills, especially amongst children. So, enrolling them in for chess coaching in cities like Bangalore is a good option, wherein children will be able to develop themselves better. 

In chess, most players do know how to serve the opening but lack the skill of finishing it wisely. Such scenarios usually occur when one isn’t too confident about the middle-game strategies that you could use, which in turn could make the game seem more complicated than it can actually get. 

So, how do you tackle such a scenario? Here are a few tips and tricks to improve your middle-game in chess – 

  1. Bring your pieces to the centre

 Centrepieces control the majority number of squares on a chessboard. When you collectively bring your pieces to the centre, you will be at a greater advantage of dealing with the knights, as you play. Although the knights usually control as many as 8 squares when they are centralized, they end up controlling 2 squares when cornered. Moreover, bishop and queen pieces can be very effective form the margin. However, when centralized, they can move flexibly and also control either sides of the board game.


  1. Pairing your Bishops

 As we all know, two definitely is better than one, and in such a scenario, pairing your bishops can be a wise and powerful move that could impact the game in your favour. Avoid losing out on your bishops at the beginning or during the middle of the game. In multiple cases, the bishop pairs’ attacking potential overweighs the pawn structure defects.


  1. Rooks work best on open files

In case there is an open file available, your first instinct should be to ensure that your rook occupies the file. You can also double your winning chances by doubling your rooks in the open file. In case that isn’t available, you can reach out to a semi-open file that  you can force open, later in the game.


  1. Weak squares should be avoided

In chess, weak squares cannot be protected by pawns, although such squares are perfect to represent strong outposts for the pieces on the other side. With this being said, trouble usually spurs when a weak square is formed on the center or near the king’s position, especially because pawns cannot move backwards.


  1. Avoid Allowing Weak Pawns 

Isolated, backward or doubled pawns should be avoided, majorly. A weak pawn gives your opponent the upper hand to turn the game in his/her favour. It is essential that you use your pawns during the game wisely as they can only move forward in the game. 

In conclusion, you can increase your chances of winning the game by improving the position of your pieces through identification, finding the right squares for those pieces and carefully manoeuvring a plan of action in the game. 

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Do knowledge and education create the power of unanimity

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Do knowledge and education create the power of unanimity

You may think the answer is either a yes, or a no. Although the answer could not be, or rather is not that simple. The country’s relation to education started quite early. History suggests ancient India had traces of education being widely spread across various sections of the society. Scholarly scriptures and manuscripts that are translated from oral recitation by saints and sages had been found in different parts of the country, known as the remains of the cultural impression. 

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What are the five common mistakes every chess beginner makes?

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What are the five common mistakes every chess beginner makes?

Consider playing chess an art. Have you ever come across anyone saying, they have learnt everything in the process of studying art or literature? It is impossible. The same is with chess. You can master its skills, but you can’t get over learning chess. You learn something new everyday. Beginners have a tendency to constantly learn new things and we agree, any new activity that you pursue can make you curious at the beginning. Which is absolutely fine but you need a mentor to guide you through. You just need to understand how it's all happening. 

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Why do just have a little to choose from? Why just black and white?

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Why do just have a little to choose from? Why just black and white?

Dorris Lessing, the British-Zimbabwean novelist and the Nobel Prize Awardee of 2007 said: ”Things are not quite so simple as black and white.” If that is so why do we just ponder upon the substance of just two colours, Black and White? These weigh too heavy if classified differently, yet the fundamentals of all from a silent comedy movie of the 1900’s to a poetic representation of the darkness that prevails on a full moon night.  One such expression has also been associated with the black and white of a chessboard. Well, we found out the representation of the chessboard painted or referred to as black and white has nothing to do with its primitive discovery. 

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Why it is advisable to memorize your first chess openings?

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Why it is advisable to memorize your first chess openings?

They agree to it or not, initially, every grandmaster started with learning and memorizing opening moves. Once you get acquainted with the opening moves, get to the next exercise. Learning these moves doesn’t mean you do not have the potential to learn this game. Learning these moves gives a better chance to proceed and eventually win a game. It also helps you understand the structure of the game and understand your position. Your idols, the grand masters have now been practising these opening moves since years so they don’t need to visually see to move ahead. They just virtually picture it in their brain and focus on ideas of the opening move. If you wish to trick your opponent just like your grandmasters do, try and learn all the basic and important opening moves. 

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The chessboard reveals: The King and the queen are equally responsible for the chessboard.

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The chessboard reveals: The King and the queen are equally responsible for the chessboard.

A very common question that might have come across the mind of every rookie is why is the ‘queen’ most powerful piece on the chessboard? To answer this question, we have to go back in time. Historians believe the queen rose to power in the 15th century. Before that, the queen, who was previously known as the ‘fers’ or the ‘advisor’ was the weakest piece on the board. The advisor could only move one square diagonally. Why it became powerful, is because the game of chess that was once limited to a part of the world spread across the European continent during the 15th century. Due to the presence of many influential female monarchs in the continent, the game went through some crucial changes. These changes made the Queen, all-powerful and important. 

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In the time of video games, which junction does chess stand at?

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In the time of video games, which junction does chess stand at?

Not just kids, firstly, we all are culprits here. We all are addicted to the screen as much as any kid. Kids generally mimic the behaviour of their parents or whomever they spend their time with. They are quick learners and according to Dr Howard Klein, the director of behavioural pediatrics at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore "A 1-year-old understands that the actions he's copying have a significance,"

So, if at the age of 6-7 he/she is inclined to play video games more than usual, it is a behavioural tendency he/she picked up while growing up. How can you stop them from engaging into video games? The answer is you can’t. You can limit their access but can’t stop them from playing video games completely.

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Know the Top 5 Youngest Grandmasters in the World?

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Know the Top 5 Youngest Grandmasters in the World?

These kids are young and they are the best at what they do. Being a chess master is a dream for every kid who adores chess. But these kids have made a place in the world named as the Youngest Grandmasters. You know your game well, but do you know them? Let us take some inspiration from these little geniuses. 

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The Most Popular Variants of Chess

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The Most Popular Variants of Chess

A Rookie can be a master in chess with practice and dedication. It takes years to learn chess and absolute commitment to be better with every passing day. This is the modern chess which we play in a contemporary 8x8 chessboard. However, there are more than 2000 variants of chess in shapes and sizes, even with different rules. Let us find out the most popular variants of chess other than the one we see every day.

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Can chess help in devising our brain and train it to act a certain way?

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Can chess help in devising our brain and train it to act a certain way?

Can our brains be re-wired? Could we reboot the matrix of our mind and upgrade it to perform better? Psychiatric researches intended to study the neuroplasticity of the brain - "the ability to change its structure and function in response to experience," (Sharon Begley, TIME, 2007) - reveal that consistent mental practices help in reorganizing our brain patterns. And that is good news! What if our emotional responses could be controlled, behavioural patterns altered, and the entire thought process re-worked to make us better, smarter and productive individuals? Can our kids get less wimpy, grumpy, cranky and lazy with a few brain-tricks? Provokingly enticing!  

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Chess is everything: Art, Science and Sport - Anatoly Karpov

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Chess is everything: Art, Science and Sport - Anatoly Karpov

What we generally like to do is systemise everything in our life. Categorize, classify and sort everything around us and make life easy. But, not everything must be classified or can be sorted. Some are unique in their own way. Just like chess. Is it a game, a sport, an art or science? We don’t know, but we know it’s popular and educational. It is played across borders, irrespective of age, gender or community. It is an activity that unities people. 

The Five Most Absurd Chess Myths

The Five Most Absurd Chess Myths

It is quite natural for any popular event or an activity to have adequate number of myths along with the reality. Everything that is practiced today is a result of a story or an incident that was unforeseen in the past. An idea that struck to someone at any point of time can only be penned down in history however with regular practice and evolution of the certain idea, it becomes the part of the present, or it becomes obsolete for the world. With the progression of that idea, there are myths and misconceptions that can generally appear in the process. As for chess, its popularity had surfaced a few myths. Today, let’s find out what are the classic myths in chess.

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The 5 most historical instances in Chess

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The 5 most historical instances in Chess

You might have come across many unforgettable moments in your lifetime. These moments are stored in your memory for a long period of time, having various symbolic significance. You associate your numerous emotions with such moments and thus recollect memories from the past. 

Chess as a game has come a long way since it’s birth. Its epic transformation from being a strategic gameplan framework to a prestigious sport is noteworthy. Today let us find out the monumental events that occurred in the history of chess. 

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The 3 Best Chess Clubs in Bangalore

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The 3 Best Chess Clubs for kids in Bangalore


  • ZugZwang- This one is a premium chess institute in Bangalore that believes in training your child to be future-proof. The world is moving towards technology swiftly and you need your child to be updated for the future. However, this institute is known to build India’s first brain gym for kids. The objective is to enhance fluid intelligence in kids through various recreational activities like Robotics, Coding, Chess, Maths and Rubik’s Cube. They promise to gift your child with a strong cognitive ability to critically think, make logical decisions, make decisions based on circumstances and solve problems. 


  • Bangalore Chess Academy- Preserving the mission to provide a new platform for the new talent in the country, Bangalore Chess Academy was established in 2005. Being one of the oldest chess academies in Bangalore, it has always upheld the dignity of chess both nationally and internationally. If you want your kid to learn from a professional chess player, FIDE Trainer Vedant Goswami could be one of the best. The institution has received prestigious acclamation with the extensive effort of all its trainers and students. 

  • Mind Mentorz- What started as a passion for the founders,  has now spread across places within a span of five years. With an aim to grow the cognitive thinking skills among its students, Mind Mentorz help kids be the master of their own creativity and imagination. Through Chess, Rubik’s Cube, Coding and Robotics, they have already created a platform for kids to enjoy their after school hours. Playing and learning simultaneously. 

These are the premium chess clubs in Bangalore that will nurture your child and their future. All of these institutions have an individual goal to make the future of the country reliable and strong-willed. Enroll your kids for any recreational activity of their choice to bring out the best in them.  

How Bangalore is changing chess Peripherals in and around the city?

How Bangalore is changing chess Peripherals in and around the city?

Remember the Wizard chess, that Harry, Ron and Hermione played at the end scene in the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone? All we could say is, well played team but it took chess to a different level apart from just being a board game. The citizens of Bangalore have always loved chess and this game has been much more to them than just being a board game. Chess gives people the ability to initiate conversations and socialise. A game that brings people together.

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The Little Chess Masters who made Karnataka proud with their Chess Skills

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The Little Chess Masters who made Karnataka proud with their Chess Skills

Learning new activities is fun for everyone. However, it has been speculated that children are better at learning chess than adults. Why is it so? Though it has not been proved, it is assumed that children take up new activities not as a task but a medium to celebrate, smile and laugh. They later get engaged in those activities that help them express better. At first, even chess is a way of expression for kids which later turns into an interest, plus they don’t have external pressure to perform, so whatever time they invest on it, they grasp the tricks and techniques well. So, who are these little geniuses in your state, Karnataka? Let’s find out. 

Chess Cafe’s in Bangalore

Chess Cafe’s in Bangalore

The transition of fine- dine restaurants to causal, easy-going cafes have made a huge difference in the way people perceive food. Going out for food was a big deal back in the day when eating out was a way of celebration. Food etiquettes, table manners were all a part of yesterday. Presently, food is not considered a medium of celebration, it itself is celebrated with family, friends and acquaintances. Meetings and unions over food is a way to keep it all casual and fun-filled. 

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Magneto the Antihero or the superhero?

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Magneto the Antihero or the superhero?

The distinction between a Superhero and an Antihero is simple. It’s the principles or vision they embrace. A hero would be portrayed as a person who serves the humankind and a villain is one who wishes to destroy it. But is that simple? There are different kinds of humans in this planet, all having a distinctive personality, a likely or even unlikely perspective towards things. Is protecting their kind from the enemies an evil thing to do? Then what makes Magneto a villain?

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The Queen who Doomed her King

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The Queen who Doomed her King

We all know the specific roles of each piece in chess. They all have defined movements like the Pawn only moves forward, the knights can jump the board, the rooks can move forward in a continuous line, and the queen is responsible to protect the king. 

The game represents the relationship between the King and the Queen, but it’s the first where a queen’s fault led the king to the path of destruction and banishment. Lady Macbeth was known as the one who brought ill-fate to Macbeth but we know according to her she was just encouraging her husband to have a prosperous future. She is known to be a villain, a witch but nobody doubted her strategic planning to take over the throne. 

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James Moriarty can possibly make you learn to strategize.

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James Moriarty can possibly make you learn to strategize.

Who’s the World’s Greatest Detective? It’s Sherlock Holmes! We decided to deduce the smart, attractive and observant Holmes as a creative minded, high-functioning sociopath. However, what makes Sherlock Holmes the greatest detective is his deadliest nemesis, Professor James Moriarty. He is the best suited super villain that Homes could come across. He is evil, witty and known to be the ‘Napoleon of Crime’.

What makes Moriarty best suited for Chess, is his ability to plan, plot and strategize. Chess is a game that needs patience, a cool mind and a designated power holder to take over the gameplay through sheer mind games.

Gift your child a new skill.