Chess 101: Defense

Chess 101: Defense - Ah yes, the `D` word that no amateur chess player likes to hear. Well, guess what? It wins games! Most of us are familiar with the term Rope a Dope that is generally associated with boxing. Well, it works in chess, too, and here is how.

In boxing, the idea of Rope a Dope is to let your opponent attack you wildly and simply defend well until they tire out completely, then attack and win. Chess is very similar, friends! If you are pitted against an attacking player, sometimes it is best to simply let them attack, while you concentrate on defense. Yes, at times a counter-attack will work, but that is also a form of defense.

Although it isn't fire-breathing chess, and sometimes it isn't even fun, defending in chess is something that all players must learn how to do if they wish to advance. After all, you cannot win chess games if you are always getting mated, right?

Defense in chess, I find, is best done by asking the question, Now what the heck does my opponent have in mind with that move? Once you figure out their chess plan, defending can be considered. Take your time, don't rush, and play chess. If you stop all their plans, how can their attack succeed?

For instance, if your opponent plays an odd-looking knight move in the middle game, never just discount it as a silly notion and make your own move without thinking. Check for possible sacrifices, check for piece coordination, check your king safety. There is an idea there, even if it is wrong - it is up to you to find it.

Remember, every time your opponent makes a move on the chess board, they leave something behind. This means that for every pawn push, for every piece that shifts around, they leave squares unattended that were guarded before. That is the nature of chess.

Sometimes it takes a sharp eye to see the subtleties of each position, but once you begin to see square control in chess, you can both defend and attack better. After all, the rule applies to your chess moves, as well. Each time you push a pawn or move a piece, something is left behind! This is why we must defend carefully, especially when moving pawns or pieces away from the king. Sometimes it is sound, but other times... checkmate!

In learning to defend successfully against attacks in chess, I believe we can learn to attack better, as well! Think about it this way: if you spend twenty games defending different types of attacks, you will get familiar with the patterns quickly. Then, if you launch an attack in another game, and your opponent defends incorrectly, you will be able to spot it much quicker than if you just try to assault every chess opponent you have.

Defense makes us all better chess players, believe it or not. All the greats had to learn this at one point, from Alekhine to Kasparov. One can be the world's most brutal attacker, but if the knowledge to defend is not present, that chess player is destined for a long, hard road.