Most important focus point for chess beginners after learning the rules?

[keen forum]

[stiff fog]

Depnds how beginner

[hot cliff]

all of them :3

[ivory pelican]

true

[bright marlin]

basic check mates imo

[radiant epoch]

All of the above

[stiff fog]

Piece value is like number 1 thing when you begin probably ?

[acoustic epoch]

I know none of those things actually

[viscid fable]

Yes

[carmine crystal]

Opening principles

[stiff fog]

Then checkmate, then opening

[stiff mantle]

imo openings

[signal marsh]

Nah basic checkmates

[sonic island]

One opening then tactics maybe, learning tactics early is important to increase vision

[stiff fog]

You need to know how to finish the game

[dense wedge]

How to not lose his pieces, like not blundering stuff

[hot cliff]

if i had to pick i'd say being aware of your pieces

[pseudo apex]

Basically anything

[main dock]

Opening cuz u need the control of the centre

[manic trellis]

openings will matter only for the starting game

[hot cliff]

at beginner its not about tactics its about not blundering and hoping ur opponent blunders first lol

[granite mist]

that cant just be learned thats from experience

[pseudo apex]

Thats just like obvious

[manic trellis]

fr

[brittle gull]

You can win a match after blundering your queen.
You can't win a match not knowing how to capture his king.

[noble nexus]

But it’s not opening like the principles to get a mediocre position and not like a3 or bs to play first

[balmy pulsar]

Basic checkmates also shows an important rule of chess that normally causes confusions to beginners which is stalemate, so basic checkmates imo.

[granite mist]

mate, thats after learning the rules of chess, do you really think hes gonna be able to know?

[brittle wave]

depends how beginner, if they have a decent amount of knowledge, then opening principles, if none, then probably just practice. And more practice. I'd say don't try to sit down and memorize stuff until you are comfortable (if not good) at the board.

[signal marsh]

No you might play very well on the opening and mess up in the endgame. Happens alot and is very common

[thorn crypt]

People who reply " opening principles " have never taught chess to anybody lmao, go and teach 8 moves of theory to someone that doesn't know neither tactics nor checkmates

[river pilot]

openings help build strong habits from start

[deep walrus]

I think after learning the rules, the most important thing a beginner can learn is basic stratagy. No beginner is going to memorize opening theory, it's better for them to develop pattern recognition and the ability to understand why certain moves are better than others.

[brittle gull]

after learning how pieces move from "learning the rules"

[brittle gull]

how can you win if you can't checkmate?

[pseudo apex]

Yes ?

[granite mist]

ikr lol, openings should be around 300, were talking about 100-150s here

[stiff fog]

That doesn't matter at all if you can't checkmate
You can't win a game if you canmt checkmate

[signal marsh]

Just learn the opening and not know what to do after that 🤦‍♂️

[manic trellis]

exactly

[noble nexus]

But knowing the basic of the game and how to even get to checkmate is important

[rapid zodiac]

opening principles just means like take the centre, castle etc imo

[pseudo apex]

I mean basic checkmated are just like basic puzzle in life

[dense wedge]

No i mean not like leaving a pieces by allowing a pawn to take it, i don’t mean well he/she shouldn’t blunder anything

[river pilot]

u can’t checkmate if all ur pieces are still sleeping on the back rank 😄

[thorn crypt]

Take the center, castle, and then stalemate. why?

[snow fox]

Opening principles for sure. You can’t mate if you don’t know the openings

[brittle gull]

you can

[brittle wave]

as a beginner, I can barely get to basic checkmates without opening principles. I panic during the opening and don't know what to do, so yes, I think it's the most important. Even if you lose, it's a lot less stressful when the board isn't as ful

[granite mist]

i know, but you cant just "avoid" it

[pseudo apex]

U just need to know that
king cant escape=checkmate

[noble nexus]

But knowing the basic of the game and how to even get to checkmate is important

[manic trellis]

i used to make the mistake of trading high value pieces for lower ones

[stiff fog]

No exactly

[rapid zodiac]

im not saying thats the best answer, im just refuting the teaching 8 moves of theory

[pseudo apex]

Blud what

[noble nexus]

Tbh both are important to even get like even a mediocre player

[pseudo apex]

Its like knight+bishop endgame checkmate its easy to do

[dense wedge]

You can avoid some of it, lower its chances

[pseudo apex]

No need to study

[granite mist]

you also need to make sure that your opponent doesnt have that sneaky bishop 😛

[robust hamlet]

I feel like piece values are being really undervalued if we're talking about starting with 0 knowledge

[noble nexus]

True tbh

[tame bronze]

I thought chess is all bout exchanging pieces 🤔

[pseudo apex]

Thats just common sense look at all pieces

[robust hamlet]

Like you're not going to be able to pay good chess if you don't know not to trade your queen for a knight

[granite mist]

piece values are great, but for beginner beginners, its a little bit later

[pseudo apex]

Its about killing the king

[noble nexus]

But knowing the basic of the game and how to even get to checkmate is important

[granite mist]

i think its quite obvious lol, the only trouble would be trading knights, bishops, and rooks

[normal saddle]

Idek, as a beginner i still need to learn all of them.

[pseudo apex]

Blud even generic pieces values is more important than basic checkmates

[granite mist]

best answer

⭐

[noble nexus]

True but waphat do u learn first

[robust hamlet]

Fair, I suppose most people have enough common sense for that lol

[pseudo apex]

U absolutely need to know that 1 bishop and 1 knight worth more than 1 rook

[graceful hearth]

Just avoiding blunders and knowing whats a trash move and whats better one

[rancid shoal]

i said other. i think learning what a good trade vs. a bad trade is and how to calculate it is probably a good first area of focus. and you have to learn piece value before that i guess?

[woeful brook]

Learn opening first, then focus on middle games until u know the common patterns in chess

[robust hamlet]

Yeah that's the type of piece value that I think is critical

[noble nexus]

I mean I think even learning how the pieces move u can’t use them if u have bs opening principles let alone capturing

[inland grail]

couldnt you js learn ts all in one sitting

[noble nexus]

Ur right but what do u learn first

[pseudo apex]

Like u need to know that kind of things is very losing more important than basic checkmates that anybody knows

[inland grail]

anyways idk im 800 elo anyways

[pseudo apex]

Checkmates are just common sense bruv

[inland grail]

uhhh i dont think it matters

[pseudo apex]

Trap the king gg

[noble nexus]

It does how will u practice mate if u don’t know how to get there

[woeful brook]

The thing is u don’t wanna focus too much on materials so it’s not a good thing to be fond of material points at the beginning

[granite mist]

its just helping find checkmates, not learn how to checkmate

[inland grail]

cause like u can learn all that in like an hour or less yknow

[granite mist]

for example: ladder, back rank, queen and king, king and rook, etc

[muted thistle]

I think a beginner must focus on the opening, middle game , and end game

They are all important

[noble nexus]

But black just has a better position if u didn’t trade the bishop and knight and besides a beginner will make mistakes but getting a good position can loosen the dmg

[lethal mirage]

Don't blunder any pieces

[noble nexus]

I mean playing beginners u can do like scholars mate ig it is an opening

[bleak jackal]

Play with magnus

[pseudo apex]

What is u talking about

[narrow wigeon]

I think its both opening principles and piece values, if they dont know values of pieces they can hang rook for example thinking its not that important, lets say exchange of knight/bishop for rook plus double pawns, thats already bad for begginer who doesnt know that, so these are basics really

[uncut mirage]

I would say Taking the control of centre and not having blind spots

Also opening principals

Also where is the poll how can I vote in that and that @ activities and giveaways is not opening how can I participate in that giveaways

[rapid sequoia]

Me as a beginner would say:

1. Peice value
2. basic checkmates
3. Opening principles

[versed folio]

Opening traps?

[rapid sequoia]

From most to öeast beginner

[balmy flax]

imo opening principles because how else are you going to teach a4 and h4 are absolute peak opening choices

[rapid sequoia]

I struggeld with scolars, so no

[rapid sequoia]

And a bwginner whold think that? No. In my book there is kings pawn, scolars and scandinavian

[balmy flax]

it was ironic

[rapid sequoia]

Ok

[balmy flax]

with the opening principles they mean like how to develop certain pieces, king safety, pawns in the centre etc. but beginners should also learn traps like scholars, not to use them but so they don’t fall for it

[rapid sequoia]

No. When beginners sub 350 ish learns a trap, they get tunnelvisioned more than normal and loses their queen. Been there done that, and seen ppl do that

So yes and no

[balmy flax]

i’m saying “not to use them but so they don’t fall for it”

you can’t get tunnelvisioned by that

[rapid sequoia]

Yes, but eg. Scolars, you can get checkmate in 5 mobes, that will make beginners get tunnelvision af

[tight crypt]

Endgames is always the most important in my opinion

[balmy flax]

because for example in scholars mate. if black knows how to handle the scholars they will end up with a slight advantage

[balmy flax]

that also, i have trouble deciding between basic checkmates and opening principles

[tight crypt]

Easy to learn and always usefull

[rapid sequoia]

Of black knows scolars mate he will also try to do it. Ive seen it

[balmy flax]

why would you even play scholars mate?

in the long term it doesn’t teach you to play properly

[rapid sequoia]

but a beginner doesnt see that

he ses "checkmate in 5 moves!" and plays it

[grand solstice]

Imo it's the opening

[balmy flax]

they will notice pretty quickly that if their opponent knows what they’re doing it doesn’t work

[tight crypt]

ExactlY

[zealous pelican]

learn stafford/king's/vienna gambit

[rapid sequoia]

yes, but they we also think that "oh its just this one person"

gambits are too complicated

[tight crypt]

Gambits don't hold up very good in the higher fields

[rapid sequoia]

dont do a 5 checkmate thing

[zealous pelican]

cap

[rapid sequoia]

for sub 350 yes

[zealous pelican]

lucky for me I'm sub 1000 chess.com rn

[rapid sequoia]

im sub 400

[zealous pelican]

eric rosen makes it work tho

[wicked trout]

Piece development

[grand solstice]

The opening dictates the game if you and your opponent aren't blunderers, let's agree on that

[zealous pelican]

just depends on your playing style

[tight crypt]

Martian Gambit!

[rapid sequoia]

if i could choose, i would rather know the principels than memorize 5 milion lines

[wicked trout]

Piece development is what always helps beginners, majority of beginners don't develop their pieces in a good way and can't play well

[balmy flax]

or they play a4 or h4

[wicked trout]

Lol yeah

[wintry viper]

Tatics?

[wicked trout]

Vc por aqui? Kkkkk

[wintry viper]

Like Pin, Checks, Captures, Attacks, Forks?

[wintry viper]

Salve!

[wintry viper]

A big exaggeration but we understand the point

[wicked trout]

Yeah, it is important too, but it just doesn't works without a good piece development

[balmy flax]

also important but shouldn’t be the first thing beginners learn after how the pieces move. it’s always opening principles

[wintry viper]

Yes all phases of the game are important, but for begginers going beyond 1 move is a HUGE improvement

Idk, if tatics is not second, then it's third

• Rules
• Opening Principles
• Tatics
• Basic Checkmates

(More of the same)

[balmy flax]

on beginner level you can win by not hanging your pieces and grab the pieces your opponent hangs. if you’re out of the queen hanging phase tactics become more important

[wicked trout]

I wouldn't say "opening principle" but "opening ideas", it's a kinda different but I'm saying this because, opening principles are difficult for beginners abstract

[rapid sequoia]

Lets say scolars mate, ive seen games like this: https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/game-gifs/90px/green/neo/0/cc/0/0/bUMwS2ZBOUlsdDdG.gif

and black proceeds to loose their queen

[queen harbor]

I'm a beginner and it's not that's simple sometimes it's hard to notice stuff like that's especially on very close mid games

[wintry viper]

I just call that tatics by definition. "Short term combination that wins Material or Mate" || There's also positional but let's not get into that||

[balmy flax]

i think positional is maybe too difficult for beginners

i started learning the basics of positional play at intermediate level

[lost veldt]

Yup

You need to teach them how to actually win the game

[lunar latch]

Other - I'd say piece development and understanding how pieces move, how pieces attack and take. This includes castling as well. Ever since I started playing chess I was wondering how to castle.

[austere loom]

Common sense

[lost veldt]

Piece development is opening principles, the other stuff you said are rules

Castling and how pieces work should be taught first always

The question says after learning the rules

[lunar latch]

Ok thanks for confronting

👍

[lost veldt]

Yw, do you think it's Opening principles then?

[hushed sequoia]

i feel like 80% of my matches end in resigning only 20% get to the stage where we can checkmate

[lunar latch]

Opening principles sounded really official just so I thought it's not

[lost veldt]

Yeah but that argument is kind of weak cuz it's just hope chess

You're hoping your opponent resigns before you have to deliver the checkmate

[hushed sequoia]

i mean yh but why not work on the 80% of matches rather than the low 20% I mean eventually u should but early on...

[lunar latch]

Well, after learning the rules I'm sure beginners can start learning basic tactics like forking with pieces and pinning pieces

[lost veldt]

You're still relying on your opponent, imagine you're gonna get checkmated, do you know how to prevent it?

[lunar latch]

Sorry is this one to me? 😅

[lost veldt]

If not that means the player will resign too or not see the checkmate

[hushed sequoia]

i feel like working on endgame is like vegetables. u need it to get better but no one wants to do it 🤣

[lost veldt]

Nah I'm talking to @hushed sequoia

[lunar latch]

Okay

[lost veldt]

Well u gotta do it to get better lol, u can teach them checkmates that happen in the middlegame too, it'll help them with finishing the endgame with technique, avoiding getting checkmated and improving tactical play

[rapid sequoia]

id rathyer do the endgame than the openings

[lunar latch]

@lost veldt do you have any opening recommendations for black side, Im more likely to make progress with white rather than black, in fact I'm almost always losing. Perhaps there is some opening I can play no matter what my opponent does..

[rapid sequoia]

i have one, scandinavian 😉

[lost veldt]

In both cases you'll eventually learn the other thing but imo it's more important to teach them basic checkmates then opening principles, you don't learn one thing

[molten topaz]

Why not just learn everything by a little bit by playing?

It'll come naturally after some time eventually

[lost veldt]

Well I took the question as you coaching a student

If there's no coach the player will just learn everything bit by bit not structured

Like u said

[molten topaz]

Fair enough

[lost veldt]

It's a bit slower tho

But yh

[tough jackal]

Learning how to calculate

[lunar latch]

Well what if my opponent doesn't allow me to play Scandinavian for example defending the square with a knight

Should I just play scotch?

But for black I guess

[rapid sequoia]

yes ik ik, you cant learn one opening. So learn the principels and confuse your oppenient :9

[lost veldt]

yh if you wanna pick an opening for any side you should first ask yourself what positions or ideas you like to play, but remember that openings are built by good opening principles

[lunar latch]

I like closed positions, it makes me feel safe asf for a reason🥀

[lost veldt]

Just make sure you don't dive deep into theory you won't even see believe me it's a pain

Again I say just pick an opening for each side and play it a lot don't switch too fast that's probably the main thing that slowed my progress

[lost veldt]

Check system openings that give you closed positions

I think you'll like the London for white

There was a black repertoire system where you only learn 2 openings I learned in a course

Basically you start with e6 always as black

And either play a french if e4 or a dutch if anything else

[lunar latch]

I like playing aka whale variation or wtv it's called for white or scotch or develop my queen side knight together with bishop

[lost veldt]

Whale varation?

[lunar latch]

Well yeah thats how the game calls it

[lost veldt]

Ok let's talk somewhere else

[lunar latch]

Ok

Where

[lost veldt]

Dms

[lunar latch]

Ok

[astral mica]

i think tactics because as long as you know tactics, you dont need to know an opening at least until like 800 or so and checkmates come second

[stiff fog]

Its not obvious to new players

I've seen draws of Q K vs K or 2R vs K because they just kept checking

At 100 elo, ppl won't resign, knoowing how to win is important

[magic hull]

Hi

[stiff fog]

You can easily win by playing a4 h4 everygame
You can't if u rely on hopefully mating the opponent by luck

[magic hull]

Anyone here wanna be chess friends we can support each other idc if youre 200 or 2000 elo

[rapid sequoia]

yea sure

403 rn

[gritty python]

Types of # and opening principles have the same importance to my eyes; if u know how to begin a game, u should rather be able to find how to end it. But I also think it's useful for beginners to know how not to lose if they're not winning (i.e. stalemate) and to realize chess pieces values aren't absolute (which is, I agree, the key of some checkmates) . So I voted ''Other''.

[magic hull]

Still there even tho its late?

[sinful lance]

Keeping your eyes open and being careful will win you every game

[rocky lagoon]

The tactics

[fresh verge]

Looking for checkmates can't be the place to start, cos if u don't know the other stuff then u never get into a position to use them

[candid copper]

defending pieces

[hollow crane]

piece values and then the other stuff

[void scarab]

i dont think piece values r that relevant to a begginer cuz i dont think they'd trade a kinght for a bishop or anything, just like pawn for pawn and stuf

[median sonnet]

Tactics and strategies

[rapid sequoia]

nope, sry

[hasty sluice]

Développement

[brazen urchin]

quite inefficient to learn openings since it’s hard to predict opponent’s moves, just have a basic understanding of opening principles and prioritize developing tactics, the most important thing is to build awareness of threats and avoid losing material

[sweet rapids]

in my opinion learning tactics is more efficient

[hasty sluice]

Thé first thing I learned in my chess club ils rules and development and it is very important it’s the start of every game with the openings

[sturdy knot]

I would first learn how the peices move 🔥😎🤔😇🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐

[primal sphinx]

Play chess

[spice bluff]

I voted "Generic Piece Values" 🤷‍♂️

[spice bluff]

😅

[primal sphinx]

But its real if u dont play chess then why u care this?

[spice bluff]

No, okay, I didn't write that you are wrong.

Fast reply... 😮

[primal sphinx]

Ok I understand it wrong:d

[primal sphinx]

You too!

[eternal crow]

know how pieces move
practice
know how to not get your king checkmated in 2 moves

[dusty mural]

Confusing checkmates

[odd nimbus]

I legit never learnt a proper book opening and now im 1900 elo

just learnt my dad's opening

and played it til now

always gets me strugglin but it got me skills of the clutches

[lunar latch]

@odd nimbus can you present your dad's opening

im curious

[odd nimbus]

it depends on the moves of opponent too

[lunar latch]

you can maybe present one case

[gilded flicker]

yep, openings are the last thing beginners need to learn. Just tell them to conquer the middle of the board when possible and make them focus on piece trades first.

I taught a lot of chess and this approach is the best one in my opinion

[slow pawn]

Hi

@slow pawn @slow pawn @slow pawn @slow pawn @slow pawn @slow pawn @slow pawn

@slow pawn

[mossy echo]

thats literally what it says it says "opening principles" ??

[heavy halo]

Without knowing piece values you end up trading a queen for a pawn so that's probably the ideal one to start with

[vast cypress]

PIECE VALUE

[gilded flicker]

what?

i just agreed with the guy who said openings are the last thing

[potent glen]

As a beginner, what goes under learning generic piece values besides knowing pawn-1 bishop-3, etc?

[silver oar]

Piece activity. Depending on the scenario, an active lower level piece like a bishop or knight is worth more than an inactive rook. This pertains more to trading, but generally you don't want to give up two minor pieces for a major piece, unless it gives you a structural advantage or you get interest with pawns.

[tranquil lance]

same

if i clicked "jump to present" why did it send me to text that was 6 days ago

[tranquil lance]

making sure you don't sacrifice the queen for a pawn

[potent glen]

I sure hope I wouldn’t do that