2. Control the Center

In chess, the center of the board is the key to controlling the game. It allows you to control more squares and access your pieces to different parts of the board. As such, many openings and strategies are geared towards controlling the center. An example is the pawn move e4 or d4, which controls important central squares.

By controlling the central squares, you limit your opponent's mobility and give you an advantage to start attacking. Try to occupy or control the central squares of the chessboard as early and frequently as possible.

3. Think Ahead

Chess is a game that requires deep thinking and planning. You must think about possible moves and counter-moves that your opponent might make. Be sure to consider the implications of your moves and adjust accordingly. Thinking ahead entails calculating enough moves and watching out for the likely consequences of each move.

Consequently, it's a great idea to analyze the position multiple times and identify possible moves before making any move. The better you can think ahead, the better your game will be. However, be careful not to overthink and stick to your strategy.

4. Protect Your King

Capturing your opponent's king is the ultimate goal of the game. However, you must protect your own king to prevent your opponent from claiming victory. Intelligently positioning your pieces (e.g., placing the king in a safe corner) is an effective way to secure your king.

Having a well-positioned king also ensures that you have the flexibility to plan attacks and maneuvers, knowing your king is well protected. Make sure to consider your king's safety when making strategic moves in the game.

5. Focus on Piece Development

Another essential strategy in chess is piece development. It involves moving your pieces from their starting positions to more central, useful locations. As you move your pieces, it becomes easier to establish a game plan and launch an attack on your opponent's pieces.

This stage usually happens in the opening after the first few moves. Be sure to develop your pieces wisely and try to avoid moving the same piece multiple times without a good reason.

6. Play to Your Pieces' Strengths

Each chess piece has its unique strengths and weaknesses. For instance, knights move in an L-shape, making them great for surprises and tactical moves, while bishops are long-range pieces that move diagonally. Use this to your advantage by exploiting the strengths of each of your pieces.

For instance, if you have bishops, try to open up diagonals to allow them to work across the board. If you have knights, put them on the board's fringes, where they can jump around and potentially create forks in your opponent's pieces.

7. Choose an Opening and Stick to It

An opening refers to the initial moves of a chess game, and there are various openings to choose from. Select one that suits your style and regularly use it. By sticking closely to one opening, it's easier to establish a suitable game plan and become masterful in your moves and counter-moves.

It also means you know your own strengths and weaknesses. However, it's helpful to know about other openings and their counter-strategies to be able to adapt to your opponent.

Conclusion

Lichess is a fascinating and exciting game that requires mastery of specific tactics, strategies, and moves. Incorporating these fundamental strategies into your game should help you gain a greater understanding of the game and prepare you to make intuitive decisions as you begin to tackle higher-level chess concepts. Remember, practice makes perfect, so take advantage of the opportunity lichess provides to play and improve over time. Good luck!