Hot Board Games How-Tos
How To: See the power of the knight outpost in chess
It's 1956 and Isaac Boleslavsky just played Georgy Lisitsin. What happened? Well, see for yourself, but I'll let you know this - you'll see the power of the knight outpost on d5.
How To: Use Lasker's Defense for freedom in chess
This will show you how to think ahead in a game of chess, from no other than "How to Think Ahead in Chess" by I.A.Horowitz and Fred Reinfeld - Chapter 14 - Lasker's Defense To Queen's Gambit Declined: I - Simplification Leads to Freedom. Watch this three-part tutorial.
How To: Do a positional queen sacrifice in chess
This game is from 1962, Rashid Gibiatovich vs Oleg L Chernikov. This very instructive game covers the Positional Queen Sacrifice.
How To: Play chess like Capablanca and Tartakower
Watch the Capablanca vs Tartakower game from 1924. This is one of the most instructive chess games ever played. So, just watch.
How To: Play and spot opening chess moves
Chess is a strategy and logical deduction game between two players that is enjoyed by children and adults alike, from park benches to convention halls across the world. Though the game of chess has taken many variations over its long history, today's form involves black and white teams orchestrated by players and has even entered the digital age, as games and tournaments are played online and via email. Using a square board composed of grids and smaller squares, the game pits a queen's army a...
How To: Play the lonely king chess puzzle by Sam Lloyd
This is an interesting chess game presented by Serguei Vorojtsov. Mate this king in only three moves!
How To: Play chess w/ the Icelandic Chess Federation president
In these three games, you'll see strategies and problems in chess, shown by the president of the Icelandic Chess Federation, Lilja (Iceland's Queen of Chess). Can you be as good as her?
How To: Strengthen the weak chess squares f7 and f2
Remember to take care of the squares f2 with white or f7 with black, in the opening face, so that you don't lose the queen or get checkmated early in the game.
How To: Play Shogi
Shogi is Japanese chess. It is a unique game of strategy. Captured pieces can be replayed and most pieces can be promoted when entering the opponent's territory.
How To: Move the pawn in chess
The pawn only moves forward on the chessboard, but it captures diagonally. At first, it could move either one or two steps, then they move up the chess board just one step at a time.
How To: Move the bishop in chess
Rev. Gunnthor Ingason show you the moves of the bishop. Learn how to master this piece, so you can win your next game of chess with ease.
How To: Master the Polar Bear System in chess
See how the Polar Bear System works in these games of Danielsen's. You'll see how the system works, how to do it, and why you should move where you move. Each video shows a different game, to make sure you cram the knowledge in.
How To: Use the Polar Bear System in chess
Grandmaster Henrik Danielsen explains the different lines in his F4-System, the Polar Bear System. If you need a new way to play chess, then this is just right for you. See what he has developed in this two-part video.
How To: Figure out Reti's 1924 game of chess and win
In Reti's 1924 game, the less complex it looks, the harder it can be to win. See the steps needed to win this endgame of chess.
How To: Outsmart your chess opponent with an unexpected win
Hasek's 1929 game -- A rook and bishop against a rook and a few pawns usually results in a draw. See how to get a win out of it.
How To: Trap the queen with a knight to win endgame chess
Here is a combination of Troitski's play. See how to outsmart Black by using the knight to trap the queen and win the game.
How To: Trap the king in the corner during endgame chess
Gorgiev's 1928 game. Black is stuck in the corner. See how to let White win with this cute trick of keeping Black stuck in the mud.
How To: Defend the king in the corner during endgame chess
It's 1912, and Lazard has got quite a mess on the board. White is stuck in the corner, and Black will surely win. See how to stop that from happening and create a draw.
How To: Fight the rook to get a new queen in endgame chess
In this 1914 chess game by Holm, White needs to get a new queen with the pawn. See how White can win by chasing Black's rook around.
How To: Use your pawns for your chess endgames
This is a cool chess lecture on pawn endgames. This is the very basics to learning how to use your pawns to finish the game. They're difficult, but possible, so watch carefully, so you won't have such a hard time winning.
How To: Use general beginner chess opening principles
Learn some simple, general chess opening principles. If you're a beginner, then this is the place for you! Learn fool's mate and some ordinary sacrifices to win the game.
How To: Generate your own chess candidate move orders
These two videos focus on analyzing chess positions, and generating candidate move orders from the position without moving the pieces or using computer analysis. The goal is to improve the ability to generate lines and variations mentally during a game, and to try to come up with a move that either maintains equality on the board, or paves the way for a slight positional edge.
How To: Use the king's gambit declined trap in chess
This video looks at a possible trapping line, played by black, in the King's Gambit Declined. The trap offers up a free pawn to the white player that has devastating consequences if taken. The video also covers white's best option to avoid the trapping lines and create a comfortable position from which to work from.
How To: Use the Sicilian Magnus Smith trap in chess
This video explores the Magnus Smith Trap, coined after the three-time, Canadian Chess Champion, Magnus Smith. It's a trap that white can play in the Sozin (also known as Fischer variation) of the Sicilian Defense.
How To: Play chess like Bobby Fischer
This video focuses on Grandmaster level chess tactics. It features an interesting tactical idea by Bobby Fischer in a match he played against W. Birch in 1963. If you want to learn from the masters, then why not watch it?
How To: Use the king's gambit accepted line in chess openings
This explores Bobby Fischer's strategies in, and versus, various openings. This video looks at Fischer's play in the King's Gambit Accepted opening (ECO C33). The match was played in 1968 against Minic Dragoljub at the Vinkovci tournament. Learn from the masters!
How To: Play the Ruy Lopez Mortimer trap in opening chess
This video explores the Mortimer Trap, which is attributed to the player James Mortimer. This trap can be played by black in the Ruy Lopez opening. If white falls for the trap, the white player will be subject to a positional nightmare.
How To: Use a tactical line in chess with help from the pros
This video focuses on Grandmaster level chess tactics. It features a tactical line used by William Steinitz against Johannes Hermann Zukertort in the first World Chess Championship played in 1866. Try it yourself, by learning from the masters.
How To: Use a pawn breakthrough technique in chess
This is a breakthrough technique that covers how to get a pawn to pass when 3 pawns square off against 3 pawns. If you ever get into this, remember these hints to get a queen out of it.
How To: Trick your chess opponent with a bishop sack
This match has me playing against the Alekhine's Defense. As my opponent was rated significantly higher than me, I tried something a little risky in the beginning with a bishop sack. My opponent probably should have been able to win, but I think the sack through him off guard and probably made him feel like this would be an easy win, which caused him to make some positional mistakes that I was able to capitalize on. Watch and store it in your own arsenal.
How To: Use the Ruy Lopez classical defense chess opening
This explores the Ruy Lopez Classical Defense opening (ECO C64). The video includes a match between Emanuel Lasker and Wilhelm Steinitz in the Chess World Championship rematch in 1896. See the Spanish Opening here, and learn it for yourself.
How To: Use the Evans gambit opening in chess
Here, see the Evans Gambit Opening book lines with possible variations. The video includes a match of Bobby Fischer's that highlights the use of the gambit. So, play like Bobby and be a master -- soon.
How To: Use a dual fianchetto move in chess
This video is a good match that looks at a dual fianchetto setup versus the Sicilian Defence. Don't know what fianchetto is? Well, here's a hint: It involves the bishop.
How To: Change your chess strategy to confuse your opponent
This is a match that takes a look at rapidly changing from a queen side attack to a king side attack, and how that can sometimes catch your opponent off guard. The match also shows how creating complications can sometimes mask the most deadly, yet subtle threat.
How To: Use the king's Indian defense in opening chess
This chess match involves the use of the King's Indian Defence versus a Queen's pawn opening. See how to do it here.
How To: Do the king's Indian defense vs. queen's pawn in chess
This explores Bobby Fischer's opening strategies versus various openings. This video looks at his tactical use of the King's Indian Defense against a Queen's pawn game. Of particular interest is Fischer's strength in maintaining the tension of the position until an opportunity arises. The match took place in 1971 against Mark Taimanov, with Fischer winning.
How To: Use simple tactics to win at chess
Watch these four videos showcasing some certain tactics to use when playing your troubling games of chess. See if you can come up with the answers before he does.
How To: Play the Sicilian vs. the king's pawn in opening chess
This explores Fischer's opening strategies versus various openings. This video looks at one of his defenses against the King's Pawn Opening. The match was played in 1966 in Santa Monica against Wolfgang Unzicker.
How To: Play the king's pawn vs. the French defense in chess
Here, we explore Fischer's opening strategies versus various other openings. This video looks at his King's Pawn Opening versus Bent Larsen's French Defense. The match was played in 1971 in Denver, with Fischer winning.
How To: Use the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS)
This video shows you how to use the Free Internet Chess server and the BabasChess client for it. This video covers some basics, and hopefully some of you who haven't tried FICS will find it beneficial.