Hot Board Games How-Tos

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 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: 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: 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: 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.