* Most experienced players are all too familiar with every set of 'killer moves' that you plan on throwing on them and already have good solid strategies to counter them in place.



* If all your efforts go into trying to get things over quickly you are definitely not planning for the 'long haul'. What will you do if your 'bold' opening moves fail to deliver? The answer to that question should not be too hard to figure out. If your opponent is more experienced than you he/she will most likely just exploit your opening moves as a route towards dominating the game.

It is very important, in light of this, that beginner players realise that the first question to ask should not be "How can I learn quick chess strategies?", but rather "How can I grow into a well rounded, competent player?"The latter question can take a very long time to answer. Don't be put off by this however, learning to play good chess can be one of the most satistying things that you have ever done.

It is impossible to show you the complete roadmap to becoming a well rounded player in a single article. I can however, sketch the briefest outlines of how you can make your 'time in black and white' something to be proud of!

As a complete beginner you should work towards steady improvement in the following areas:

* Work on your understanding of basic chess rules: This may seem so obvious as to border on the ridiculous but it is a fact that most beginners shoot themselves in the foot by having an incomplete or inadequate understanding of the rules of the game.

* Improve your tactical skills: Chess is a game of strategy and tactics. One of your top priorities should therefore be to improve your tactical skills. There are several ways to doing this but one of the most important among them is to study at the feet of the masters. A big part of the training of military strategists is to study great battles of the past. Doing something similar with chess in mind can, over the long run, turn you into a much better player.

* Develop solid strategies for opening play: One of the biggest mistakes that novices make is to rely on the same tired moves in the hope that they will deliver the knockout blow. Replacing this with solid, well thought out, strategies will pay off in the form of setting you up for some truly great contests.

* Work on your end game: Many a chess game have been lost because the player did not know how to end well. Research the endings of great games to ensure that this statement cannot be made about you.

So many people think that acquiring good beginner chess strategies is like learning to sprint. It is, in fact, more akin to taking the first steps in a marathon. You should therefore make sure that you pace yourself for the race. I cannot tell you that it will be a fast and smooth process. I can assure you however that it will be exciting and very fulfilling.

To your success in black and white!