How to Reach a Conclusion in Chess

Reaching a conclusion of checkmate in a game of chess requires an understanding of which pieces you need to keep on the board to end the game to your advantage, thus avoiding a checkmate against you. Certain chess pieces make it easier to win than other chess pieces.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Play chess with the understanding that you create a stalemate if you possess: (1) a white king and knight against a black king or (2) a white king and bishop against a black king. Stalemate means nobody wins.

2. Avoid a stalemate by using: (1) a white king and pawn against a black king, (2) a white king and rook against a black king or (3) a white king and queen against a black king.

3. Maintain one pawn ahead while playing. If you get down to just a white king and his pawn against a black king, move the pawn to the black side, and have the white king ward off the black king until you arrive at the black side. Trade the pawn for a queen. With the king and queen, you definitely get your opponent in a checkmate.

4. End a chess game with a white king and rook against a black king, which requires more effort and strategy. Move the king forward toward the black king, getting him trapped, while the rook, with limited moves, brings the black king to a point where if he moves, he is in a checkmate.

Tips & Warnings

• As you go over these steps to reach a conclusion to your chess game, practice on a board with the chess pieces so you can see what the pieces do to better understand the whole strategy for ending the game.