Winning Chess Moves
Winning Chess Moves can be defined as any manoeuvre or sequence of moves that ultimately results in the Checkmate of your opponent's King, thus giving you victory.
All fairly straight-foward, there ...
However, while knowing what moves can bring you victory may be relatively simple to learn, being able to get your pieces into such positions, that result in your winning a game, pose a greater challenge.
Potential Move Combinations
That challenge is more acutely realized when you consider, mathematically, the apparent number of potential move combinations available from the start to completion of a single game ...
| Positional Move | Turn | Potential Chess Positions |
| 1 | 1. White's first move | 20* |
| 2 | ... 1. After Black's first move | 400** |
| 3 | 2. After White's second move | 8,902 |
| 4 | ... 2. After Black's second move | 197,742 |
| 5 | 3. After White's third move | 4,897,256 |
| 6 | ... 3. After Black's third move | 120,921,506 |
| 7 | 4. After White's fourth move | 3,284,294,545 |
(Source: http://www.chess.com/chessopedia/view/mathematics-and-chess)
* 16 Pawn Moves + 4 Knight Moves
** 20 x 20 = 400
Possible Ending Scenarios
In order to try and relate those numbers to the game itself, it can help to take a look at possible scenarios that can arise, within the different stages of a game of Chess.
For instance, by the time you reach the Endgame stage, your remaining pieces are going to dictate how you work your way to victory - assuming it's possible, with what's materially at your disposal.
GM Karsten Muller and IM Frank Lamprecht, in their book, Fundamental Chess Endings, document and describe likely scenarios that a Chess player may face, by the time they reach the Endgame stage (scroll through the list, below!).
When you factor in your opponent and consider they're equally trying to attack your pieces, while minimizing their losses, if you want to try and figure out the best moves to winning Chess, it's important to take into account each stage of the game, as it unfolds ...
If you're looking to take two Rooks into the Endgame stage, your Middlegame stage will seek to manouvre your pieces and allow the sacrifice of others, so each Rook survives to have a combined chance of Checkmating the enemy King ...
Likewise, your Opening game strategy will look to develop pieces to maximize the threat potential, while at the same time, minimizing risk of capture of your Rooks.
Should you happen to lose a Rook, or tactics allow, keep in mind Pawn Promotion as a way to restore that Rook to the board ...
Although, having said that, an exchange for a Queen is often more desirable ... In which case, knowledge of Queen Endings, can help to increase efficiency at Checkmating your opponent's King.
| Tactics Play A Big Part In Winning Chess Moves |
