Is Chess A Game Of Strategy? Here’s Your Answer

Most people have no idea how to play chess or have never even tried to. However, even these people still consider chess’ as a game that requires intelligence.

On the other hand, there are those who prefer to say that chess demands little or no intelligence whatsoever and that the game can be broken down to memorizing a list of possible moves and countermoves and following a pattern to achieve results.

These people don’t give much importance to openings, tactics, and endgames — while some others see the very soul of the game in these aspects.

So, can chess be considered a strategy game?

Is Chess A Game Of Strategy?

To answer the question, yes, it is! However, this is but one of many points of view regarding the game.

Some say chess is about knowing moves by heart, some refer to tactics as the key to winning, and some consider calculation and judgment as the biggest parts of the game.

There is no official definition, but simply currents when it comes down to how players see the game.

No Single Method Guarantees All Wins

If you follow the finite moves and countermoves perspective, any player can — after a certain amount of time — memorize every single move. That doesn’t mean they are safe from losing matches.

In the same way, a player can employ all their best tactical skills and come up with the ultimate plan while considering the most efficient combination of moves and still lose.

The same may happen to a player with extremely high judgment and calculation skills. In the end, there’s no definite recipe to win every match in chess.

What Is The Ultimate Weapon?

The most renowned chess players in the world use a combination of all these aspects to build up their game and win matches.

They memorize whole books of moves and countermoves, develop their own tactics, and use their calculation and judgment skills in-game.

Is It Luck Then?

As it goes, they also lose matches every now and then. That’s why deciding if chess is a game of pure strategy is so difficult.

We’ve seen beginners beating experienced players out of sheer luck. While that might lead some to think that chess is a game of chance, that is probably the worst possible definition for the game.

Our Verdict

The majority of players, no matter the definition they deem more suitable for the game, agree that chess is about thinking ahead to come up with the best possible strategy for each match.

More experienced players who’ve had the opportunity to play against a myriad of players with different styles, tactics, and skills usually say that there’s a great deal of judgment and calculation.

On the other hand, younger players tend to trust their gut rather than form a solid plan. This is probably because they still haven’t faced as many opponents to develop the skills more experienced players use to win.

That doesn’t mean that they cannot beat the more experienced players, and we see it happening all the time. In the end, it’s a matter of perspective.