3 of 4

Write now Article Tools

In Chess the only piece you can count on having for the entire game is the King and it is one of the easiest pieces to defend but also the most vital. Strategy for using the kings position comes in the three phases of the game of chess. The early game, where the chief object of the king is to remain behind the protection of other pieces, the middle game where the mobility of the king becomes important in the avoidance of check and in the end game when the ability to use the king and its position effectively is vital to victory.

For the first stage of the game the primary importance of the king's position is to remain stationary. This is important because castling requires that the king has not moved and the ability to both move your king into a better defended position as well as bringing out a castle can be very important. Because of this, and the general protected nature of the starting position. During this point of the game you are focused on position more than exchanging pieces but unless it is necessary avoid using your king for either of these goals.

The middle of the game typically comes with the first exchanges of pieces. It is at this point that the carnage of chess begins. It is typically around this time that your king will move for the first time. This is often a castling move which allows you to move your king two spaces and typically frees one of your castles to begin to attack as well. So long as you can keep your king safely behind a wall of men it is good, but keep in mind that the king is one of the most efficient pieces for capturing enemies so keeping him in striking distance of pieces often saves both of them. For this reason the best way to use your king is keeping him near the center of a group of piece. You will rarely get to attack with the king in this situation but when you do it is often to take important pieces.

The kings position in the game enters its most important in the end game. Assuming the game reaches the end point it is the time when most of the important pieces are gone and a handful of pawns remain. Because so few pieces exist at this point it is possible to truly use the king as an attacking piece at this point in the game and there are several important points to this strategy. One of the most important is the inability of your opponent to move into check. This means that you can often pin an enemy king into a corner or protect a pawn as it moves forward to be promoted, as well as capturing the remaining pawns in the kings slow methodical fashion.

No matter the move of your king the primary responsibility of the king is to avoid being checked and checkmated. Even in checks where nothing is lost it often gives your opponent better position. This alone will often spell disaster for you so watch your king but no so much as you lose sight of the importance of position in the game of chess.

Learn more about this author, Elton Gahr.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Chess tips: How to make the most of the king's position?
We want to hear your view. Write now!