Getting trounced consistently in Chess? Don't worry, losses are part of the process of learning. You can't set foot in the world of Chess and expect to win every game, or even the majority of games, when you first start out. If you are then you're playing people who are your inferior, and though winning feels good you won't learn much. Challenging better opponents until you're better than them is the best way to build your skills.

Here are a few tips for improving your Chess skills overall. Take advantage of one or all of them and watch as your abilities blossom.

1.) Play a lot. Don't let up practice. Chess skills never completely go away, and you'll probably maintain a base level of expertise regardless of how rusty you are, but you'll invariably stall sharp with a game or two every day.

2.) Practice with superior players. I may have already said this but it bears repeating. You need to take on people who are better. Watch as they tromp you into the ground, get used to their moves and, if they consistently use the same tactics, come up with moves that capitalize on their predictability. Then just play until you can beat them as consistently as they beat you.

3.) Practice online. There are a lot of really, really good players from all over the world playing online at all times of the day, and they'll be only too happy to fight it out for an hour or two. More, by playing tons of different players you'll become exposed to a variety of different playing styles, thus making you a lot tougher to beat thanks to the flexibility of your game. Online chat rooms or downloadable programs for Chess are very common and easy to use.

4.) Practice with a computer. Computer players are surprisingly tough to take down since they can calculate the best moves, even on the lowest difficulty levels. They seldom make mistakes and will pounce on you for your own. Again, either download a program or fight it out online.

5.) Read Chess books. There are tons of strategy guides out there that will give you good strategies to employ during a match. You'll probably want a good grounding in the game before you try any, mind you, but the extra help is great.

6.) Watch matches between other players. Might seem a bit boring, but you'll learn a lot - especially when you discover you're seeing things that one or neither of the opponents are.

Live, breathe, eat Chess. Exposure will breed familiarity, and with familiarity invariably comes an increase in skill level. And that, when moving up the rungs of the Chess world, is never a bad thing.

Learn more about this author, Matt Bird.
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