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so they are forced to keep their shield in place to avoid going back into check. Try to check their king from other angles (or take the shield with another threattening piece) and you may be well on your way to a successful checkmate.

4. Conversely, don't let your opponent use your pieces against you. Try to open up the field but keep each piece protected by another whenever possible. For example, move pawns in diagonal formations to have one protect another all along the chain. I wouldn't generally recommend moving the whole line of pawns in one chain. However, developing one or two strongly-oriented pawn chains and advancing them to mid-board can be both a useful offense and defense. Also, get your power pieces moving (except perhaps your rooks so you have the option of castling - more on that next tip) so they're out around the board where they're most useful instead of parked on their home row.

5. Use castling if it can augment your strategy. Personally, I don't often use castling. But it can still be handy to suddenly get both your rooks on one side of the board (ready to advance to your opponent's side, hopefully) and have your king tucked away on the other side out of your way and harm's way.

6. Protect your queen if at all possible - or trade a queen for a queen (in subsequent captures) if you feel you can use your other pieces competently enough without her. It's certainly hard, however, when one player has a queen and the other does not - so avoid being that disadvantaged player.

7. Why not have more than one queen? Promoting a pawn by making it all the way to the other side of the board is no easy feat, as most players are conscious enough to kill all incoming pawns at all costs. Because, after all, it's pretty much game over when a competent player has two queens in their use. Despite the small chance of promoting a pawn, keep two things in mind: 1. Look for opportunities to run your pawns into their last row and take them if they're safe enough (which leads into...) 2. Protect your pawns! Yes, I know, they have a reputation for being of little use and easily sacrificed, which is true to a small extent. But the fact is that pawns, although strange and fairly limited in their functions, suddenly become invaluable assets when they make it across the board. Plus they come in handy for threattening yoru opponent at close range and forming defensive chains as described earlier. Take care of your pawns and they'll take care of you.

8. The best power pieces

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