Introduction In the vast and intricate world of chess, openings serve as the foundation upon which the rest of the game unfolds. They dictate the initial positioning of pieces, set the tone for the middle and endgame strategies, and often determine the course of the entire match. Understanding various openings is paramount for any serious chess player. It not only equips them with the necessary tools to navigate the early stages of a game but also enhances their overall strategic understanding. Each opening has its own unique characteristics, tactical nuances, and strategic motifs, making it e ..read more

The chess board consists of a horizontal set of letters and a vertical column of numbers. These both have their specific names in chess and are therefore incredibly important to learn as part of basic chess terminology. We also cover the coordinates and the algebraic notations in chess. What we will cover: Files Why are files important in a game of chess? Ranks Chess Piece Abbreviation Chess Coordinates Algebraic Notations Special Moves and Algebraic Notations Win, Loss or Draw Notations The chess board consists of 64 squares, 32 of which are light and 32 dark. The colours of the chess board ..read more

The pawns are the most popular pieces visible on the chess board. Both you and the opponent will have eight pawns each on the front rank. However, it remains the least valuable chess piece and is often the foot soldier in front of a more valuable chess piece. What will this blog post cover? The position of the pawns What is the value of the pawn? How does the pawn work? How does the pawn eliminate? The pawn and En Passant rule How is the pawn promoted? Pawn Terminology The Position of the Pawn The value of the pawn is determined by it’s lack of movement and a lack of influence on the game ..read more

Backgammon is a popular two-player board game that has been played for centuries. It is a game of skill, strategy, and luck that involves moving checkers across a board and bearing them off before your opponent. To play backgammon, you will need some specific equipment, including a backgammon board, checkers or stones, dice, dice cups, and a doubling cube. We cover here how to play backgammon? What we will cover: What Equipment is Required to Play Backgammon? Backgammon Setup, How to Setup a Backgammon Board? Gameplay in Backgammon Moving Backgammon Checkers Hitting Bearing Off in Backgammon ..read more

The Queen’s Gambit is a chess opening that is designed to secure control of the centre of the chess board. It involves sacrificing a Queenside white pawn. There are particular pros and cons to the chess opening however, it sets the board up for a much more strategic rather than an all-out tactical game. It’s an opening that is widely recognised and used to this day by some of the greatest grand masters in chess. It’s also a great choice for beginner or intermediate players too.  What we will cover: The ‘Queen’s Gambit’ Opening  Pros and Cons  Variations of The Queen’s Gambit&n ..read more

The King is the most valuable chess piece in the game. The purpose of the entire game of chess is to protect the King at all costs. As we will go on to discuss, the movement of the King is pretty insignificant and is usually only needed when placed under a check. The position of the King How does the King move? How does the King eliminate? What is a check position? How to get out of a check? Castling What is a checkmate position? What is a Stalemate position? The Position of the King The white king always starts on E1 and the opponent king starts on E8 An easy way to remember this is that t ..read more

The Bishop, a unique piece with an elevated top that often has a slit running through. The game of chess has 4 Bishops in total, two of each colour. Both are stationed either side of the King and Queen and therefore referenced as the ‘Kingside’ Or ‘Queenside’ Bishop. The piece very much equates to the value of a Knight piece but is used for much more long range execution. We will explore exacly why the bishop is a ‘long range’ execution piece and how it can be utilised to check or checkmate your opponent.   The position of the Bishop What is the value of the Bishop? How does the Bishop ..read more

The doubling cube gives a completely new dynamic to the game of backgammon. This vital piece of the modern-day backgammon board has added a new level of strategy to the gameplay. There are many players beginning to play backgammon and learning about the doubling cube is essential to participating. Now, not knowing about this cube can be rather embarrassing even as a starter! We go through the step-by-step guide on giving you the perfect insight on how to use the doubling dice. What is the Doubling Cube? Before explaining how we play with the doubling dice, it is rather important to touch on wh ..read more

Backgammon is a popular board game that combines strategy and luck. While it has standard rules, there are also optional rules that add excitement and strategy to the game. One such rule is the “beaver rule.” As a backgammon retailer, we want to provide valuable information to our readers about this intriguing rule. Origins of the Beaver Rule How the Beaver Rule Works Strategic Considerations for Using the Beaver Rule Conclusion Origins of the Beaver Rule The beaver rule is not a standard rule in backgammon but is often used in informal games or friendly matches. It is believed to have origi ..read more

Backgammon is a strategic board game that involves skilful play and strategic use of the doubling cube. As players become more familiar with the game, they may encounter optional rules that can enhance their gameplay. One such rule is the Jacoby Rule, which is commonly used in backgammon matches to speed up the game and encourage aggressive doubling. In this article, we will explore the Jacoby Rule in detail and shed light on how it works. Origins of the Jacoby Rule How the Jacoby Rule Works Strategic Considerations for Using the Jacoby Rule Conclusion Origins of the Jacoby Rule The Jacoby R ..read more