Chess
Learn how to play chess in under a minute
Chess Grandmaster Tania Sachdev is your guide to the rules and tricks of the game. How does a tricky knight move? How do you protect your queen? Do it better than your opponent and become a winner.
1 minuta
Chess in 60 Seconds with Tania Sachdev
Indian chess player Tania Sachdev is on the top of her game and holds the titles of International Grandmaster and Women’s Grandmaster.
Watch Tania Sachdev's chess tips in the above clip.
Thinking ahead and being able to anticipate your opponent's moves are crucial to playing chess. Tania Sachdev walks us through the basics, from pawns to queens.
Then, in the clip below, Sachdev takes on an opponent in a busy Indian streetmarket. How will she overcome obstacles, distractions and her opponent to win the match?
2 minuta
Tania Sachdev: Chess strategy in a tricky position
We deep-dive into the mind of Indian chess player and Red Bull athlete Tania Sachdev as as she comes up with a strategy to win while she’s in the middle of a game and in a tricky position.
If you're itching to get in on the action yourself after watching Sachdev go to work on the chess board, we've more tips below for anyone looking to hone their skills across all 64 squares.
Look ahead
It's important in the early game to keep the endgame in mind. While your bishop and knight may carry equal weight as things kick off, the former's wider range of motion makes it more formidable as the match progresses towards its end. Keep these ideas in mind from the outset to ensure the game's outcome is ultimately in your hands and that you're in control.
Concentrate on the game and focus
When you first sit down at the chess board, take 10–20 slow breaths. Once you're calm and centred, focus on the four centre squares – D4, D5, E4 and E5. From there, focus on the names of the squares in the ring outside those, slowly making your way further and further back. Once your field of vision is dialled in, try running an internal commentary on the thoughts and moves you're considering in an effort to quieten any auditory distractions.
Keep playing to get better
Most chess games are fraught, with numerous ups and downs. Fostering patience and determination while learning how to harness anxiety before it turns to panic, even in less than favourable scenarios, can often lead to success.
Enjoy it and have fun
Don't overreact. Be patient. Have fun.
Keen on more chess insights from Tania Sachdev? Click on the story below and check out our interview to find out how she got her start in the game, how she trains and what challenges she faced while becoming one of the world's best chess players.
