T~V EOPLE who are new to Lx the game but find it 17 worth exploring, eon front me with the same question.

"Can you teach me a few tricks?

The problem with tricks in a game of chess is the same as in any other game. What if they don't work? I can also tell you that if you wish to try and take a chance, you should do it in a game of poker. Because the Klnciples on which chess is sed. leave very little room for hick.

It is. therefore, better to follow the basics, and the 'tricks' will present themselves in time. If you consider yourself a novice, here is three magic rules you should follow:

1. Try to move your centre pawns in front of your King and Queen first.

2. Bring out your Knights and Bishops first, not the Queen and Rooks. Knights definitely should come out towards the centre.

3. Castle to take your King to safety.

If you follow these principles and not give away any material free you can probably play 20 moves against Kasparov witnout any major disaster. This is hardly an overstatement. It is actually analogous to keeping a straight bat in cricket, which should keep you out of danger if properly executed.

In today's diagram we have an illustration of what might happen if you don't follow the rules mentioned above. White

has taken two extra black pawns, but he has failed to □ring out his Knight and Bishop on the left side. They remain on their original squares, violating the second rule mentioned above.

Can you finish it off for Black?

Solution: 1 ... Q F2 check 2 R f2 R el check 3. R-fl B-h2 check 4. K-hl and R-l 1 mate.

(Niaz Murshed is the subcontinent's first Grand Master.)