Chess is played by hundreds of millions of people around the world. The rating of chess players varies from 100 to 2900 Elo points. But the level of play does not affect the type of amateur chess player: you can refer each opponent to one of five categories. The peculiarities of each group will help you to determine the most successful strategy for the current game.

The madman attacker

The most common and most impressive style of play. Chess players of this type actively imitate Fischer’s “check, check, checkmate” style. But this approach does not work as expected for all players. Fans of the attacking style complicate their lives with crazy, poorly prepared attacks. The result is a brilliant victory or a deafening failure. The main weapon of such chess players is surprise – they try to surprise the opponent with unusual combinations, pressure on the kingside and queenside. Sometimes this approach bears fruit – the attacking madman wins.

Leading a duel against such a player is easy. Combinations often become improvisation, rather than the result of calculation and preparation. Material sacrifices are rendered useless. The best way to counteract is to slow down the tempo of the game, carefully study the position, and identify weaknesses in the ranks of your attacking opponent. In nine out of ten cases, you will discover an error in your opponent’s actions and be able to punish him for yawning or inaccuracy.

Passive Player

Another common type among amateur players. A distinctive feature is extreme caution and lack of a hint of minimal risk. Chess players of this group become the exact opposite of the attacking madmen. Such a way of conducting games becomes their weak point. Passive players are afraid to take a pawn just because “it’s not safe.

When meeting with a chess player who uses passive tactics, you should stick to your own game plan. Be logical, consistent and persistent. The opponent will be in constant tension because of threats to his own pieces. The desire to save material will inevitably lead him to mistakes, which you should take advantage of.

Master of exchanges

Players of this type seek to exchange pieces every time the opportunity arises. Their goal remains a sharp reduction of material on the board and playing the endgame with a minimum set of combat-ready units. Supporters of exchanges rarely complicate the game in the middlegame, preferring not to risk until the decisive stage of the game.

What should you do? Take the desire to exchange as a weakness of your opponent. Agree to exchange pieces on favorable terms, such as giving up knights in exchange for bishops in open positions, etc. Your task will be to make the most of the pieces that are left on the board.

Perfectionist

Chess players of this type invariably look for the best possible move and do not settle for less. They can spend an hour analyzing the simplest position in order to decide which of the two rooks should be used in the upcoming combination. Such an approach has two problems:

  • There are no perfect moves in many positions,
  • Each chess player is limited by the time control system.

Leading a game against such a player is relatively easy. You’ll need to take advantage of the time pressure in which your opponent will inevitably fall. Against this background, the chess player opposing you will start to make mistakes. Use them to achieve victory!

Strategist

Chess strategists like to plan everything from simple pawn moves in the opening to long combinations that should lead to a mate. It’s hard to call this trait a bad thing if improvisation doesn’t fall victim to rigid planning. Thus, when choosing between an easy victory in the endgame and a difficult struggle in the middlegame, the strategist will choose the second option.

Playing with such chess players is relatively easy. If there is an advantage, they will not simplify the position and achieve an easy victory. It is likely that the situation on the board will only become more complicated. The advantage of one or two pawns is not considered by the strategist as sufficient for improvisation. Therein lies your chance of achieving victory.