Chess Tactics 101: Beating the AI
Control the Center
The 4 central squares (d4, e4, d5, e5) are key. Occupying or controlling them limits your opponent's options.
Develop Pieces
Don't move the same piece twice in the opening. Get your Knights and Bishops out to active squares quickly.
King Safety
Castle early! Getting your King behind a wall of pawns drastically reduces the chance of a sudden checkmate.
Understanding the AI
The AI in this specific difficulty mode uses a "Greedy Evaluation" calculation. It prioritizes material gain—meaning it will almost always take a free piece if offered. However, you can use this to your advantage by setting Traps (gambits). Sacrifice a low-value Pawn to lure the AI's Queen into a bad position where it can be trapped.
The AI assigns these values to pieces: Pawn (1), Knight (3), Bishop (3), Rook (5), Queen (9). If you can trade your Knight (3) for their Rook (5), you are winning the "exchange."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving pieces hanging: Always double-check if your piece is defended before moving.
- Unnecessary Checks: Don't check the King just because you can. Only check if it leads to a mate or creates a tactical advantage.
- Ignoring Pawn Structure: Doubled pawns (two pawns of same color on one file) are weak and hard to defend. Keep your pawn chain solid.