190 Awesome 'Pattern Cards' to Mix into Your Chess Battles
Types of Opening. When you look for patterns in a position you usually start by looking at the pawn structure. You ask yourself questions like: What's the opening theme here? What plans are relevant?
Types of Pawns. When you take a closer look at pawns, you consider many things: How are they grouped? Do you have a pawn majority on one side? Is there a strong pawn chain aimed at the enemy king? Is that a poisoned pawn? Does your opponent have any backward pawns? Do you have any passed pawns?
Types of Endgame. As the middlegame unfolds, you might consider simplifying the position into a favorable endgame. You therefore ask yourself: Will this type of endgame lead to a certain win for me? Is it always a draw?
Control of Space. Usually, right after considering the pawns, you look at the space around them: Who controls it? Are your pawns helping you control the center? Are they giving you a space advantage? Do you control any important squares, files, or diagonals?
Condition of Pieces. After you have a general sense of the structure of the position, your focus typically shifts to the individual pieces: Do you have more pieces than your opponent? Which ones? Are your minor pieces stronger? Are your rooks connected? Is your queen well-placed? And is your king safe?
Development and Initiative. Since some patterns rely on timing, you regularly evaluate your dynamic advantages: Are you ahead in development? Is your queenside attack giving you the initiative?
Signals and Clues. Throughout the whole game you are on the lookout for tactical "signals" that might give you the upper hand: a weak king, an overworked piece, a good alignment, ...
Tactical Patterns. When you spot a tactical signal you try hard to transform it into a concrete opportunity. There are countless tactical patterns. Some have names, which makes them easier to learn, recognize and apply. You probably consider those first.
Special Techniques. Depending on the position, your focus might go to patterns associated to particular pieces. One might say that each piece has its unique techniques. Knowing when to apply them is crucial, especially in particular contexts like the endgame.
Checkmate Patterns. In some positions, you try hard to find a possible checkmate. Similar to tactical patterns, basic mating patterns have names, which makes them easier to learn, recognize, and apply.
Body and Mind. Sometimes, how players feel physically and mentally matters as much as their position on the board: Is your opponent tired? Are they rushing their moves due to time pressure? Are they still fixated on a past mistake? How can you use this to your advantage?
Each game card is packed with chess knowledge, offering quick insights into specific strategies. Together, the entire deck forms a mini chess encyclopedia right at your fingertips!
How to Play
When you play Chess With Cards, your goal does not change. You win if you win the actual chess game. You lose or draw if you lose or draw it.
Use the cards to build special "Pattern Attacks" against your opponent. When you spot a known pattern in the position, even if you don't plan to exploit it, take the corresponding card and read it aloud. Each card gives you an example of what to say; just tweak it to match what's happening on the board.
After you successfully complete a Pattern Attack, your opponent must return one of your previously captured pieces to the board. The game then continues as normal, but hey, you might just be one step closer to winning!
Click here to read the detailed rules.
Great For Players of Different Strengths
A great way to play Chess With Cards is when players have different skill levels. It's great for chess growth: the Pattern Cards help the stronger player explain their moves clearly so the weaker player can learn. It's also great for chess fun: the rules keep the game balanced so that any outcome is possible, making it exciting for both players.
Excellent in Case of Disagreements
Sometimes, you might find yourself trying to convince your opponent that your bishop is stronger than their knight, while they argue the opposite. That’s precisely why you play Chess With Cards: it helps both of you express and consider different viewpoints on the same position in real time. This boosts your chess skills really quickly.
A Real Crowd-Pleaser
If you feel like helping spread the joys of chess, consider playing in a public place. With its conversational gameplay and colorful visuals, Chess with Cards allows even uninitiated bystanders to appreciate the depth and beauty of the game, ensuring they remain engaged and eager to learn more.
Extra Components of the Game:
The Quick Reference Cards are designed to help you review at a glance all named patterns and provide concrete examples of how to think and talk about them.
The Grand Table of Evaluation is designed to help you assess your positions logically, stacking one pattern on top of another. If you want, you can keep it near the chessboard and use it during the game. Start with the opening patterns and move clockwise through Pawns, Space, Pieces, and Time. You can get the Grand Table in PDF for free here.