If you are new to the game of chess you need to understand that a balance between attacking and defending needs to be achieved beyond just pattern recognition and knowing how each piece works or moves. You can know how every piece moves, learn about pattern recognition but if you do not have a good offense of defense your game will end fast as your opponent takes your pieces and check mates you.
New and unseasoned players are usually quick to go on the offensive and look for the quick crushing defeat of their opponent and often do this with their Queen and lose her to an experienced player fast. While being able to pull this off with another new player is quite impressive and good for the ego, the likelihood of a quick offensive win against a more experienced opponent is unlikely and a bad decision. Only in a timed game or match do you have to worry about playing fast. Usually you do not have a limit when playing with a friend so if you are both unseasoned, take the time to learn to play more slowly and not so aggressive for as it may seem quite fast against your friend if you went to the park say in Central Park NYC where they have a chess area for the public to play, if you tried that tactic there you would most likely lose real fast and that ego would get crushed fast.
If you happen to live in an area where you can find public chess playing I would suggest you go and watch many of them play first from a distance so not to distract them and watch and learn how they play, then when you feel your game is a bit more up to the challenge then sit down and play against some people and see how you fare. Just remember to stay calm, keep you mind on the game and stay several moves ahead of your opponent and try to figure their strategy out before they can try to ruin yours. Always have a strategy when playing and be prepared to make quick adaption’s to it in accordance to your opponents move.
The flaw with the all out offensive assault is that any experienced opponent will see the gaping holes in your own defense and exploit them rapidly leaving you sitting there wondering what just happened to you. Experienced players sit and wait for this type of inexperience to show itself. Think of chess as a war in which you must defend your capitol or your king in this case while at the same time taking your opponents King. An army that simply runs into battle with bravery and no defensive protection may appear as courageous, but they also often suffer a crushing defeat quickly. That is why chess was such a popular strategy tool for centuries and still is today considered one. I believe just about all Military Officers that go to schools like West Point are all well versed in the game of chess.
A balanced level approach to your opponent is best when playing chess. Depending on your playing style you will likely lean in one direction, either offensive or defensive. Try to focus on this balance and keep your king protected while ever so slowly applying your offensive strategy and breaking the defense of your opponent. At times the best offensive strategy is to wait for your opponent to begin an offensive front and to find the flaws in their attack, also known as a counter attack. Doing this gives you a great advantage of hopefully finding your opponents gaping holes in their defense, instead of them finding your gaping holes. Keep working on improving your defensive skills, as this will lead you to victory more often than an all out offensive assault. Allow your opponent to make the mistakes instead of you and you will find a great deal of success in your game. Many say the best offensive is a strong defense.
