Many chess players will tell you that there is a most valuable piece on the chess board: the Queen. On the other hand, there are chess players that will tell you that all pieces must at one time or another be sacrificed for the win. Which one is right? Is the Queen really the most important piece on the board, or do all pieces carry equal sacrificial weight?

 When learning to play chess, either online chess or with a chess club or organization, each player will have their own chess strategies. While the rules of chess define the movement of the Queen, they do not assign her any more or less weight than any other piece. Some players insist on saving the Queen at any cost, while others insist that protecting her ultimately leads to defeat.

 Again, the secret here is balance. Letting other pieces begin your offense is important; save moving your Queen until the opportunity presents itself. Don’t force the move, let it come to you. The Queen’s range of motion allows her to help you out of any jams you might find yourself in, and also to help you exploit your opponent’s weaknesses. Use her to create a perimeter, surrounding your enemy and restricting their open moves. At the same time, don’t have her be the only piece moving around the board; with a limited amount of moves per game, don’t let her take them all up.

 If you find yourself in a position where it is an even Queen-for-Queen forfeit,  if the move gives you the upper hand, take it; the benefit of keeping her does not always outweigh the risk of letting her go. In the end, your allegiance is not to a specific piece, but to whatever means lead you to victory.