It isn't chess. It's chicken

[JoePhilly]

19. If you want to improve your chess skills ...

Try ChessMaster 10. Its like $20.

It can teach kids and adults how to go from knowing little more than how the pieces move, to actually using them effectively.

All kinds of tutorials and positional challenges, with easy to understand discussions of WHY on tactic or strategy is better than another.

I love chess, so I go crazy here on DU when people misuse Chess analogies.

In addition to what I described above, Pawns are also great defensive pieces. You can "chain them" to push deep into the opponents territory. Or use them to block off all of the black or white squares depending on which Bishop your opponent has left. In other words, if your opponent has only the black bishop left, you can restrict that bishops movement if you can "chain" some pawns on the black squares. And if you have the white bishop, your bishop moves more freely.

Lots of great insight into such things in chessmaster.

btw ... I do not work for chessmaster, not do I get $$ for referrals ... I started to play with it a few years back after an injury that keep me stuck in bed for about a month. Now I work with it just to improve my skills.