Many of you have heard of the ancient Chinese military treatise The Art of War, by the famous general Sun Tzu.

The wisdom of this work is lauded, even in the West (where we’re probably missing half of the important points due to the limits of language translation). Books have been written on how to use the Art of War in business, investing, and even romance.

Why not chess?

For example, the Art of War has the following to say:

“It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus
ensure secrecy….by altering his arrangements and changing
his plans, he keeps the enemy without definite knowledge.
By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes,
he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.”

Pretty good advice. But if Sun Tzu were alive today, he’d rolling in his grave looking at today’s chess scene. Chess players using an opening or two they like. Games publicly available, so you can easily find out what those openings are. Players even telling other people what openings they use! They’re giving opponents “definite knowledge” of their plans–no wonder they aren’t moving up the rating scale!

For example, someone might make a big announcement on his chess blog that he’s now going to be using the Open Sicilian. So you find out you’re in a tournament with this unnamed blogger, who you will probably be playing against. No problem, you just look on the Internet and prepare an anti-Open Sicilian line. Easy win.

The remedy for this problem is as easy as it is brilliant: your own set of Chess Dice.

A pair includes one White die and one Black die, with the sides engraved with the following opening moves:

White: e4, d4, c4, Nf3, f4, g3
Black: e5, d5, c5, d6, Nf6, g6

The best part is this system is easy enough for a beginner to use! Just roll the die and make that your first move. Since it’s random, your opponent can’t possibly have “prepared” a line to take down all your hard study. Add in that you will rattle your opponent by being confident enough to play a random opening. See, you completely win the psychological game there.

The best part is that these dice will be only $5.95 plus shipping and handling, once we get around to manufacturing them.

(Pictured below: The Mascot completely shattering Kasparov’s confidence by using the Chess Dice.)