Chess is for nerds
Using your pawns is a good strategy. If you know how to set them up right at the very beginning you can make a very obnoxious blockade. Try practicing online with other players (if you want
really good players you should try the pay sites. My dad was subscribed to one last summer for about 9 bucks a month, which is like half a Finnish peso or whatever so it shouldn't be too big of a deal).