Author: DJCA

* If you have the Bishop pair you must try to open up lines for them, and deny the opposing Knights any central posts.

* Combinations do not usually come out of nowhere – they are based on a superiority in position, and you can tell when a combination is likely to be around: 1. Exposed or “stalemated” Kings are always vulnerable 2. Undefended or ‘hanging’ pieces aften lead to trouble. 3. Pieces which are defended only as often as they are attacked can also lead to trouble, because their defenders are at least partly immobilised..

* Everyone is vulnerable. Play without fear. Play to win from the first move against every opponent. That doesn’t mean, attack like a mad thing from move 1, but each move should be played accurately and seriously.

3. Be wary of sacrificing pawns for development: only in Rook+Pawn endings is an active piece worth material.

* Create a plan right away or you may drift. There is always something to do, e.g. improve the position of your worst piece. Appraise the position honestly. Avoid vagueness in assessment – don’t say “maybe I’ll get an attack on the Queen’s-side”, but “in three moves I can get my Knight to c5 and my rook to b1 to attack b7 – can my opponent defend in that time, or create a distraction?”

o Never give up. There is always hope if you fight. Don’t play for one last cheap trap and then resign. Play the move that will make your opponent groan, the move you would hate to see if you had the advantage. Defend with endless determination.

o If your best hope is for your opponent to fall into a trap, then you can play for a swindle, but only when you know you are losing. Otherwise, play good moves, not trappy ones.

o Fight, don’t just react to threats. Mednis calls passive play “awaiting the undertaker”! It is much harder for the attacker to keep their nerve if the defender has active play, and without counterplay your opponent will just keep building up their position. It used to be said of Alekhine that to beat him you had to win three games – once in the opening, once in the middlegame, and once in the endgame. Make the same be true for you.

3. If you are one or two pawns ahead, exchange pieces but not pawns.

o Don’t stop looking for your own opportunities. Many games have been lost that could have been drawn or even won (don’t I know it!). But also, people resign with a saving move available on the board – they were just going through the motions until resigning, instead of planning their comeback.