3. With only one Pawn advantage, you will win if you can use it to gain more material – it is not usually enough just to advance the Pawn. Often one Pawn advantage is thought to be a theoretical draw, although the practical difficulties may be very great. Winning by the advance of the Pawn may be won because it allows entry with the King, or causes distraction from one vulnerable side, or allows simplification into a known won ending.
* Take your opponent seriously if they are lower-rated, but don’t be overawed if they outgrade you. [Don’t look at your opponent’s rating if it takes the edge off your attitude.]
2. Passed pawns should be advanced as rapidly as possible.
1. leaving the king without sufficient support from other pieces
* Danger signs – General things to watch out for:
12. The knight is superior to the bishop in blocked positions or when the bishop is hemmed in by pawns on the same colour squares as the bishop.
* Ignore your opponent’s time pressure. Take your own time to find the best moves as you normally would. Don’t try and rush your opponent – they are probably more used to playing quickly than you are and may outplay you, or set you a trap!
* A space advantage is meaningless without a potential breakthrough, or some other way to get behind enemy lines.
Don’t play a quick move because you can’t really decide what is going on, or because you suddenly see a good-looking idea. Take the time to find a good move. I think 15-20 minutes to decide if a Pawn grab is safe is not unreasonable.
Many players when pitted against a stronger opponent try and swap everything off and get a draw in the endgame. They then get a worse game, and are ground steadily down by their opponent’s superior technique who is pleased to get a win without danger of losing. Every exchange made is going to be better for one side or the other, and every passive move makes your position less promising.
