Author: DJCA

2. minor details can affect the outcome

13. Passed pawns should not be blockaded by the king: the only piece which is not much harmed by watching over an opponent’s pawn is the knight.

* Neither be over-impressed by your own threats. An attack by one piece on another is meaningless in itself – it may distract an important defender. Equally, don’t assume that a stock combination or sacrifice works for you in the position you have today – small differences can make it fail. Don’t hope vainly – analyse and find out.

Don’t seek or avoid exchanges without good reason. Exchanges are just moves, they make changes, and you must assess these changes. [It seems to me that many players exchange almost by reflex. I have a theory that when learning chess we may become anxious about leaving exchanges ‘on’, in case we leave the piece or pawn undefended later, and do not like the tension of unresolved exchange possibilities. A mark of maturity in a player is the capacity to manage tension in the position.]

* Bishops are better than Knights in Pawn races, because they can influence each side of the board at once.

* Always look to the centre, even if it is closed or has been quiet.

* Preserve your options. Do what is required – whether a retreat or an attack – but don’t burn your bridges unnecessarily. Squeeze your opponent’s options – this is hard for them to sit still for, and they may lash out without heed for the dangers.

* Hanging Pawns are a typical example of an unbalanced dynamic situation, requiring vigorous action from both players.

“During a chess competition a chessmaster should be a combination of a beast of prey and a monk.” — Alexander ALEKHINE

* Open files are useful only if there is an entry point, and in semi-open positions with many minor pieces an entry for a Rook may be lacking. In these cases you may be able to use a minor piece to make the first invasion, but sometimes the open file is not very useful.