Author: DJCA

4. being careful

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.]

(Hort) 3. Do not make pawn moves without careful planning.

7. The easiest endings to win are pure King+Pawn endings.

“Play a move which improves your position no matter what.” – SILMAN

(Nimzowitsch) 1. Development is to be understood as the strategic advance of the troops toward the frontier line (the line between the fourth and fifth ranks).

MEDNIS says ‘good technique’ means:

(Nimzowitsch) 5. Liquidation, with consequent development or disembarrassment.

Rules are meant to be broken (or, at least, checked to see if they apply in the actual position in front of you!)

* The struggle of Bishop(s) against Knight(s) is crucial: the Bishops are not always better but in all positions you must strive to make your minor piece(s) better, or make the position suit them more.