Author: DJCA

9. The King is a strong piece: use it!

(Fine) 7. Castle as soon as possible, preferably on the king’s side.

You must think for both sides. I would guess that the vast majority of decisive mistakes in club play are not misjudgements (like, “I thought my attack would be faster than yours”) but oversights (“Oops – missed that one.”). If you never try to work out what your opponent might be doing, you will never find out until it is too late.

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

4. If you are one or two pawns behind, exchange pawns but not pieces.

(Lasker) 4. Do not pin the adverse King Knight (ie. by Bg5) before your opponent has castled.

(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).

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

* Half-open files (in positions without an open file) can be used to create pressure against the exposed Pawn.

(Hort) 6. Develop harmoniously! Play with all your pieces