Training

* Rooks need open files.

3 principles (Fine)

* Don’t allow counterplay, e.g. a Pawn race, a counterattack against the other wing, if you don’t have to. Defensive play is difficult, and playing the downside of a position without active chances of your own is doubly so. [Many of the best players are masters at snuffing out the opponent’s plans.]

1. Without pawns, you must be at least a Rook ahead in order to force mate (exceptions: R+R wins against two minor pieces; four minor pieces win against a Queen)

11. Bishops are better than knights in all except blocked pawn positions

(Fine) 5. Make one or two pawn moves in the opening, not more.

(Nimzowitsch) 6. The pawn centre must be mobile.

* Take nothing for granted. Don’t fret needlessly – analyse and find out if there is a win for your opponent. I often say, “Oh, Black’s only going to threaten mate”, by which I mean, the best they can achieve is a one move threat that can be easily contained. When they make that threat, you do need to react, but don’t worry needlessly; carry on with your own plans. There are some “clockwork” attacks (like the h-file assault against the fianchettoed King, or the King’s Indian Attack) that will eventually produce checkmate if left alone, but usually the best recipe is to counterattack, even if you do have to stop from time to time to counter a mating threat.

The most important feature of any chess position — opening, middlegame and *especially* endgame — is the activity of the pieces. — Michael STEAN

* If the pieces don’t suggest what plan you must adopt, the Pawns will.