Training

“…To all players I can recommend the following: simplicity and economy. These are the characteristics of the opening systems of many great masters… A solid opening repertoire fosters self-confidence.” — LAJOS PORTISCH

* Don’t ever coast along. Keep coming up with ideas. Put your opponent under pressure. Force your will on your opponent – get them to react to you. If you think you see a win, go for it.

* 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.

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

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

2. holding on to material advantage

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

* Patience is a virtue. Good nerves are essential: this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever feel nervous during a game (boy, do I wish I could manage that!) but that you should not let your nervousness tempt you to poor decisions: e.g. make back away from a critical line, or make you try to force the issue too soon.

Portisch on forming a repertoire: “Your only task in the opening is to reach a playable middlegame.”

(Hort) 11. Do not obstruct your pawns by grouping your pieces directly in front of them; pawns and pieces must work together.