Training

5. The fewer the pieces, the more important the pawns

4. Get a firm foothold in the centre and don’t give it up

4. Try and gain tempi whenever possible, but without giving up material.

2. Material advantage wins endgames: hold on to your material.

* QUEEN: Not very useful right at the start, because it may be harassed, but always powerful. Place it near the centre in the opening, behind the minor pieces – e2,d2 or f2/c2 are good squares – ready to jump out to make a raid in combination with other pieces. After some pieces have been exchanged, or you have a clear advantage, you can move the Queen further towards the little centre (e4,d4,e5,d5).

(Fine) 2. White’s problem in the opening is to secure the better position, while…

(Hort) 5. Develop flexibly!

Don’t hope that your opponent won’t see the threat – expect your opponent to play the best move, and see if you still like your plan. [You cannot base your game around one-idea plans like a3 Bc2 Qd3 Qxh7# – this may take four moves to threaten and one move (…g6) to defend]

(Lasker) 1. Do not move any pawns in the opening of a game but the King and Queen pawns.

(Lasker) 2. Do not move any piece twice in the opening, but put it at once on the right square.