ENDGAME TIPS: tip091

* If you have a space advantage (or any other long-term advantage, like the Bishop pair), don’t rush to attack. Milk your advantages – don’t feel obliged to cash in immediately. You should not try to force the issue, but rather maintain or increase your advantage while preventing counterplay. Don’t lash out justy becaiuse you feel there ought to be a winning combination by now. Avoid exchanges and build up your position so that when things do come to a head the situation is at its most favourable to you.

* (and … winning the game!)

* 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).

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.