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]
(Hort) 9. A weakening of your own pawns may be accepted only if it is compensated by a more active placement of your pieces.
(Lasker) 1. Do not move any pawns in the opening of a game but the King and Queen pawns.
(Hort) 10. With the help of your pawns, try to get an advantage in space and weaken your opponent’s pawn position.
Don’t play a good-looking move in vague hopefulness: consider what your opponent’s reply might be.
Decentralising is always suspicious, particularly for knights, but also for long-range pieces like Queens. This is a corollary of Stean’s assertion that the most important feature of any position is the activity of the pieces, since pieces are most active in the centre.
Dynamic positions require energetic play. You must make the most of your own chances, and not just react to threats or coast along until you have to do something.
