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.
7. The easiest endings to win are pure King+Pawn endings.
All the World Chess Champions are men, so here’s one from the other half of humanity, and a fine Appendix to the list of guys that ever joined the ‘Vera Menchik Club’. Judit Polgar was strongest woman chess player ever. She never became World Champion, and was never interested in becoming World Women’s World Chess…
…and other Queen’s-side openings As White, you often have a choice of going for a big advantage in a risky position, or going for a safe small advantage. Here are the sorts of advantage you can seek in the Queen’s Gambit. Better development White has got their pieces to better squares and can attack wherever…
* How do you react to pressure? Mental toughness and willpower are important in chess. The top boards often look calmer and more composed because they are; they are concentrating on the game and are not distracted by unexpected events on the board. [I have more than once played strong opponents who said afterwards they thought I was winning at one point, but I would never have guessed that from their expression during the game – they looked totally assured and confident!]
* 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.
“First restrain — then blockade — lastly, destroy!” — Aron NIMZOWITSCH A blockade is just that: a block, stopping the enemy getting past a point or a line. Fischer used it as a tactical idea against Benko Locked pawn chains are a common blockade, usually stopping both players from moving freely If there is a…
