OPENING TIPS: tip107

(Fine) 1. Open with either the e-pawn or the d-pawn.

o Fight, don’t just react to threats. Mednis calls passive play “awaiting the undertaker”! It is much harder for the attacker to keep their nerve if the defender has active play, and without counterplay your opponent will just keep building up their position. It used to be said of Alekhine that to beat him you had to win three games – once in the opening, once in the middlegame, and once in the endgame. Make the same be true for you.

4. if the position changes, re-assess your previous conclusions

* Good positions don’t win games – good moves do. Silman says, “Make good things happen”. Play with a positive plan (although part of your plan might be prevention). The initiative goes to the side than can devise and (at least threaten to) put into action a realistic plan.