OPENING TIPS: tip010
(Hort) 10. With the help of your pawns, try to get an advantage in space and weaken your opponent’s pawn position.
Some to learn, some to test yourself and some just to enjoy Do you know this one? Or can you work it out? White to play and win See the position in the final list for the solution. Here’s the same idea in a real game. Black to move (click E7 to flip). again, answer…
Even if your position looks OK, you may be worse because your opponent has the initiative. The initiative is the ability to create threats. You can’t get settled and finish developing if your opponent uses the initiative well, and you won’t get your position sorted out and equalise if you are constantly bothered with threats….
The member of a pawn majority which doesn’t have an opposing pawn in front of it, and is a likely passed pawn I sometimes call them princesses: maybe a Queen one day!
* 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.
5. Generally move Knights straightaway to f3/c3 or f6/c6
Development is the opening task of getting your pieces off the back rank and into the game. Develop your minor pieces first, towards the centre Get your King out of the centre by castling early on Hold back your Queen until or unless it can’t be bothered by the enemy pieces. The Queen is the…