Morphy is probably the best player for the beginning player to study. Alas there are precious few games to go on, for he lived before the growth in international tournaments and was denied a match by Staunton. Morphy more or less perfected the art of winning in open games: smooth, fast development, opening up lines…
U9s | U14s U9s Play slowly and carefully Know the basic tactics Practise spotting tactics by doing puzzles Always think about what your opponent can do to you! U14s Try to avoid mistakes Most of the games we see have unforced mistakes in them, and they usually decide who wins the game. But you can…
1. How to start well in a game of chess 2. Things to avoid: wasting time and 4-move checkmate U9s/U11: Open with a duck! [U14s] DCK = Develop, Centre, King (c) Develop Centre King Develop Send out your pieces one at a time, and move each piece once Don’t waste time (make only 2-3 pawn…
Topic page video OPENING How to start like a Grandmaster https://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/openings-advicehttps://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/opening-dos-and-donts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UAHjZsrVw0 Opening traps http://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/opening-traps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx7TmtMkg_U Next steps for U11s https://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/how-play-opening-2 TACTICS Tactics advice https://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/middlegame-tactics-adviceKnow all the basic tactics https://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/middlegame-tactics-advice#6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83oae4kRfnMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvr94Dinfr4 https://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/middlegame-tactics-advice (U11) A course in chess tactics http://devonjuniorchess.co.uk/content/course-chess-tactics Practice spotting tactics https://lichess.org/training Check after…
If your opponent is trying to win a level position, don’t get impatient and rush, and don’t get bored and go on the defensive, don’t be tempted into exchanges that give a little ground. Stay calm. Give the impression of great patience, that you aren’t going to blunder no matter how long they spin it out. And keep trying to play good and active moves, even if you think it’s only a draw.
Quiet positions demand patience. They are not to be abandoned as a draw or played carelessly – you must learn to concentrate and outplay your opponent in these positions as well as when it’s very tactical.
The best way to get a draw is to play as well and actively as possible, just the same as if you were trying to win!
3. Be wary of sacrificing pawns for development: only in Rook+Pawn endings is an active piece worth material.
* Combinations do not usually come out of nowhere – they are based on a superiority in position, and you can tell when a combination is likely to be around: 1. Exposed or “stalemated” Kings are always vulnerable 2. Undefended or ‘hanging’ pieces aften lead to trouble. 3. Pieces which are defended only as often as they are attacked can also lead to trouble, because their defenders are at least partly immobilised..
8. The easiest endings to draw are those with opposite coloured bishops.
