Quality chess advice!

[yitwail]

dan, i'm not sure i'm qualified to answer your question, but if you meant is it ok to sacrifice a pawn, it depends on whether you get enough advantage in return to make up for losing a pawn. normally, you "lose a pawn" by exchanging it for one of your opponents pawns.

[yitwail]

bh said:

f) Play to win against anyone and everyone. [...] Play without fear (after all, we are all going to lose lots of games, so there is nothing to be afraid of, is there?) and you will instil fear into your opponents."
(SILMAN)

with all due respect, i disagree with IM Silman on this. it seems more logical to me to play for a draw with the black pieces in the opening, but i suppose it's a matter of taste.

[phantomghost]

Dan this article may or may not help you decide.

www.jeremysilman.com/chess_true_combat/041001_true_combat_beating_weaker_players_04.html

[beck15]

bh said:

f) Play to win against anyone and everyone. [...] Play without fear (after all, we are all going to lose lots of games, so there is nothing to be afraid of, is there?) and you will instil fear into your opponents."
(SILMAN)

[dan3]

i just got a rock with my pawn.

[Blockhead]

I'm back!

Thanks to all who kept this thread warm in my absence!

47. Maximize the efficiency of your moves. Play flexibly.

48. To strengthen control of a file, double your major pieces (Rooks and/or Queen) on it.

49. Determine whether you have an open or closed game, and play accordingly.

Whenever possible KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). It works for me ... most of the time!

[Blockhead]

50. Usually play to retain you Bishops in open games, and sometimes Knights in closed games.

51. To improve the scope of your Bishop, place your pawns on squares opposite in colour to it.

52. Keep your weaknesses on the colour opposite to that of your opponent's strongest Bishop.



Remember:
a) not all bishops have your spiritual welfare at heart!
b) there are moments when you should sense danger in chess, such as when your opponent suddenly has 3 bishops!

[Blockhead]

53. Exchange when ahead in material or when under attack, unless you have a sound reason for doing otherwise. Avoid exchanges when behind in material or when attacking.

54. Choose a plan and stay with it. Change it only if you should or must.


"It is not a move, not even the best move you must seek ... but a realizable plan" (Eugene Znosko-Borovsky)

[Blockhead]

55. To gain space, you usually have to sacrifice time.

56. If cramped, free your game by exchanging material.

[Blockhead]

57. Trade bad minor pieces for good ones.

"Help your pieces so they can help you." (Paul Morphy)


58. If the position is unsettled, disguise your plans: make non-committal moves.

"The tactician knows what to do when there is something to do; whereas the strategian knows what to do when there is nothing to do." (Gerald Abrahams)

[Blockhead]

59. To gain space or open lines, advance pawns.

"Pawns are born free, yet they are everywhere in chains" (Rick Kennedy)
"You can retreat pieces... but not pawns. So always think twice about pawn moves." (Michael Stean)


60. If the centre is blocked, don't automatically castle.

"Castle early and often" ... and ... "Only sissies Castle" (Rob Sillars)

[Blockhead]

61. If behind in development, keep the game closed.

"The first principle of attack - don't let the opponent develop!" (Rueben Fine)


62. Try to accumulate small advantages.

Steinitz outlined the idea of an attack known as, "Accumulation Theory", the slow build up of small advantages. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Steinitz

[Blockhead]

63. Try to dominate the seventh rank, especially with Rooks.

"Whenever you have to make a rook move and both rooks are available, you should evaluate which rook to move and, once you have made up your mind…move the other one!" (Oscar Panno)

64. Use the analytic method. When you don't know what to do, first evaluate the position (as best you can), then ask pertinent questions about your analysis.
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That's it folks! I've run out of squares!

My acknowlwdgements and thanks to:

ABC'S of Chess by Bruce Pandolfini
www.chess-poster.com/english/notes_and_facts/chess_quotes.htm
www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/quotes.html
www.nychesskids.com/files/quotes.htm
home.nvbell.net/wayern/renochess/sayings.html
... and one or two others that slipped into the thread and out of my mind!

Also my thanks to: Johnny5, The Ancient Brit, Gritty, perseus, yitwail, Dan 3, beck15


As I wrote this 'last post' I noticed this thread 'Quality chess advice!' has attracted 42 posts. '42' is my favourite number! Could 'Deep thought' have been right all along?


"Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days
Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays:
Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays,
And one by one back in the Closet lays."
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
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