Contents
- 1. Before every move, ask: what does my opponent want?
- 2. Before your own move — “checks, captures, threats”
- 3. Do not leave pieces undefended
- 4. Develop your pieces instead of moving one around
- 5. Count material
- 6. Ahead in material — exchange
- 7. Do not hurry
- 8. Know how to mate
- 9. In the endgame the king is a fighting piece
- 10. Do not resign too early
- Most importantly — analyse your games
There is no secret that guarantees victory. But there are habits that set a thinking player apart from someone who “just moves the pieces”. Here are the main ones.
1. Before every move, ask: what does my opponent want?
Look at your opponent's last move. What does it attack? Are there any checks, captures or mate threats? This check saves you from most blunders.
2. Before your own move — “checks, captures, threats”
Look whether you have any checks, captures or direct threats. The winning move often lies on the surface but goes unnoticed.
3. Do not leave pieces undefended
An undefended piece is the first target for a tactical blow. Undefended pieces on the same line as the king or queen are especially dangerous: that is a ready-made fork or pin.
4. Develop your pieces instead of moving one around
At the start of the game, bring out the knights and bishops and castle. Do not move one piece many times and do not bring the queen out early — see “Opening principles”.
5. Count material
Before an exchange, count what you give and what you get. A knight and a bishop are worth about three pawns each, a rook five, a queen nine (“How the pieces move”).
6. Ahead in material — exchange
If you have more pieces, exchanges favour you: the fewer pieces on the board, the more the extra material shows. If you are behind, avoid exchanges and look for counterplay.
7. Do not hurry
Found a good move? Look for a better one. Chess players call this habit “sit on your hands”: do not grab a piece until you have made up your mind.
8. Know how to mate
Many won games end in a draw because the player cannot mate with a rook or blunders into stalemate. Learn the basic mates.
9. In the endgame the king is a fighting piece
Once the queens are off, the king is no longer in danger of being mated. Bring it to the centre: in the endgame the king is a strong and active piece (“Endgame”).
10. Do not resign too early
Your opponent can make mistakes too. Look for chances to the end — but do not drag out hopeless positions for ages either: sometimes it is more honest to resign and start a new game.
Most importantly — analyse your games
After a game, find the mistakes: yours and your opponent's. That way every game, even a lost one, makes you stronger.