Chess
Analyse your opponent's move first
Protect your king
Develop your pieces
Control the centre
Attack as a group
Keep your pawns structured
Know when to trade
Plan for the endgame
1) Analyse your opponent's move.
You must be able to defend against your opponent's threats to successfully create your own. To do this, see which squares their pieces control. It is more important to see the lines of influence across the board rather than the static positions. Then analyse their available moves and assume they will play the best one. This will nullify their attacks and enable you to create your own.
2) Protect your king.
To do this, castle as soon as possible. Castling on the kingside is quicker and safer than the queenside. Then move the protecting pawns as little as possible. The further away they are the less well protected the king is. If you want an attacking game, castle to the opposite side of the board than your opponent. If you want a safe game, castle on the same side as your opponent. This can help if your opponent has a lead in development.
3) Develop your pieces.
The priority is to get your pieces in stronger positions so they can influence more squares. A useful rule is to avoid moving the same piece twice until you are well developed. Avoid developing more powerful pieces early on. This enables your opponent's weaker pieces to put pressure on them and push them around.
4) Control the centre.
With your pieces in the centre of the board, they can control the maximum amount of squares. For example, a knight in the centre controls eight squares whereas one on the edge might control four. This is useful in itself. It also makes further development easier as the centre is the quickest route through the board.
5) Attack as a group.
Using pieces as individuals is very easy to defend against. When you combine the strengths of your pieces they can pose a greater threat. This is why it's important not to threaten without a plan. Most moves can be defended by moves which aid development. So thoughtless threats are not just nullified but create a step backward. Then, when attacking as a group, the pieces can create more than the sum of their parts. For example, doubling the rooks almost triples their power and a bishop pair is stronger than two knights.
6) Keep your pawns structured.
Pawns make up half of your pieces so it's important to put them to good use. Be careful of moving them at first, pawns can rarely move between columns so pawn weakness is eternal. Use them only as aids to development not developing moves in themselves. Towards the end of the game passed pawns can win games. So try to create majorities on one side or the other and put pressure on your opponents backward pawns.
7) Learn some set pieces.
Set pieces are tactics which can be used to trap your opponent. Some classic moves are the skewer which pins two pieces either side of it. Also, the fork which also attacks two at the same time. A pin traps one piece in front of another. Even if the tactics don’t result in a won piece, they might force your opponent's move and therefore restrict their choices.
8) Know when to trade.
The value of a piece is relative to its position not just its points. When you have an advantage the best approach is to simplify the game. As in football, eleven men against ten is an improvement, two against one is even better. However, if you have a spatial advantage, try not to exchange pieces unless this increases your advantage. An advantage you can often gain by trading pieces is a weakening of your opponent's pawn structure. So it's generally best not to accept pawn swaps, especially if black.
9) Plan for the endgame.
Certain pieces and positions become more valuable as the game progresses. You can make use of this knowledge to gain a quiet advantage. When there are fewer pieces on the board bishops become more powerful than knights. They can exert their influence in all parts of the board at once. Pawn structure also becomes more important over time. Since doubled pawns cannot defend each other, they are a liability in the endgame.
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