Originally posted by DaveIsHere
Does anyone have any recommendations for a good book or website to learn more about chess, openings, etc?
Jeez, dude!
Try not to hang pawns in the first few moves.
Here are a few constructive points:
1)Open with a central pawn, but make as few pawn moves as possible early on. I reckon 3 or 4 max in your first 10 moves is about right.
2)Develop knight(s) before bishops.
Knights take longer to reach the other side of the board. A knight gets more powerful the further it advances, but is also a key defensive piece early on, 90% of the time on c3/c6 or f3/f6 for both players cannot be wrong.
3)Develop with threats.
This gains you time. For example 1.e4...d5, 2.exd5...Qxd5 3.Nc3 attacks the Q & brings out the knight in 1 move.
4)Don't move the same piece twice unless you have to.
5)Don't bring your Q out early & generally not beyond the 2nd or 3rd rank.
Your opponent can gain time & develop by attacking it with minor pieces.
6)Castle as soon as possible (Kingside is usually safest)
This helps protect your King & brings your Rooks into the game
7)Don't move the pawns in front of your castled King unless you have a reasonably good motive.
8)Don't panic if he keeps pushing pawns in the opening! Just try to keep your pieces safe, prevent him from giving you doubled pawns (inflict them on him if you have the chance) & the developmental advantage should show soon enough.
But basically try to allow your openings to give you mobile & developed pieces & control of the center, whilst denying these to your opponent.
&
Look for basic threats that your opponent makes
before you make your own moves & look for your own possible checks/captures/threats & you will be miles ahead of the other -1000's.