Keep this thread alive, I want to learn more!
My own addition: Don't capture the b2/7 pawn with the queen in the opening. This pawn will often be undefended if the guarding bishop has been moved, but the result of a capture will most likely be a disadvantage when your opponents minor pieces chases your queen away. A quick example: Game 669468, move 7 and onwards. If the export functionality on uchess worked on my mac, I could post a real embarrasing example with me on the losing end. After capturing the b2 pawn I spend three moves moving the queen until I finally was forced to trade her off for a knight to avoid checkmate🙁
Also, don't needlessly initiate a rook trade on an open file; you'll just hand over control of the open file to your opponent.
Why is this? Any insight?
Because you want to contest control of the diagonal I imagine. It's simi,ar to putting your Rook on the same open file the other guy's Rook is on (except you don't have a second Bishop of that color to take it's place if he exchanges).
My own addition: Don't capture the b2/7 pawn with the queen in the opening. This pawn will often be undefended if the guarding bishop has been moved, but the result of a capture will most likely be a disadvantage when your opponents minor pieces chases your queen away.
I agree with this. I love to gambit away that Pawn for tempo.
Originally posted by buddy2
Never think of positional play and tactics as separate, unrelated issues. A good position produces tactics, a poor position reduces tactical opportunities.
Very well said...this shouldn't be approached as a guideline....this should definately be a rule...excellent statement! 🙂
Originally posted by BLReidI have this book, it's good. It's by William Harston, it's has an amusing style as well as some very well explained principles.
There's a handy little book called "Teach Yourself Better Chess", not to be confused with "Teach Yourself Chess" which was it's predecessor. I've seen it mentioned in another thread somewhere. The point is, it is full of 1 page lessons of insight along these lines. 1 example, forget about castling as a king move, castling is a rook move, figure out whe ...[text shortened]... ely going to be needed before deciding which side to castle to. Very handy little book.
Brian
e.g....
Originally posted by lucifershammer
When you see a good move, sit on your hands and see if you can find a better one. – Siegbert Tarrasch
That plus the basic rules should be more than enough to get you out of the 1200 doldrums!
Luc
William has to say on this...
"What nonsense! When you've found a good move play it! Good moves are few and far between, don't talk youself out of them. But make sure it really is as good a move as you think."
Originally posted by The Swine Down HopeFor the opposite colors bishops: in the endgames (and probably overall as well), it often makes sense to put pawns on the squares of your bishop if you are on defensive and otherwise if you have an initiative. Though it can be taken just as the general rule at best🙂
What about if I have a light bishop and my opponent have a dark one. Am I best, generally, to place my pawns on light or dark squares?