Chess Tip Of The Day

Always, when you write down the moves, also write your time or the time of the opponent. This will always reveal where mistakes are quite commonly placed during the course of a game. With one pupil his obvious mistakes tended to be a result of playing a move instantly, or pondering over it for 30-40 minutes without seeing anything at all. Jacob Aagaard, Excelling At Positional Chess

When material is not equal, but only slightly out of balance, positional advantages usually decide the outcome. This is most evident when a player gives up the exchange for one or two pawns. Andrew Soltis, What It Takes To Become A Chess Master

One of the great virtues of the two bishops is their ability to control the opponent's rooks, both from a defensive (control of invasion squares, effective defence of vulnerable points ...) and an attacking point of view. Lluís Comas Fabregó, True Lies In Chess

Go into an ending if the position contains factors which acquire increased significance in the endgame phase: the two bishops, the better pawn-configuration, or pawn-weaknesses in the enemy camp. Vladimir Popov, Chess Lessons

The general rule (when you have more than one passed pawn in an ending) is to push the passed pawn that is farthest away from the defender. Andrew Soltis, Turning Advantage Into Victory In Chess

In inherently superior (endgame) positions where progress is being stymied by the blockaded nature of the position, look for a pawn sacrifice or sacrifices to open things up. Edmar Mednis, Practical Endgame Tips