Chess Tip Of The Day

The traditional 'weak points' f2 and f7 are especially vulnerable in 1.e4 e5 openings. It pays to watch out for tactics, including sacrifices, on these squares. John Emms, Starting Out: The Scotch Game

Doing tactics and calculation has to be my key piece of advice for the club player. These sorts of exercises will just make you quicker at calculating and over time you'll see more. Shreyas Royal, Chess magazine

Don't assume a move you hadn't expected is bad; often it's just a sign that you should look at the position more closely to see what else you haven't seen. Jonathan Rowson, The Seven Deadly Chess Sins

Some gambits are of dubious or marginal worth if the opponent knows how to defend precisely.  But others are perfectly sound, and your chess education will be seriously lacking without exposure to this unique opening form. John Watson, Mastering The Chess Openings - Volume 4

There are sound chess reasons why the King's Gambit should be accepted. However, for some players, the King's Gambit Accepted may seem too obscure and complicated. Then there are players who don't like being pressed, and in fact savour positions which offer immediate chances to counterattack. Both these types of players may do better in a practical game - for psychological reasons - by not accepting the gambit.  Edmar Mednis, Understanding The Open Games

To truly get better, put a cap on your activities. Play five (online) games every day, win or lose. Do 10 puzzles every day, but try to get them all correct. Don't treat your rapid games or puzzle-solving like an endless spin at a casino. Levy Rozman (GothamChess), Chess magazine