Chess Tip Of The Day

The first steps that some grandmasters take, after a queen trade, are literally steps - they get up and walk away from the board, even if it means letting their clocks run. The reason is that they want to clear their minds and put middlegame thoughts behind them. Andrew Soltis, Turning Advantage Into Victory In Chess

The biggest advantage in sticking to respectable main lines is that you can rest assured that the opening you are playing is fundamentally sound, and is not likely ever to be refuted. Steve Giddins, How To Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire

In order to handle pawns well, it is important to learn not to handle them too much. Preparing is better than repairing. Savielly Tartakower, A Breviary Of Chess

Always be wary of old theory in very sharp positions. There may well be a dangerous improvement lurking which computers will quickly spot. Richard Palliser, Starting Out: Sicilian Najdorf

It is not sufficient to be a master of one opening. You must also be a jack of all the rest! Sure, go ahead and learn one defence thoroughly, but also get a feel for the others. Force yourself to play through master games or play some blitz games. You only require some general knowledge of the general principles. John Emms, Chess For The Rank And File

Control of an open file is not dangerous by itself unless it can be constructively utilised. James Rizzitano, Understanding Your Chess