Chess Tip Of The Day

Too often amateurs get the impression that grandmasters are calculating wizards who constantly think 10 and 15 moves ahead. Actually, there are few times in a game when you have to look more than four moves ahead. Andrew Soltis, Confessions Of A Chess Grandmaster

As a general principle, open games - those starting with 1.e4 - are best for attacking players. This is because mobilisation of the pieces most suited for attacking Black's king (the queen, king's bishop and king's knight) occurs much more rapidly after 1.e4. Edmar Mednis, Practical Opening Tips

Thou shalt not trade down to a king-and-pawn ending unless you can safely bet your first-born child on the result. Andrew Soltis, Grandmaster Secrets - Endings

If master players do not castle early, there is usually a good reason. When lesser players don't castle, they are usually misjudging the position. Andrew Martin, ChessMoves magazine

As far as possible each move in the opening should carry with it one or more threats. If you do not threaten anything, you give entire liberty to your opponent not only in the development of his pieces but also in the choice of his threats. Eugene Znosoko-Borovsky, How To Play The Chess Openings

Counterplay is the No1 priority of defence - even at the expense of other values such as king safety,  pawn-structure, material and development. Andrew Soltis, The Art Of Defence In Chess