Posts

560

ChessBase and Chess Assistant have functions to show you in what lines your future opponent scores well and in what lines he scores badly. It is very easy to be tempted to play a line in which your opponent has not done well. However, it is also quite dangerous. If you know nothing about the line, you will be in dire straits if your opponent deviates at a point where you did not expect it. Christian Kongsted, How To Use Computers To Improve Your Chess
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559

Pawns in front of the castled king should not be touched unless absolutely necessary, and at least one piece should remain on guard (when castled on the kingside, for example, a knight on f3/f6 serves well). Samuel Reshevsky, The Art Of Positional Play
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558

One of the basic principles of chess strategy is to exchange one's less-active pieces for the opponent's more-active pieces. Steve Mayer, Bishop v Knight: The Verdict
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557

The value of playing an opening variation against an opponent who is an acknowledged expert in that field is very debatable. It is rather like using a new ball in cricket -  more likely to take a wicket quickly, but easier to hit for six. Michael Stean, Learn From The Grandmasters
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556

When playing versus the isolated pawn, try to exchange minor pieces - particularly knights - and retain at least one pair of rooks. Alexander Baburin, Winning Pawn Structures
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555

Practice shows that, for the sake of creating a connected pair of pawns at d5 and e5, a sacrifice of material is often fully justified. Alexey Suetin, Plan Like A Grandmaster
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554

Almost all combinations are made possible by an undefended or inadequately guarded piece. This means that whenever you see a piece that is "loose," perk up and look for a trick to take advantage of it. Jeremy Silman, The Reassess Your Chess Workbook
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