Chess Tip Of The Day

Don't offer material when you can get good play through simple moves. Andrew Soltis, Grandmaster Secrets: Openings

In general, the pawn-structure will tell you what plan to adopt. Learn to hear the message your pawn-structure is telling you! Jeremy Silman, The Reassess Your Chess Workbook

A pair of active bishops is frequently adequate compensation for a pawn, or even the exchange, in a middlegame position. Steve Mayer, Bishop v Knight: The Verdict

The queenside majority, the outside passed pawn, the 'good' and 'bad' bishop, have become standard reference terms. Many players still commit the error of extrapolating these notions to the middlegame, where in most cases endgame principles are reversed. Mihai Șubă, Dynamic Chess Strategy

In general, positions characterised by an open centre favour White, and Black should not enter them light-heartedly. Dražen Marović, Dynamic Pawn Play In Chess

Universal systems can save a player a great deal of time and preparation. The main drawback is that a player restricts the range of positions and structures that he plays, which in turn can limit his development as a player. Steve Giddins, How To Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire