Chess Tip Of The Day

When an enemy king is stuck in the centre, do everything possible to rip open central lines. These act as highways for your pieces, and allow them to make quick progress into the opponent's position. Jeremy Silman, The Reassess Your Chess Workbook

The critical examination of a position requires a consideration of many factors, but those concerning the pawn-structure usually deserve priority. Hans Kmoch, Pawn Power In Chess

One useful way of acquiring new ideas in the Closed Sicilian is to study the English Opening. That may sound a little odd, but 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 is a reversed Closed Sicilian. Richard Palliser, Starting Out: Closed Sicilian

It is important to distinguish between 'control' and 'occupation' of the centre. As soon as a piece occupies a central square it loses the control it exerted over this square. Luděk Pachman, Complete Chess Strategy 2: Pawn-Play And The Centre

A defensive sacrifice can prove effective for psychological reasons. The attacker is mentally geared up for a possible sacrificial assault on the enemy king, and then suddenly he is defending and trying to nurse his material advantage to an ending. This requires a complete shift of mental gears, which can prove difficult to achieve. John Nunn, Secrets Of Practical Chess

An advantage in mobility must be exploited energetically (usually by an assault), otherwise it will be dissipated in short order.  Reuben Fine, The Ideas Behind The Chess Openings