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Showing posts from June, 2025

86

The best thing (for training) is the study of well-annotated games. Alexander Kotov, Play Like A Grandmaster

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When a player has superior mobility, he must make use of it fairly soon or it may vanish. Max Euwe, Chess Master v Chess Amateur

84

The Four Knights Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6) has its advantages: it is very safe for White, there are many traps for Black to fall into, and most players today are not well-prepared to meet a Four Knights Game. Alex Dunne, How To Become A Candidate Master

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Bishops need stable and secure locations to do their best. Edmar Mednis, Practical Middlegame Tips

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Our personal results are surely more relevant to our opening choices than the rest of the chess world's results or the opening's reputation. James Schuyler, Your Opponent Is Overrated

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In rook endgames, do everything possible to make sure that your rook stays active. Jeremy Silman, The Amateur's Mind

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Even if our opponent has actually won a piece or pawn, otherwise than by an oversight on our part, he must have made some effort and spent some time in doing so. There is, therefore, nearly always some compensation. Eugene Zonosko-Borovsky, The Middle Game In Chess

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Older players tend to have less stamina; they may be subject to time trouble, and bad in complications, but they often play simple positions and endings well. Simon Webb, Chess For Tigers

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If your opponent is short of time, ignore him, play just as you played earlier in the game. Alexander Kotov, Think Like A Grandmaster

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Hanging pawns are weak only if 1) the attacker is ahead in development, and 2) if most of the minor pieces have been exchanged. Max Euwe, Judgment And Planning In Chess

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The Steinitz Defence Deferred (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6) is certainly playable, but requires on Black's part exceptionally precise and circumspect play. Alexander Alekhine, 107 Great Chess Battles

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Don't worry about your rating; focus on tournament results instead.  Igor Khmelnitsky, Chess Exam And Training Guide

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You should plan to spend from one to two hours preparing for each game. Less than one hour will not give you enough wisdom, and more than two hours will start tiring you out. Edmar Mednis, How To Be A Complete Tournament Player

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A flank attack should only be undertaken when one controls the centre, or when the centre is blockaded or impassable for one's opponent.  Paul Schmidt, How Chessmasters Think

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Study without distractions - keep the television or radio off. Rolf Wetzell, Chess Master ... At Any Age

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A game is always easier to draw if there are pawns on only one side of the board. Jeremy Silman, The Amateur's Mind

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To broaden your overall chess skills, choose one concrete position and analyse it exhaustively.  Lev Alburt, Test & Improve Your Chess

69

In the middlegame, two minor pieces are often stronger than a rook and two pawns. In the endgame, however, a rook and even a single passed pawn are sometimes better than the two pieces. Artur Yusupov, Build Up Your Chess - 1: The Fundamentals

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The best squares for the knight are, basically those in the central zone of the board - d5 and e5 (d4 and e4 for Black). Hans Kmoch, Pawn Power In Chess

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Very often the first error is followed by a chain reaction of mistakes, ending in defeat. Therefore it is especially important to maintain your composure and clarity of thought at that very moment when the game begins to go downhill. Alexey Suetin, Three Steps To Chess Mastery

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Once you gain the initiative, you must do everything possible to retain it. Follow up actively and aggressively - don't let up! Every move should have a threat.  Sunil Weeramantry, Best Lessons Of A Chess Coach

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Do not make the opening moves automatically and without reflection.  Eugene Znosko-Borovsky, How Not To Play Chess

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Always look for changes in the pawn-structure that happen in a flurry of tactics - a sure indication that the position needs to be re-evaluated. Alex Yermolinsky, The Road To Chess Improvement

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In the middlegame a bishop or knight can easily be a match for a rook, and is sometimes superior. This is particularly true if there are few open lines along which the rooks can operate. Robin Smith, Modern Chess Analysis

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In most of the variations (of the French) in which White plays e5, ...f6 is a major idea. John Watson, Secrets Of Modern Chess Strategy

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Rook endings is one of those areas in which a few hours' study can provide great dividends. John Nunn, Secrets Of Practical Chess

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A developing player has to write notes to his games in order to develop the habit of having a self-critical approach to his play. Alexander Kotov, Train Like A Grandmaster

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THE first thing I recommend to someone who wants to develop his play is to find a training partner.  Jesper Hall, Chess Training For Budding Champions

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A PLAYER who knows even a little about the endgame can wreak havoc in the later stages of any game at club level. Nigel Davies, The Chess Player's Battle Manual

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IN a mutual time-scramble never ever resign, no matter how bad your position. Tony Rubin, Chess For The Rank And File