Chess Tip Of The Day

If you seize a large hunk of the centre in the first moves of the game, make sure that you can defend the pawns that control that territory. John Watson, Mastering The Chess Openings - Volume 1

The ideal which lies at the root of every operation in a file is the ultimate penetration by way of this file into the enemy's game, that is to say to our own seventh or eighth rank. Aron Nimzowitsch, My System - 21st Century Edition

Never make moves instantly, however obvious or forced they may seem. Tony Kosten, Winning Endgames

The general objective every chessplayer should have during the game is to secure a harmonious cooperation between his pieces and pawns. Alexey Sokolsky, The Modern Openings In Theory And Practice

When there is a structural imbalance, opposite-coloured bishops tend to favour the attacker because the defender is often powerless to prevent the infiltration of his position. James Rizzitano, Understanding Your Chess

The conditions for a successful wing attack are either an advantage in the centre or at least a solid, albeit passive central position. Luděk Pachman, Complete Chess Strategy 3: Play On The Wings

Winning chess has a lot to do with playing good moves, but it has more to do with not playing bad ones. If you play 10 excellent moves, 10 average ones and then a lulu, there is every likelihood that your opponent may still win without having played as well as you for 90% of the game. Ian Mullen, Master Chess: A Course In 21 Lessons

One good way to exploit a strong central advantage is to use the extra space [it gives] your pieces to launch a flank attack. Richard Palliser, Starting Out: Closed Sicilian

Activity is vital in endgames. If you are defending, don't defend absolutely passively unless either the draw is cast-iron or you are absolutely forced to. Jon Speelman, Endgame Preparation

If you face a choice between equally good continuations, there is no need to contemplate for long. Quite the opposite: you can choose one without making a big mistake. Ján Markoš, The Secret Ingredient To Winning At Chess

Chess patterns will often repeat themselves according to the opening that was employed, which is why playing through complete games with a particular opening will help someone play that opening well. Nigel Davies, The Rules Of Winning Chess

Whether you are a new advocate or a seasoned exponent of the English, you will inevitably enhance your understanding by studying complete games, which demonstrate how ideas in the opening are continued into the middlegame and endgame. Nigel Povah, How To Play The English Opening

In endings with bishops of opposite colour, material means NOTHING, position EVERYTHING. Cecil Purdy, On The Endgame

It's better not to change entire lines or systems, but to tinker a bit so as to make one less predictable, while retaining the knowledge of the ideas behind the lines. Junior Tay, Chess magazine

A growing trend in modern chess is to know as many different openings as possible, making it harder for opponents to prepare. Simon Williams, Chess magazine

Knights and bishops are normally the most important pieces in the middlegame. The reason is simple: rooks and queens are more susceptible to incoming fire than minor pieces. Jacob Aagaard, Excelling At Positional Chess

A pawn advantage in a pawn ending is much easier to realise than one in a bishop or knight ending. John Emms, Starting Out: Minor Piece Endings

Your practical results will improve once you are more willing to sacrifice material - not for attack (we can all do that) but for defensive and psychological reasons. Jonathan Rowson, Chess For Zebras

Never resign because of an in-your-mind calculation! Too often such calculations have an error. Play the position out! What do you have to lose, except the game? Edmar Mednis, Practical Endgame Tips

When one plans a pawn-offensive on the king's wing one must bear in mind the most important strategic rule in chess: a counterthrust in the centre is the best reply to a wing attack. Alexander Kotov, The Art Of The Middle Game

There is no necessity for Black [in the Evans Gambit] to accept the offer of the pawn. On the contrary, if he retires with his bishop to b6 in reply, he will, as White's last move has in no way furthered his development, gain a small but distinct advantage in position. Emanuel Lasker, Common Sense In Chess   

As Black [in the Sicilian], do not give up your fianchettoed king's bishop in order to win a pawn (or even the exchange in some cases) while queens are still on the board, as this will make it much easier for White's kingside attack to score a quick knockout. David Levy & Kevin O'Connell, How To Play The Sicilian Defence

Beware the throwaway remark that 'centre pawns are better than outside pawns in the opening but it's vice versa in the endgame'. The truth is that extra centre pawns are at least as important as outside ones in endgames in which rooks are involved. Chris Ward, Starting Out: Rook Endgames

Two bishops at least equal a rook and two pawns as long as other major pieces remain. Larry Kaufman, The Chess Advantage In Black And White

If one player is weak on a colour complex (has no bishop of that colour), and the opponent has that colour bishop, and the queens are on the board, that weakness is likely worth more than one pawn. Dan Heisman, ChessCafe.com

The English Opening is basically geared to controlling the d5 square. White starts off with 1.c4, follows up with Nc3 and completes the job with a kingside fianchetto. Gary Lane, Ideas Behind Modern Chess Openings: Black

Stockfish is a wonderful tool, but remember: it's not enough just to notice that the machine recommends a move - you need to understand why. If it's not immediately obvious, play a natural move for the other side  and keep digging until you'd be able to explain and demonstrate to another player why the machine evaluates things the way it does. Andrew Greet, Chess magazine

Few sacrifices work if the attacker cannot bring several pieces, particularly the queen, into the attack with great speed. David LeMoir, Essential Chess Sacrifices

There will always be times when your preparation or memory fails you (in the opening) and you have to make it up. In these cases you should aim to find a move which is sensible on general principles and which does not have an obvious refutation. John Nunn, Grandmaster Chess Move By Move

Don't just study variations in your repertoire; investigate the typical endgames that can occur from different variations as well. Andreas Tzermiadianos, How To Beat The French Defence