Exeter Chess Club

1. At the beginning of the game the forces stand in equilibrium.
2. Correct play on both sides maintains this equilibrium and leads to a drawn game.
3. Therefore a player can win only as a consequence of an error made by the opponent. (There is no such thing as a winning move.)
4. As long as the equilibrium is maintained, an attack, however skilful, cannot succeed against correct defence.

Steinitz' rules of attack (from Kotov/Chernev)

1. In chess, only the attacker wins. Defenders win only when the attacker makes a mistake, OR if the attacker had no right to attack in the first place.

4th_Aug_09 Attack and Defence

Items from the initial list of areas for improvement:

Just in case anyone hasn't seen it before: I forget that it is new and fresh to every generation of chess players.

• Morphy P. - Duke Karl of Brunswick C. [C41]