- The Basics
- Winning a won game...
- Apparently good things to be able to say:
- The Nine Bad Moves (Reinfeld 1954)...
- Defending against an attack...
- Tick and triangle method
The Basics
in the opening...
- get your minor pieces out towards the centre
- get at least a share of the centre
- get your king into safety by castling
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in the middle-game...
- use space and open lines to attack the enemy king and other targets
- when you are winning, swap off pieces (but not pawns)
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in the ending...
- attack and win enemy pawns
- move your own pawns up as fast as possible to become queens
- get your King Up For The Ending (KUFTE)
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Winning a won game...
...not as hard as winning a lost one.
If you are ahead:
Don't relaxKeep things under control
Swap pieces off
Leave pawns on
If you are behind:
Don't give upTry and get some counterplay
Swap off pawns, not pieces
Apparently good things to be able to say:
...but your opponent might be thinking:
Genuinely good things to say to yourself:
I'd better watch it!I've seen something like this before, but what are the differences?
Have I come to this conclusion too quickly?
How could I lose?
Did I stop examining this variation too soon?
We've both been playing normal-looking moves, but is there anything hidden?
What might my opponent try?
Not every move that looks good, is good - what might be wrong with it?
My opponent must have a plan and should be trying to win somehow...
That looks pretty harmless, but let's have a quick check...
Every position can be ruined, what might go wrong here?
My opponent has just sighed as though he's given up... perhaps he's set a trap!
The Nine Bad Moves (Reinfeld 1954)...
...and so, nine good pieces of advice:
Neglecting Development Of Your Pieces
get your pieces out towards the centre as fast as you canExposing Your King To Attack
get your king into safety in the opening by castlingMaking Too Many Queen Moves In The Opening
move each piece only once in the opening; keep your queen and rooks out of the way of the opponent's pieces at the startGrabbing Pawns Thoughtlessly
get your pieces out towards the centre as fast as you can; don't waste time grabbing pawns until you have completed your developmentWeakening Your Castled Position
get your king into safety by castling and keep it strong and guardedGetting
Pinned
Failing
To Guard Against Captures
look out for your opponent's threats
Underestimating Your Opponent's Threats
Losing A Won Game
look out for your opponent's threats, even if you think you are winning easilyDefending against an attack...
...is as easy as ABCD.
Avoid
Move your piece out of the way.1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 threat 5...dxc4.
Avoid with 5. Bb3
Block
Put a piece or pawn between the attacked piece and the attacker.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4.
Ng5 threat 5. Nxf7
Block with 4...d5
Capture
Capture the attacking piece.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4.
Ng5 d5 threat 5...dxc4.
Capture the attacker with 5. exd5
Defend
Support the attacked piece or pawn.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 threat 3. Nxe5.
Defend the pawn with 2...Nc6.
Tick and triangle method
Michael Basman, "From Beginner to Winner in Two Months"
Basic tick method
1. Choose a move2. Write it down
3. Ask "Is it safe? (or safe enough)"
4. Tick (
Triangle method for opponent's threats
1. Write down opponent's move2. Ask "Is it a threat?"
3a. If yes, put a triangle (
3b. If no, just choose a move as you normally would.
Example
White: A. Junior Black: B. Junior
1. e2-e4 / e7-e5
2. Ng1-f3 / Nb8-c6
3. Bf1-c4 / Bf8-c5
4. Nf3-g5 / d7-d5 /\
5. e4xd5 / Nc6-a5 /\
6. Bc4-b5+ / c7-c6
7.
8.
9.
10.
From Black's side:
1. e2-e4 e7-e5 /
2. Ng1-f3 /\ Nb8-c6 /
3. Bf1-c4 Bf8-c5 /
4. Nf3-g5 /\ d7-d5 /
5. e4xd5 Nc6-a5 /
6. Bc4-b5+ c7-c6 /
7.
8.
9.
Extended tick and triangle method
Safe move/-
Safe enough move
//-
Safe threat
/ /\
Safe enough threat
// /\
Unsafe move
x-
Unsafe threat
x /\
Use for both your moves and your opponent's moves.
Perfect Play Score Sheet
Move Captures Opponent's Safety My threats My move Check
Threats
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