Chess Hints and Tips

On this page we plan to post general chess tactics, hints, and tips. Check back often for more information.

General Guidelines

Do Not move pawns in front of Castled King

Pawns cannot go backwards so every time a pawn moves, weak squares appear. An alert opponent will notice those squares and get his pieces trained on them. You don't want to invite an attack on your King do you?

When ahead in material, trade pieces, not pawns

If you keep trading pawns while ahead you may end up with only a minor piece advantage and no pawns to promote and could end up drawing with insufficient material to mate.

When behind in material, trade pawns, not pieces

Reverse of above. Want to reduce chance of opponent promoting a pawn by taking them off the board. Hopefully, you will end up with a better position and pull out a draw or win.

Pawn structure -- Passed Pawns must be pushed

Every step it takes brings it closer to promotion and a huge increase in power. If the passed pawn is on your side it must be protected or be lost. If your opponent has a passed pawn you must prevent it from promoting or plan on losing.

Fewer pawn islands means a healthier position

Pawn islands are groups of pawns that are connected to each other in some way and have the ability to defend each other. Being able to defend each other makes them healthy. If pawns do not require piece support for protection, the pieces are free to go off and work other areas of the board without worrying about defending lowly stray pawns.

Critical Principle!

A critical principle to understand is this: As pawns move forward, the unprotected squares that they leave behind become potential outposts for the enemy army. Once a pawn moves forward it cannot defend the squares behind it. Look for opponent's weak squares to place your pieces and you will find ways to win your game!

Basic Chess Principles

Principle #1 If you control more than half of the squares on the board than you have an advantage. In Chess, having control over squares can change very quickly during a game. One move can make a huge difference in who is in control. You need to look into the future as to how secure your control is and learn to make the moves to help you keep control to win your positions and games.

Principle #2 A Knight on the Rim is Dim or perhaps a better way of saying it is "Pieces with few squares in their sights are not very useful." This principle may not only refer to Knights, but also Bishops blocked by their own colored Pawns and Rooks stuck in corners by their own pieces and unable to get into the game.

Principle #3. Pawns should be placed on opposite color of bishops. If you have a black bishop and all of your pawns are on black then the bishop won’t be able to travel well and you have created a Tall Pawn Bishop; it can’t cross the line of pawns on black and the board is blocked. Also, since Pawns and Bishops attack on diagonal then if they are on opposite colors you will be attacking more squares. This is how teamwork of your pieces helps you win. Work your pieces together and success will come your way.

(ideas adapted from “The Tao of Chess” by Chess Master Peter Kurzdorfer)

Opening Principles

Control the CENTER – This is where your pieces have the most power and if you control the center your opponent will not be able to put his pieces there.

Open the game with a center pawn. There are other options, but this gives you a very good start.

Develop your Knights before your Bishops. Knights can attack center in more places and protect pawns at the same time; so Knights are a better choice.

Don't move your Queen too soon in the opening. (Unless necessary, and sometimes it is).

Castle early in order to protect your King and get Rooks in play.

Develop your Rooks to central or open files. They can’t jump, so find the place they will be able to attack in the future.

Look to develop an attack after you have fully mobilized your pieces. (More power in the team if all players are involved).

Capture towards the center.

Be sure to ask yourself, "What will happen if I move a piece" and look to see what your opponent can do with your move.

Don't move the same piece twice in the opening if you can help it. The key is “if you can help it." If a piece is attacked then you may have to move to protect it or lose it. The reason for the principle is that any time you move a piece a second or third time represents a wasted opportunity to bring out a different piece into the action and get your Rooks connected (Bishops and Knights out in play, King Castled with Queen up to Rank 2 for White or Rank 7 for Black).

These opening principles, taken as a whole, all address planning and coordination. You aim to control the center, mobilize and then, with coordinated motion, you go for the thrust and win.

(ideas adapted from Chess Master 10)

Don't Move your Pawns in front of your Castled King

Pawns cannot move backwards so look at the position of the board before moving your pawns out in front of your King. The pawns advance creates space for the enemy to attack and usually win. Look at the attacks that are possible to your pawns and make sure you have enough pieces to defend the attacks. Also, when looking to attack, look for these weaknesses and exploit them. Even sacrificing extra attacking pieces like a Bishop may be in order to open up files in front of the King and following up with the Mate.