chess | JambuJoseph

THE GAME OF CHESS

After reading “Little Book of Chess Tips” by Peter French i sought my own interpretation of the same and how the rules can apply in our day to day lives. Enjoy………………………….

Pay close attention to every move your opponent makes – figure out the reason behind the step in life.
When you see a good move, wait – look for a better one! – try to find the best move you can in every single position.
Always have a plan in mind – what are you trying to achieve in a few years time.
Remember value according to the type of position – strike where it hurts the most by optimising chances.
Avoid repeating mistakes – analyse your games to understand better your opponent’s plans.
Time is a vital element in chess – establish yourself in the strongest possible way using as few moves as possible.
Control of the centre – everything flows from the heart, guard it with all your might.
Never compromise or neglect your king – stick to what is most important and never derail.
Know when to swap – difference between hoarding and spending relies on both timing and wisdom
Weaken your opponents pawn formation – don’t miss an opportunity of tackling your problems and shuttering it’s structure.
Consider the endgame – envision the end from the beginning.
Concentrate all the time – remain frosty till victory is established at the very end of the game.
If you are losing in the endgame, set stalemate traps – restrict your opponent as much as possible so as to increase chances of your victory.
Be much more alert to your own attacking possibilities – be readier to defend against future threats or even to remove them completely.
Relieve the pin/tie as soon as possible – be aware of any issues that may be tying you down as they narrow down your options to succeed.
Moving to discover a threat from another piece – ensure you consider every potential move your opponent can make.
All games are eventually decided by tactics – the most advantageous weapon that you can carry into a fight is tact.
Always be on the lookout – search for indicators/red flags that may reduce your chances of winning or increase your opponents chances of losing.
Reasons for making a sacrifice – be mindful in order to maximise your gains and limit your opponents options.
Defend with the weakest available piece – wherever possible, use pawns to defend as much as possible.
The knight is the weakest defensive piece – your game is as strong as your weakest link.
Exploit overloaded pieces – read into your opponents game and take advantage of any mishaps.
Don’t spend all your practice time learning opening theory – in any case, a thorough grasp of strategy and tactics is a far greater asset in the opening than mere book knowledge.
When you are not sure of the best plan – improve the position of your worst placed piece.
Balance pawn moves – thereby creating your opponents weakness that will be exploited later in the game.
If your king is under attack – sometimes the best defence is to retreat and evaluate yourself, plan, strategize and come back with a better tactic.
Never begin with insufficient material – the intensity of an attack should correlate with the resources available to execute the same.
If your king is castled behind unmoved pawns – don’t put all your eggs in one basket in regards to defence.
Look for the Greek gift sacrifice – sometimes death of a team member is necessary for the sake of the team’s survival.
Look for opportunities – at times it may need you to make a calculated sacrificial tactical move that can win immediately.
Never attack unless and until – only commence aggression when you have a tangible positional advantage.
Do not attack on the flank unless – the centre should be strong, impenetrable and infallible.
Spend time studying endgames – understanding the endgame makes the player more likely to win when the opportunity presents itself.
Do not underestimate the king in the end game – do not hesitate to use your best resources at your disposal at the time when they can be fully optimised.
The knight should stay as close to the king as possible – keep your priorities in life straight.
Aim to exchange so that when the endgame is reached it is your opponent not you, who has the pawn – foresight is key.
If you are defending the king against the king and pawn – strategy and tact is vital to draw the end game.
When defending with a rook against pawns – sometimes you have to lose some to get some.
To build batteries on files or diagonals – working together will yield a stronger result than the sum of its parts.
Consider playing a system – the more things change, they more they stay the same.
If winning beware of exchange into an opposite coloured bishop endgame – stay on your toes until the last victory whistle.
Consider playing your opponent, not the board – assess as far as you can what type of problem you have and seek to frustrate it by all means necessary.
Never neglect your control of the clock – it is essential to invest you time wisely, and conserve it for when you really need it.
Don’t give checks for the sake of it – every resource should be used frugally in a nifty fashion.
Do chess puzzles – always look for ways to expound your critical thinking ability.
Use a good chess computer program – constantly seek to challenge yourself in order to grow.
Do not fall into the habit – seek virtues rather than vices in all your deeds.
Do not forget to look for traps – nothing is for free, always question and be suspicious.
Play your best game all the time – let your lifestyle reflect your *A* game in all your endeavours.
Remember that chess is a game – be generous to your opponent when you win, and never, ever be a bad loser. Play to win, play aggressively by all means, but treat your opponent with respect!