General

Question 1

Two pawns on the 4th rank can act as a screen to move pieces around.

Question 2

Always try to start an attack on the side of the board where you have more space.

Question 3

Attack the opponent in the most vulnerable place for him.

Question 4

You must study an opening system; middlegame plans are easier to formulate when you have a thorough grasp of why each opening move was played.

Question 5

Winning a game of chess is a matter of accumulating advantages.

Question 6

Do not handicap your thinking by conjuring up threats that cannot be made.

Question 7

Anticipate trouble before it happens.

Question 8

Avoid good-looking moves that do nothing for your position.

Question 9

A Rook lift is generally preferred over a pawn storm if both players are castled on the same side of the board.

Question 10

Rooks, to be strong, must have a turning point on the file.

Question 11

Your King is only as weak as your opponent’s ability to attack it.

Question 12

Fight back against the pawn center; do not let it advance unopposed.

Question 13

Occupy the square in front of the isolated pawn; it is an excellent outpost.

Question 14

When playing with an isolated pawn, advance it beyond the fourth rank and create piece play on the adjacent file.

Question 15

Avoid trades that increase the activity of your opponent’s pieces.

Question 16

Do not send the queen into enemy territory without support. It can get trapped, or lose time getting out.

Question 17

Before undertaking active operations, improve the position of badly placed pieces.

Question 18

Connect your rooks; they work best together.

Question 19

Do not hold onto pawns at all costs; it is better to let one go to secure active play.

Question 20

When in a cramped position, try to trade off pieces to ease the congestion.

Question 21

Before advancing a pawn, consider its long-term consequences. Does it justify losing control of critical squares.

Question 22

Avoid giving yourself a backward pawn on a file your opponent controls.

Question 23

Simplification does not guarantee equality.

Question 24

An open file is a highway into enemy territory. When there is only one open file on the board, the player who controls it is in command of the game.

Question 25

The player who controls the only open file must not allow the opponent to create an open file of his own.

Question 26

After you establish control of a file, find the point of invasion. The most effective points are on the seventh or eight ranks.