My advice

"I’m the one to do you good, Out of sleep, out of food Only thinking nights and days, How to make the best chess aids...*"

• in the original version, the fox thought about helping animals.... Jan Wiktor Lesman (Jan Brzechwa) “The Mischiefs of Vitalis the Fox”

A Practical Guide A few practical guidelines can facilitate the decision-making process, but without doubt they only present a certain problem in simple terms. Chess, however, is a highly complicated game and each general rule contains a lot of exceptions. It is our task to spot the moment in which one of these exceptions occurs.

Look for weaknesses!

When driving, drivers use traffic signs as a form of guidance. For chess players, such traffic signs are weaknesses. Squares in the centre and in one’s own camp, which are not defended by pawns, can easily become weak. Avoid exchanging pieces which defend these squares. If your opponent has a weakened complex of squares of a given colour, try to exchange the Bishops that control these squares. Isolated pawns or especially doubled isolated pawns become a long-term target for enemy pieces. The square in front of an isolated pawn is often weak and can become a perfect outpost for the opponent’s piece. Do not weaken the pawn structure unless doing so will bring you tangible benefits. Remember that pawns do not move backwards! Pawns can also be potential tactical weaknesses, especially when the difference between the number of attackers and defenders of a given target is equal to or greater than zero. In such case, each additional and unexpected attack of the opponent, especially double attack, may result in our material losses. Pieces can also be tactical as pieces are easier to move around than pawns, they are considered to be more strategical than tactical weaknesses. More often they are considered to be strategic weaknesses when their acti- vity is limited by our own or our opponent’s pawns. Do not let that happen!

You should consider your moves in the following order:

a) forcing moves
a1) checks
a2) captures
a3) attacking weaknesses
b) non-forcing moves

When you have a space disadvantage, try to exchange pieces. This will increase your chances of finding a good spot for each of your chessmen.
When you have a space advantage, try not to exchange pieces.
Play on the side of the board where you have a space advantage.
If you have a lead in development, open up the position.
The enemy King can easily find himself in trouble.
The opening of a position is also good when you have the Bishops and your opponent has the Knights.
When you are the side with the Bishops, try to establish an asymmetrical pawn structure.
Do not leave your King without any defending pieces. Also, make sure that the King has an escape square, where he could take refuge in case of a check along the back rank.

( "Chess Master's Strategy" - Witalis Sapis - Sawit 2020)
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