64 Chess Commandments
A Summary of Hints, Pointers and Precepts from the
ABCs of Chess by Bruce Pandolfini
[Link] aggressive, but play soundly. Don't take unnecessary chances.
[Link] sure every move has a purpose.
[Link] you know your opponent's style, take advantage of it. But, in the final analysis,
play the board, not the player.
[Link]'t ignore your opponent's moves.
[Link]'t give needless checks. Check only when it makes sense.
[Link] all threats. Try to do so by improving your position and/or posing a counter-
threat.
[Link] for the initiative. If you already have it, maintain it. If you don't have it, seize
it.
[Link] exchanging, try to get at least as much as you give up.
[Link] with the man of least value, unless there is a definite reason for doing
otherwise.
[Link] your losses. If you must lose material, lose as little as possible.
[Link] you blunder, don't give up fighting. After getting the advantage, your opponent
may relax and let you escape.
[Link] play a risky move, hoping your opponent will overlook your threat, unless
you have a losing position. In that case, you have nothing to lose.
[Link] on your own powers. If you can't see the point of your opponent's move,
assume there isn't any.
[Link]'t sacrifice without good reason.
[Link] you can't determine whether to accept or decline a sacrifice, accept it.
[Link] in number. Don't rely on just one or two pieces.
[Link] for double attacks.
[Link] for the center: guard it, occupy it, influence it.
[Link] for the center with pawns.
[Link]'t make careless pawn moves. In the opening, move as few pawns as necessary
to complete your development.
[Link] feasible, move both center pawns two squares each.
[Link] the opening, move only center pawns. Unless the opening system or situation
requires otherwise.
[Link] to develop your Bishops before blocking them in by moving a center pawn just
one square.
[Link] your pieces quickly, preferably toward the center (especially Knights,
which often are "grim on the rim").
[Link] purposefully, and not just for development's sake.
[Link]'t waste time or moves. Try to develop a new piece on each turn. Don't move a
piece twice in the opening without good reason.
[Link] to develop with threats, but don't threaten pointlessly.
[Link] minor pieces early. King-side pieces should usually be developed sooner
than Queen-side ones, and Knights before Bishops.
[Link] during exchanges.
[Link] exploit an advantage in development, attack.
[Link] the opening, don't remove your Queen from play to "win" a pawn.
[Link]'t bring out the Queen too early, unless the natural course of play requires it.
[Link] to give as much scope to your pieces as possible.
[Link] open lines.
[Link] Rooks to open files, or to files likely to open.
[Link] early.
[Link] to prevent your opponent's King from castling. Keep it trapped in the center,
especially in open games.
[Link] to pin your opponent's pieces. Avoid pins against your own pieces.
[Link]'t capture pinned pieces until you can benefit from doing so. If possible, try to
attack them again, especially with pawns.
[Link] castling, don't move the pawns in front of your King without specific reason.
[Link] attack the King, pick a target square around it.
[Link] applicable, pick target squares on the color of your unopposed Bishop.
(Bishops control squares of only one color. If you have a Bishop that controls dark
squares and your opponent has exchanged his corresponding Bishop, your dark-
squared Bishop is "unopposed" on those squares.)
[Link] for tactics especially on squares of the color controlled by your unopposed
bishop.
[Link] to avoid early exchanges of Bishops for Knights.
[Link] your attacking pieces by building batteries (two or more pieces of like
power attacking along the same line). Put queen and Rook(s) on the same file or rank,
and Queen and Bishop on the same diagonal.
[Link] batteries with the less valuable men up front, unless tactics require
otherwise.
[Link] the efficiency of your moves. Play flexibly.
[Link] strengthen control of a file, double your major pieces (Rooks and/or Queen) on
it.
[Link] whether you have an open or closed game, and play accordingly.
[Link] play to retain you Bishops in open games, and sometimes Knights in
closed games.
[Link] improve the scope of your Bishop, place your pawns on squares opposite in
color to it.
[Link] your weaknesses on the color opposite to that of your opponent's strongest
Bishop.
[Link] when ahead in material or when under attack, unless you have a sound
reason for doing otherwise. Avoid trades when behind in material or when attacking.
[Link] a plan and stay with it. Change it only if you should or must.
[Link] gain space, you usually have to sacrifice time.
[Link] cramped, free your game by exchanging material.
[Link] bad minor pieces for good ones.
[Link] the position is unsettled, disguise your plans: make noncommittal moves.
[Link] gain space or open lines, advance pawns.
[Link] the center is blocked, don't automatically castle.
[Link] behind in development, keep the game closed.
[Link] to accumulate small advantages.
[Link] to dominate the seventh rank, especially with Rooks.
[Link] the analytic method. When you don't know what to do, first evaluated the
position (as best you can), then ask pertinent questions about your analysis.
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