* Combinations do not usually come out of nowhere – they are based on a superiority in position, and you can tell when a combination is likely to be around: 1. Exposed or “stalemated” Kings are always vulnerable 2. Undefended or ‘hanging’ pieces aften lead to trouble. 3. Pieces which are defended only as often as they are attacked can also lead to trouble, because their defenders are at least partly immobilised..
o Don’t stop looking for your own opportunities. Many games have been lost that could have been drawn or even won (don’t I know it!). But also, people resign with a saving move available on the board – they were just going through the motions until resigning, instead of planning their comeback.
3. If you are one or two pawns ahead, exchange pieces but not pawns.
o If your best hope is for your opponent to fall into a trap, then you can play for a swindle, but only when you know you are losing. Otherwise, play good moves, not trappy ones.
* Create a plan right away or you may drift. There is always something to do, e.g. improve the position of your worst piece. Appraise the position honestly. Avoid vagueness in assessment – don’t say “maybe I’ll get an attack on the Queen’s-side”, but “in three moves I can get my Knight to c5 and my rook to b1 to attack b7 – can my opponent defend in that time, or create a distraction?”
* Everyone is vulnerable. Play without fear. Play to win from the first move against every opponent. That doesn’t mean, attack like a mad thing from move 1, but each move should be played accurately and seriously.
8. The easiest endings to draw are those with opposite coloured bishops.
Quiet positions demand patience. They are not to be abandoned as a draw or played carelessly – you must learn to concentrate and outplay your opponent in these positions as well as when it’s very tactical.
But don’t dither – decide what your basic choices are at the start – narrow it down to the two or three most likely – and decide. [If you know which plan you are following the moves can come fairly easily.] If you get it down to two moves which look equally good, find some other way of deciding between them (most centralising, least forcing for your opponent…). [You know the story of Buridan’s ass, which died of starvation between two equal-sized piles of hay because it never could choose which one to start on].
(Fine) 10. Do not sacrifice without a clear and adequate reason, eg.:
* it secures a tangible advantage in development
* it deflects the opponent’s queen
* it prevents the opponent from castling
* it enables a strong attack to be developed
