Top 10

#1 Your opponent's move

It’s important to pay attention to what your opponent is trying to do each turn.

After each move by your opponent ask yourself: What is my opponent trying to do?

When your opponent moves a piece that pieces may no longer be defending the pieces or squares it used to defend.

After each move by your opponent ask yourself: What did my opponent's last move just weaken?

#2 Make sure all your pieces are safe

You want to watch out for any checks, hanging pieces, captures or threats that the opponent might make.

#3 Look for forcing move (discovered attack, pins, skewers, forks, x ray, sacrifice, deflection)

You want to look at ALL forcing moves even the bad ones this will force you look at and see the entire board.

#4 If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.

#5 If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.

#6 Look for quiet moves aimed at improving my position and or weakening/cramping my opponents.

#7 Where an exchange of pieces is offered or possible, ask yourself who benefits from the exchange? Which piece is more active?

#8 Create strong squares that my pieces can exert pressure from and from where they cannot be easily chased away. Create protected outposts in my opponents camp.

#9 Improve my pawn structure with the idea of creating the conditions of the previous goals and/or the (future) creation of a passed pawn.

#10 Keep in my mind that middle games can suddenly become endgames.

Were this to happen now, would it be decisive? If it would, and in my favour, work toward exchanging toward the endgame.

If it wouldn't, avoid those types of exchanges and try to improve my endgame prospects

Stolper Verein

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