ChessCafe.com
Novice Nook by Dan Heisman
Quote of the Month: “In a chess fight, it is best to eliminate your opponent’s
advantages in order to eradicate his counterplay.”
What do the following twelve criteria have in common?
1. When you are winning, keep the position simple.
2. If you are going to win material, it is usually better to win a pawn than to
win the exchange for a pawn; similarly, it is better to win a piece than to win a
queen for two pieces.
3. When you are winning an endgame, you should generally avoid pawn
promotion races, unless you are 100% positive you will win.
4. If you win a pawn (not “accept a gambit”!) before either side has castled, it
is usually better to castle on the same side as your opponent. If you lose
material in the opening, try to castle on the opposite side.
5. If you are ahead a pawn in the endgame, with pawns on both sides of the
board; in general, it is better to move your king to the same side as your
opponent’s king.
6. If you are ahead an exchange in the endgame, it is better to have a position
where no pawns are passed, than it is to have a position where most or all are
passed pawns.
7. If you are way ahead in material, you can often “sacrifice” material to
simplify. For example, if you have a queen and rook for just a rook, it is
usually a good idea to exchange your queen for your opponent’s rook.
8. If you can win a pawn in a bad position, where the material is even, then
take the pawn, even when winning that pawn costs you some time.
9. When you are winning, general symmetry (a balance in the position) is
better than asymmetry.
10. If the game is even, and you want to win, create asymmetry and
imbalance.
11. As an answer to 1.e4, the Sicilian Defense is more popular among
grandmasters, especially those playing for a win.
12. If you play a stronger player, you have more chances if you play someone
that does some things better than you and some things worse, rather than
someone that does everything at least as well, and some things better.
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman64.pdf
«I am 11 and I have everything ahead of me»Seychelles
ELI LOUISE,11 years old
I play chess since 2008. I started playing in chess tournaments from the beginning of 2010. It is my first Chess Olympiad and it is unforgettable. I am grateful to my sister for the fact that once she came up to me and proposed to join the chess club.
I do not have any titles so far but I want to have it as soon as possible. I know that I have everything ahead of me because I am only 11 years old.
During the coming weekend I am planning to do some sightseeing of Khanty-Mansiysk. I have never been in the northern part of Russia and I am very interested the way people live here.
I do not have any titles so far but I want to have it as soon as possible. I know that I have everything ahead of me because I am only 11 years old.
During the coming weekend I am planning to do some sightseeing of Khanty-Mansiysk. I have never been in the northern part of Russia and I am very interested the way people live here.
«You can visit various cities when you play chess»Seychelles
Mein Arnold, 11 years old
I was taught how to play chess in our school. We have a chess club where I was brought by my mother at the age of 6. I like chess because it is an intellectual game. On the other hand, if you perform well, you have a chance to visit different cities and countries. If not for chess, I would have never visited Khanty-Mansiysk that is a very beautiful city. I also like your traditional food here.
