Opening Principles:
- Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5
- Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key
- Castle
- Connect your rooks
Tactics...tactics...tactics...
The objective of development is about improving the value of your pieces by increasing the importance of their roles. Well-developed pieces have more fire-power than undeveloped pieces and they do more in helping you gain control.
Now we will look at 5 practical things you can do to help you achieve your development objective.
They are:
- Give priority to your least active pieces.
- Which piece needs to be developed (which piece is the least active)
- Where should it go (where can its role be maximized)
- Exchange your least active pieces for your opponent’s active pieces.
- Restrict the development of your opponent’s pieces.
- Neutralize your opponent’s best piece.
- Secure strong squares for your pieces.
Don’t help your opponent develop.
There are 2 common mistakes whereby you will simply be helping your opponent to develop:
- Making a weak threat that can easily be blocked
- Making an exchange that helps your opponent to develop a piece
Pre Move Checklist:
- Make sure all your pieces are safe.
- Look for forcing moves: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) as this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
- If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
- 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.
- After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"
Middlegame Planning:
- Expand your position:
- Gain more space.
- Improve the position of your pieces.
- Decide on what side of the board to play.
- Queenside: a-c files.
- Center: d-e files.
- Kingside: f-h files.
Compare, space, material, and weakness(es)
Play where you have the advantage.
- DO NOT HURRY. Regroup your pieces, and be patient.
I have just reached 1000 elo and was wondering that is it really necessary to study the different openings, taps, endgames, and other strategies? I mean yeah I get that if I want to improve I need to learn and master the game and the best way is to study.
But like in what level or elo ranking does this apply? When should I really start learning the in-depth game analysis and not just play by my own.
(P.S. I just play chess for fun and to pass time. Nothing competitive though, I just hate losing hehe)