At this part of my site you will find ideas that apply for MOST chess games! Please remember that these ARE GENERALIZATIONS and do NOT apply to ALL chess games! Always be sure to analyze the position of the board BEFORE using these ideas. Many of these ideas overlap with those at my tips page and reading both pages may strengthen your knowledge of these concepts. With that said........here are the ideas you may wish to consider using in most of your chess games. 1. Until you are beyond the beginner stage of chess it is best to make your first move with either the pawn in front of the king or queen two spaces. 2. In the beginning of the game try to control the center squares. This is usually easiest with pawns and knights. 3. Castle early in the game, but not necessarily as soon as you can. Many players set up traps so that castleing puts you into a position for easy checkmate, or another type of situation that may seriously impair your game. 4. Do not make a capture just because you can make that capture. Unlike in checkers, chess does not require that you capture every peice you are offered. 5. Play agressivly and use pieces IN COMBINATIONS to attack. I cannot emphasize enough that you need more than one piece in order to make serious dents in your opponent's position!
THESE ARE GENERALIZATIONS! They are useful often......but NOT in every game! I have made the mistake of using this in inappropriate situations and lost the game!