The Rules of Chess
There are plenty of chess rules for example:
- Control the center of the board.
- When ahead in material, force exchanges.
- Secure your King early.
- Try to keep your pawn structure intact.
- When capturing with pawns, try to push your pawns to the center.
- Etc...
Immediately, a question arises: which rule should I apply first? To answer your question, I must emphasize the importance of employing the chess thinking system. We briefly discussed it during the time management section. Just as you prioritize tasks, you can also prioritize rules. For instance, it's crucial to control the center before initiating an attack.
Following this, another question may arise: Why do many strong players frequently disregard the basic rules? In this lesson, I aim to unveil two exceptionally significant concepts that can significantly advance your chess skills. These concepts are:
- 80-20
- The rules are opposite
80-20
Being familiar with a chess rule doesn't automatically make you a strong player, but it certainly can enhance your performance and overall strength. You can successfully apply chess rules approximately 8 times out of 10. For instance, maintaining a sound pawn structure is generally advisable, but there are situations where you may choose to double your pawns to open up lines for an attack.
Another well-known rule is not to move the same piece twice in the opening. However, there are exceptions to this rule, as seen in the famous transposition from the Taimanov to the Sveshnikov Sicilian. You can find this example in the video lesson.
The rules are opposite
One well-known rule of thumb is to protect your king, typically achieved through castling, correct? However, you may have also come across another rule that suggests activating your king in the endgame. Can you see the potential conflict between these two rules?
It took me many years to grasp this concept: the rules for the middlegame are often contradictory to those of the endgame! In the middlegame, protecting your king is crucial because the risk of getting checkmated is significantly higher. On the other hand, in the endgame, when queens are usually off the board, the king should become an active piece. It can assist other pieces or support friendly pawns.
Yet another rule advises capturing toward the center. This rule makes sense in the middlegame, where the center is vital. However, in the endgame, it's often preferable to capture toward the flank when a pawn exchange is possible. This is because outside-passed pawns, located on the edge of the board, are often more potent than central pawns. During the endgame, the enemy king may struggle to stop them.
How to Build Up Your Chess?
If you want to enhance your chess skills and gain a deeper understanding of the game, it's essential to receive instruction on tactical motifs, visualization, traps, and common errors. These elements are covered comprehensively in the course titled "How To Stop Blunders And Increase Your Chess Rating." Additionally, the course includes an exploration of basic endgame techniques. Lastly, you will acquire knowledge of various mating motifs, invaluable tools that will enable you to launch successful attacks as you progress in your chess journey. You are welcome to take the course curriculum by clicking here.
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