Balance Out Your Chess (Part 2: Middlegame Tactics & Improve the Worst Piece

For part 1 of this series please visit: 

http://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/balance-out-your-chess

For help with the tactics please visit: 

http://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/critical-squares-revisited

Middle Game Tactics (Beginner-Intermediate)

Improve the Worst Piece

This strategy came as a revelation for me (and some of my students as well). I was fairly good at finding tactics in the position (look for weakened King defenses or critical squares), but when there were no tactical solutions, I had no clue what to play. Many times the best way to play is to "improve your worst piece". Try out this strategy in the puzzles below.