Just out of curiosity, what do you personally do when you don't know what to do? That is, when you find yourself in a position that looks pretty even, pretty static, not much seems to be happening and nothing terribly obvious is suggesting itself, you have no ideas clearly in mind.

If you need an example, here's one from one of my recent games. (Actually, it's an ongoing game, although we've passed this point; this is after black's ninth move and we're now on move 16. So please don't analyze it too far.) In this position, I found myself rather stuck, although perhaps a better player than I would see something I missed:

 I eventually settled on 10. Qd2 and after 10. ... 0-0 11. Rae1 Re8 12. Re2 was pretty satisfied with how things were going. But it took me awhile to decide on Qd2. Nothing, including that move, seemed terribly promising or interesting at that point. So I'm curious what, if anything, goes through your mind when looking at the above position.

Thanks!

 --Dale

Reb,

Good advice, thanks. (That's the sort of thing I kind of know but never seem to think about in the heat of battle.) I actually had looked at all 3 of the moves you mentioned, but for reasons I don't recall now I settled on Qd2. I think it was simply to complete development and connect my rooks. Maybe one of the others would have been more dynamic.

Peter,

 Thanks. Same general advice twice in a row. I'll have to drum it into my head. ;-) Rfe1 did follow Qd2-Rae1-Re2, with results that look good so far. Just out of curiosity, in this position what makes the rook on f1 the worst placed, as opposed to the queen or the rook on a1? I have to admit, it doesn't look that bad to me at first glance. Often the castled rook doesn't go anywhere for a little while, no?

--Dale 

Hi, Dale:

I have followed some of your matches as the rematch you had with FC Pannginen and I admired you the way you played. What a match to enjoy! Congratulations and let me tell you you are one of the best players I have known.

Hernando

the rook on f1 has only one square to move to. On e1 it can cover the e file and pins the bishop (temporarily)