How many times have a player ask "How can I improve in chess? What books do you recommend?" Why do keep losing chess to stronger players? What is the best opening for white/ black? Which piece is stronger the knight or bishop?" I can go on and on with different questions, however let's dig a little deeper about understand this complicated ART. This may seem hard from the start, that why I need everyone participation to uncovering the beauty or mastery of this art. So let's start EVERYONE as beginners again on are road to becoming  a Grand Master. Although Chess is divided into three fazes, The Opening, Middle game and End game. Little than some players may know or understand there  elements in chess which all fazes of the art and principle are form. What are they? Well The most important elements are called the 4 element of chess which are Space, Time , Force, Pawn Structure

1. Space If you control more than half of the squares on the board then you have an advantage. That like anything else depends on the position!
2. Time in the opening you what to develop your pieces(army) as quickly as possible and then find the best squares for them to occupy. Same here for the end game. Time is very valuable. Many times I have won and lost game because I didn't have time to manuver my pieces to stop a Mate or a pawn promotion! In some cases I had a disavantage in space too. 
3. Force Count (Material) If your down in material and if your opponent knows a thing or two you can about hang it up right. Wrong! I will agree that It's very likely to lose in the end game down material, however if you have a huge advantage in time and space that alone can compensate the material you are down. What difference does it make being up material if you can't utilize it.
4. Pawn Structure I had read somewhere that pawns are the soul of Chess or something like that. Pawn structure are important period! IMOP especially in the end game when you're up a pawn. It can determine how to play out the endgame. You look to create weak pawn structure for your opponent to seige an advantage in the end game. For example: Double pawn are a weakness in that they are immobile. Isolated pawns are hard to defend, so they becaome easy targets. Backward pawns & isolated pawns have no pawn support. The more pawn islands you have the weaker you position get, because they aren't connect and  don't have the abilty to defend each other. Finally, pawns once move can't move backward which can leave holes in your position.

Thanks for this information. Things I need to work on are endgame technique and not hanging material. I Hope to find more useful information in the amateur chess group.

Nicely put. I have not had time to read a lot of posts lately due to being in the studio and having a hectic recording schedule. I am very pleased that I was able to discover this well written piece regarding information we can all use. Thanks again. Very good point regarding the cotrol of space!

Thanks for your time and input.

Not to be rude but when are you going to post getting better at chess part 2 ?

lol. Yeah I got away from getting around to post Part 2. I will post Part 2 before the end of this month. Sorry for the long delay. I have been working on many different project.

Honestly this sounds awfully like Yasser Serawins Play winning chess series already.

 Getting Better At Chess 1 1/2: 

 I suggest novice chess players play the Universal Opening with both the White and Black pieces.  This should be played at all times until the novice has learned more about chess, because it frees both bishops and allows castling early.  No need to know much opening theory.

White:  d3, g3, Bg2

Black:  d6, g6, Bg7

As an Addendum:  White:  c4, d3, g3, Bg2 would be a bit better (advancing the c pawn two squares first).

   Generally these moves lead to these basic openings: the Pirc Defense, the King's Indian Defense, the Modern Defense and the Reti System.

I just reread this post and it still is something we all should keep in mind.

Very good, the insight regarding pawn structure is good reading as well.

I just got done with a chess class. My teacher gave me alot of the same advice. It is all good advice-it improved my game alot. The most complicated thing about chess to me is protecting your king without trapping it. Is there a special tactic that is best for keeping your king safe? Besides the traditional castling?