Basic Formulas, Wonders of Defense, and King Safety
All the positions this week are in "test" format. However, though finding the right answer is nice, what I really want is for everyone to read the copious prose that I've added. Thus, after you try your hand at the solution, PLEASE click on "Move List" (or "Solution" and then "Move List") so you can actually read the prose and learn something. Remember: a bunch of moves won't teach you much, but the added instructive prose will.
THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE
BASIC FORMULAS REALLY WORK!
KING SAFETY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!
~ Lessons From These Examples ~
* Sometimes one has no choice but to curl up into a defensive cocoon, but often the best defense is to the grab the initiative. Never stop trying to make use of the plusses in your position. In our first example, Black failed to notice the holes on e4 and g3, which would have made his moves easy to find and powerful.
* Often the right plan is found by simply verbalizing the plusses and minuses of the position (for both sides), and then insisting you find a way to make use of these things.
* When you have a lead in development and the enemy King is still uncastled, do everything you can to rip open the center and rend him limb from limb!
* If both players are low on time, or if the game is a complex one (the material imbalance made the last game a tough one), in general the side with the safest King will rule the day.
HOW TO PRESENT A GAME FOR CONSIDERATION
If you want me to look over your game, send it to askjeremy@chess.com
I need your name (real or chess.com handle), your OPPONENT’S name (real or chess.com handle), both player's ratings, where the game was played, and date. If you don’t give me this information, I won’t use your game! BTW: I’ve noticed that many people are reluctant to give me their opponent’s name. This is very strange! Showing the names of both players is the way chess games are presented in databases, books, magazines… everywhere! Permission from the opponent isn’t necessary. If permission was necessary, everyone who ever lost a game wouldn’t allow their name to be on it!
