chess.com rules of thumb

thanks to the high rated players for making this a success

1. a bishop is better than a knight in the end game if the pawns are on both sides of the board

please add a rule and lets see how many we can get.

2. a centralized king is a advantage when the queens come off the board.

please add  a rule and lets see how many we can get.

3. oppisite color bishops have a tendency to draw in the end game.

please add a rule and lets see how many we can get.

When commenting in the Chess.com forums, one must never go off topic.

I like general tips like this for players starting out.  I always wished I had a list.

Two squares away diagonally from a knight is the safest square in it's immediate proximity.  It will take a minimum of 3 knight moves to attack such a square.  In addition, on an open board a bishop or queen 3 squares away horizontally or vertically will inhibit the knight's movement (half of it's available squares).

Many players know this much, but you can carry this information into the endgame as well.  In knight endgames many times it's annoying to the knight when the enemy king is placed either way. Both the two squares diagonally and the 3 squares vertically/horizontally is often an optimal placement to both keep your king safe from checks, and inhibit a knight from entering that area.

Although knight endgames are highly specific and require a lot of calculation, I found this was a nice tip to be aware of.

tip number five was great could you add a diagram.

After you win a game, type "gg", hit 'enter', then post the reply in the forums.

Before posting in the forums, look up the words "idiot", and "retard" in the dictionary.

as pieces control more squares their realitive power increases.

In order to keep the forums lively, never disclose to other members when you're joking.

don't remember who I got this from (here in chess.com)

01.  Develop your pieces quickly.
02.  Control the center.
03.  Try to put your pieces on squares that give them maximum space.
04.  Try to develop your knights towards the center.
05.  A knight on the rim is dim.
06.  Don't take unnecessary chances.
07.  Play aggressive.
08.  Calculate forced moves first.
09.  Always ask yourself, "Can he put me in check or win a piece?"
10.  Have a plan.  Every move should have a purpose.
11.  Assume your opponent's move is his best move.
12.  Ask yourself, "why did he move there?" after each opponent move.
13.  Play for the initiative and contolling the board.
14.  If you must lose a piece, get something for it if you can.
15.  When behind, exchange pawns.  When ahead, exchange pieces.
16.  If you are losing, don't give up fighting.  Look for counterplay.
17.  Don't play unsound moves unless you are losing badly.
18.  Don't sacrifice a piece without good reason.
19.  If you are in doubt of an opponent's sacrifice, accept it.
20.  Attack with more that just one or two pieces.
21.  Do not make careless pawn moves.  They cannot move back.
22.  Do not block in your bishops.
23.  Bishops of opposite colors have the greatest chance of drawing.
24.  Try not to move the same piece twice or more times in a row.
25.  Exchange pieces if it helps your development.
26.  Don't bring your queen out early.
27.  Castle soon to protect your king and develop your rook.
28.  Develop rooks to open files.
29.  Put rooks behind passed pawns.
30.  Study rook endgames.  They are the most common and most complicated.
31.  Don't let your king get caught in the center.
32.  Don't castle if it brings your king into greater danger from attack.
33.  After castling, keep a good pawn formation around your king.
34.  If you only have one bishop, put your pawns on its opposite color.
35.  Trade pawns pieces when ahead in material or when under attack.
36.  If cramped, free your game by exchanging material.
37.  If your opponent is cramped, don't let him get any freeing exchanges.
38.  Study openings you are comfortable with.
39.  Play over entire games, not just the opening.
40.  Blitz chess is helpful in recognizing chess patterns.  Play often.
41.  Study annotated games and try to guess each move.
42.  Stick with just a few openings with White, and a few openings with Black.
43.  Record your games and go over them, especially the games you lost.
44.  Show your games to higher rated opponents and get feedback from them.
45.  Use chess computers and databases to help you study and play more.
46.  Everyone blunders.  The champions just blunder less often.
47.  When it is not your move, look for tactics and combinations.
48.  Try to double rooks or double rook and queen on open files.
49.  Always ask yourself, "Does my next move overlook something simple?"
50.  Don't make your own plans without the exclusion of the opponent's threats.
51.  Watch out for captures by retreat of an opponent's piece.
52.  Do not focus on one sector of the board.  View thw whole board.
53.  Write down your move first before making that move if it helps.
54.  Try to solve chess puzzles with diagrams from books and magazines.
55.  It is less likely that an opponent is prepared for off-beat openings.
56.  Recognize transposition of moves from main-line play.
57.  Watch your time and avoid time trouble. 
58.  Bishops are worth more than knights except when they are pinned in.
59.  A knight works better with a bishop than another knight.
60.  It is usually a good idea to trade down into a pawn up endgame.
61.  Have confidence in your game.
62.  Play in as many rated events as you can.
63.  Try not to look at your opponent's rating until after the game.
64.  Always play for a win.

Although like I said you should really be careful to address the specific situation in knight and pawn endgames.  Be sure to calculate concrete lines.  That could be an endgame tip all in itself (I hate knight endgames ;).

When you have nothing interesting to say, post a picture, because pictures don't speak.

"I hate knight endgames"-orangehonda, count me in. 

Nice list btw, that should satisfy the OP for a while :)

Don't post epiphanies if you're a teenager.

I think you just inadvertently contributed

Players like Botvinnik really impress me though, who take the time to really learn every aspect.  It's too bad that was the only real general rule of knight endgames there seems to be.

Me too. I butchered one the other day: http://www.chess.com/echess/game.html?id=42173833

before trading down to a end game try to get a extra tempo with your king for free.

sorry if my rules are not the best I'm only a 1200 player.