1100 - Beginner To Master | Chess Speedrun

Themes

Each number is a game; it opens the move where he explains the idea. Open a theme to read what it is about.

Bank the material when the option is there
Offered a promising attack or a clean extra piece, take the piece. It is still there if the attack fizzles.
01 03
Be obsessed with undefended pieces
Make it a habit to notice every undefended piece, yours and his, and to count the defenders of every piece that is under attack.
01 07 08 11 13 19 20 22 23
Make one move do two jobs
When a task can be done in a way that also does something else, do it that way. Do not tie a piece to one job if another can do it and keep working.
01 03 05 06 10 11 12 14 15 18 19 22 23

Castling is a developing move, not only a safety move
Castle for what it does for the pieces, such as a rook on a file about to open, not only because the king feels unsafe.
01 03
The opening is chosen for what it teaches
An opening can be chosen for what it teaches, such as closed positions or a structure you need practice in, not only for an advantage.
01 05 08 10

Doubled pawns are judged by what they do, not how they look
Judge doubled pawns by their jobs: what they control, what they shelter, and what the trade that made them gave you.
01 11
Defend a pawn with a pawn
A pawn defending a pawn costs nothing, where a piece doing it is a piece out of the game.
02 03

Do not over-defend
Answer a threat with the cheapest move that does the job, and stop adding defenders once a point is held often enough.
01 02
Restrict the bishop, or pay to remove it
A strong bishop has to be dealt with: take away its best square, shut it in behind pawns, or pay something to trade it off.
02 03 04 23

One square decides the game
Some games are organised around one square. Name it early, and let the fight for it decide most moves.
01 02 05
Spend a move to make the natural move work
When the natural move is one quiet move away from working, play the quiet move first.
02 03 04 07 15 24

Is the attack real? Count who is home
Before attacking, or opening the centre, count whose pieces are actually out. The side with pieces still at home is the one punished.
01 02 18 23 24

Remove the defender
Before taking, ask what is holding the target together, and take that first.
01 02 09 11 12 15 18 21
Tactics override verbal logic
General reasoning picks good moves most of the time, but a concrete tactic beats it. Look for pins and loose pieces every move.
02 04 22