Themes
Each number is a game; it opens the move where he explains the idea. Open a theme to read what it is about.
General
-
03080915
Compare the captures, do not take the flashy one
With more than one way to capture, compare where each leaves the pieces. The flashy one, a fork or a check, is often not the best.
-
06091115171920
Ask what he is actually threatening
Before defending, ask whether the threat is real and what exactly it threatens. Often the answer is less than it looks.
-
01030506101112141518192223
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.
Opening
-
15
A gambit is a contract for the initiative
After giving material for the initiative, develop fast, keep the pressure on, and do not get stingy about trades or material.
Strategy
-
020304071524
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.
Tactics
-
0102091112151821
Remove the defender
Before taking, ask what is holding the target together, and take that first.
-
1523
A pawn on the sixth: think promotion, even in the middlegame
A pawn on the sixth rank is close to queening. Look for a way to clear its path, even in the middlegame.
Endgame
-
15
Running from checks: pick the square first
Facing a run of checks, decide where the king should end up first, then head there.