During opening try to develop all your pieces by touching each piece just once.
Control the center of the board.
The best defense is offense…be an aggressive player at the start with threats and pins.
Try to exchange getting opponent to put two pawns on one row.
Don’t bring your queen out too early and especially without support if your playing an experience player.
Castle only when needed. Best to wait for your opponent to do so first so you can exploit them with an opposite side castling…lining up your rooks against them.
Move rooks to open rows later in the game.
Knights are weak at the edge of the board. Keep them centered.
Control pawn structure while destroying your opponents.
Sneakily take out your opponents pawns during piece exchange. (2 for 1)
Trade pieces when your ahead.
Don’t trade when your down.
Count and keep track of your points. Pawns(1), Knights/Bishops(3), Rooks(5), Queen(9)
Learn the basic traps and tricks that have been developed over the years by other players. It will help your game a lot.
Take your time to study the board if playing without a clock. I played a player once who took 10 mins per move. Talk about patience!
When looking at the board first look at the overall color scheme to see control of the board and the territory balance. Second look at each of your opponents pieces and their lines of attack. Third look to see if your about to be check mated. Finally think about your move with your own pieces.
Later in the game fork a bishop with two pawns forming a V for support of a strong pawn structure. This can be used to advance a pawn later at the right opportunity to promotion. Connecting bishops to pawns also works to trap opponents rooks in corners or side of the board taking them out of play.
During the endgame move a protected rook to corral the opponents king keeping him in a desired section of the board. This keeps the opponent from supporting his pieces while you gobble them up. Its also nice to walk a pawn down to promotion while the king just moves back and forth for the inevitable checkmate.
Do the unexpected!
