Rooks

• Knights are the best blockaders as it doesn't lose its mobility when sitting in front of an enemy pawn. It is the only piece that can hop over other pieces.
• Knights are short range pieces and Bishops are long range pieces. Knight requires at least 4 moves to stand on a square which i...

• Bishop, trapped behind its pawns is a tall-pawn, is unhelpful.
• Changing pawn structure or moving even a pawn can affect the activities of the Bishop. Don't place pawn in front of it if not necessary.
• The tall-pawn should be moved by moving the pawns or moving the Bishop out...

• Allows Rook and Bishop to slide and dominate
• Weak squares on 4th, 5th Or 6th rank allow a knight to outpost
• Weak squares can be turned into artificial support point.
• Chess is a team game, placing a piece on a square where it doesn't work with the rest of its army is ...

To face and fix weakness and create a temporary learning repertoire

• Choose openings that don't suit your style/temperament (Tactical player choosing positional openings)
• Choose openings that focus your chess weakness
• Vulnerable, insecure and mostly losing but ultimatel...

• Never accept an enemy threats unless it is proved as dangerous.
• Preventing a false threat is actually helping the enemy to win.
• Always believe in your own position
• Stick to your move and check if the move still work against enemy's threats
• Analyse the possib...

Play against an isolated d-pawn

• Trade off all the minor pieces
• Play for Q + R vs Q + R (better than Q + 2 R) since presence of Queens makes it far too dangerous for the defender's king to come forward and join in the defense of the pawn.
• The rook blocks the isolated d ...

• Player with the large center has to defend it, if he can make it indestructible, then the center rules.
• Lines that suit your personal comfort level, your style or that particular situation should be choosen.
• Slowly improve your pawns and pieces until everything is optimally...

• Best attitude is "I will do what O want no matter what you say".
• Don't fall for "I have to" mindset, don't be on autopilot or mechanical. Challenge it and let him know that the only agenda that's going to be pushed is yours.
• Macho Chess is Jeremy Silman's style of saying "In...

Space is created by the expansion of pawns, the territory behind the most advanced pawn.

Side with less space is passive.

Playing for superior minor piece can be a useful for space gain.

Side with more space should avoid unnecessary exchanges.

To play against opponent'...

• In the endgame with all pawns on one side of the board, the Knight is superior for having access to both colors than the Bishop.
• In a situation B + B vs B + N, trading one of the enemy Bishop to lead to B vs B or B vs N is more beneficial of the side having the knight.
• N + ...

Definition: Imbalance is any significant difference in the two respective positions (white side and black side)

Main imbalances are

• Superior minor piece
• Pawn structure
• Space
• Material
• Control of a key file
• ...

A static powerhouse and/or a dynamic game winner.

A pawn majority's ultimate goal is creation of A passed pawn.

A passed pawn, even A protected passed pawn can often turn out to be a serious disadvantage when

• It does not contribute to the main gameplay
• A successfu...

Statics are long term pluses, positional factors.

• Holes
• Weak pawns
• Material deficit
• Space

Dynamics are short term, use them now or die factors.

• Active pieces
• Attacking possibilities based on a vulnerable enemy king
• Tactic...

• Imbalances are the roadmap that shows each side what to do.
• It helps in planning
• It helps in observing traps, threats and tactical themes.
• Chess engines usually show the right moves and taking their help sometimes useful but they are fatel to improvement because the...

Jeremy Silman is an International Master in Chess and a world class teacher, writer and a playey who has won the American Open and many other tournaments. This book deals with mainly the middle game part of a chess game where a player can win the game based on the position in the board. It requir...

• Depending on the position, material needs to be collected or rejected or sacrificed with out attaching fear or other emotions to it.
• Material advantage can give an edge on middlegame and winning chances in endgame so a free pawn or piece should not be neglected if no direct attack i...

• Active play at the center against the uncastled king is required.
• Don't allow it to castle safely.
• Bring more pieces to the battle area and penetrate.
• Rip open more lines.

1. Learn from tactical patterns
2. Create a basic opening repertoire
3. Positional play
4. The endgame
5. Learn from master games.

High level chess demands the balance of tactics and positional skills.

Making a plan

• On the part where you are stronger.
• Activities of the pieces
• 2-3 move operations based on imbalances

A grand plan is possible when

• Stronger side has A hug...