Genuinely good things to say to yourself:
I'd better watch it!
I've seen something like this before, but what are the differences?
Have I come to this conclusion too quickly?
How could I lose?
Did I stop examining this variation too soon?
We've both been playing normal-looking moves, but is there anything hidden?
What might my opponent try?
Not every move that looks good, is good - what might be wrong with it?
My opponent must have a plan and should be trying to win somehow...
That looks pretty harmless, but let's have a quick check...
Every position can be ruined, what might go wrong here?
My opponent has just sighed as though he's given up... perhaps he's set a trap!
get your king into safety in the opening by castling
Making Too Many Queen Moves In The Opening
move each piece only once in the opening; keep your queen and rooks out of the way of the opponent's pieces at the start
Grabbing Pawns Thoughtlessly get your pieces out towards the centre as fast as you can; don't waste time grabbing pawns until you have completed your development
Weakening Your Castled Position
get your king into safety by castling and keep it strong and guarded
Getting
Pinned
Failing
To Guard Against Captures
look out for your opponent's threats
Underestimating
Your Opponent's Threats
look out for your opponent's threats, even if you think you are winning easily
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 threat 5...dxc4.
Avoid with 5. Bb3
Block
Put a piece or pawn between the attacked piece and the attacker.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4.
Ng5 threat 5. Nxf7
Block with 4...d5
Capture
Capture the attacking piece.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4.
Ng5 d5 threat 5...dxc4.
Capture the attacker with 5. exd5
Defend
Support the attacked piece or pawn.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 threat 3. Nxe5.
Defend the pawn with 2...Nc6.
Triangle
method for opponent's threats
White: A. Junior Black: B. Junior
1. e2-e4 / e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 / Nb8-c6 3. Bf1-c4 / Bf8-c5 4. Nf3-g5 / d7-d5 /\ 5. e4xd5 / Nc6-a5 /\ 6. Bc4-b5+ / c7-c6 7. 8. 9. 10.
1. e2-e4 e7-e5 / 2. Ng1-f3 /\ Nb8-c6 / 3. Bf1-c4 Bf8-c5 / 4. Nf3-g5 /\ d7-d5 / 5. e4xd5 Nc6-a5 / 6. Bc4-b5+ c7-c6 / 7. 8. 9.
/-
Safe enough move
//-
Safe threat
/ /\
Safe enough threat
// /\
Unsafe move
x-
Unsafe threat
x /\
Use for both your moves and your opponent's moves.
Move Captures Opponent's Safety My threats My move Check Threats 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
This document (junpostr.html) was last modified on 31st October 1995 by
Dr. Dave