05-19-2008, 06:51 AM
Eh, it's more about active thinking than static technique. I have a very conceptual mind, and as such I have nothing to teach. Besides that, I'm still shaking off rust because I haven't played chess in about ten years. Well, maybe I can just bullet point some ground rules.
-Making goals and plotting courses are fine, but also be careful about over committing to a single strategy. If nothing else, this one game should have taught you that.
-The opening is the most important part of the game. Study pro opening strategies and the type of effect they have on the rest of the game. Then use them.
-Learn to adapt. For instance, the queen is the most valuable piece on the board, so I was peeved when Uno caused them to get captured. But, since they were both captured it was an even trade, so our strategies simply had to become "queenless".
-If you can't think of a strategy just play your strongest hand. I never planned more than two or three moves ahead of time. My original plan was to make a wall and push up the center, with commando units guarding the flanks (like in our chesshere.com game) but once the queen and queen's knight were lost, my fight became one for survival.
-Playing defense is risky no matter how you cut it, so stay on the offense as much as possible. But, suiciding valuable pieces (like your knights in our chesshere game) or an opportunistic defense (Super Saiyan Rook and Hero Pawn) will change the game either way. Find your balance.
-Making goals and plotting courses are fine, but also be careful about over committing to a single strategy. If nothing else, this one game should have taught you that.
-The opening is the most important part of the game. Study pro opening strategies and the type of effect they have on the rest of the game. Then use them.
-Learn to adapt. For instance, the queen is the most valuable piece on the board, so I was peeved when Uno caused them to get captured. But, since they were both captured it was an even trade, so our strategies simply had to become "queenless".
-If you can't think of a strategy just play your strongest hand. I never planned more than two or three moves ahead of time. My original plan was to make a wall and push up the center, with commando units guarding the flanks (like in our chesshere.com game) but once the queen and queen's knight were lost, my fight became one for survival.
-Playing defense is risky no matter how you cut it, so stay on the offense as much as possible. But, suiciding valuable pieces (like your knights in our chesshere game) or an opportunistic defense (Super Saiyan Rook and Hero Pawn) will change the game either way. Find your balance.