Always Think About the King

Every chess game is decided by one goal: the safety of the king.
No matter how strong the position looks, if the king is exposed, the whole position collapses.
That is why every move must be judged by its effect on king safety.

In the opening, the king is protected through castling.
This simple move hides the king behind pawns and connects the rooks.
Without it, pieces remain scattered, and tactics against the center become dangerous.
A delayed castle often leads to quick attacks and painful losses.
After castling, the safety of the pawn shield is maintained.

Moving pawns in front of the king weakens the structure and creates permanent holes.
A single careless pawn move like g4 or h3 may open files for the enemy pieces to invade.

When attacking, the same principle is reversed: pressure is directed toward the enemy king.
Open lines, sacrifices, and tactical blows are all based on the idea that a vulnerable king cannot be defended for long.

Key takeaway:
Every position must be evaluated with one question in mind
“Whose king is safer?”

Thank you,
Loris