If you're like me, you don't have much time to play chess, let alone study openings and analyze games. Here are a few simple ideas on crafting your plan, building your base, and managing your time.
Your Plan
In the opening, build a good base that makes you happy. Don’t bother with all those fancy openings until you really care to commit to them. By “building a base” instead of memorizing an opening, you get to have fun again.
In the midgame, make a plan—any plan—so you have something to fall back on when you’re not sure what else to do. When we don’t know what we’re doing, everything we do is pointless. As long as we have a plan, we can understand why we’re doing what we’re doing.
Always be logical in the endgame, and hesitate before moving. The endgame is like doing simple math. Don’t be shy about counting on your fingers. It’s more embarrassing to get it wrong and lose.
Your Base
Your base is your garden. Tend to it! Here are some simple ideas when building your base:
Build your base in the same style for many games in a row so you know how to defend it or attack from it.
Make sure every piece is defended by another piece; if a piece is defending more than one piece, be very careful.
If there are problems in your base, fix them before attacking the opponent.
When an opponent's piece is in your base, kick it out or take it down.
Your Time
Time is on the side of the victor. Let it be you! Here are some tips for managing your clock:
Spend little time in familiar positions, lots of time in confusing positions, and no time in hopeless positions.
If you have lots of time, make the game complicated. If you have little time, make the game simple.
If your opponent has little time, do something wild. If your opponent has lots of time, do something practical.
And make sure you spend time in nature. It helps put your chess into perspective.
To summarize: craft a plan, build your base, and manage your time. The rest is technique, and we don't sweat that. Now, the kettle's boiled. Back to the game!
