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“Unbreakable” Chess Principles

#1

Most chess “rules” can be broken if you get compensation. But some are bad to break. Masters won’t break them either unless they are already winning and you are really playing a losing game.

Example: Trading a bishop for a knight without knowing if your pawns will need the support from that bishop in the end game.

Post an "unbreakable" chess principle that top players would never purposely break.

One-liners only: No quoting or arguing. Just react with emojis if you agree or disagree with their posts.

Most chess “rules” can be broken if you get compensation. But some are bad to break. Masters won’t break them either unless they are already winning and you are really playing a losing game. Example: Trading a bishop for a knight without knowing if your pawns will need the support from that bishop in the end game. Post an "unbreakable" chess principle that top players would never purposely break. One-liners only: No quoting or arguing. Just react with emojis if you agree or disagree with their posts.
#2

Another Chess principle that is almost impossible to break without serious consequences:

Material advantage, when all else is equal, is decisive.
When you are down material, you must seek compensation; if the position simplifies, you will lose.

Another Chess principle that is almost impossible to break without serious consequences: Material advantage, when all else is equal, is decisive. When you are down material, you must seek compensation; if the position simplifies, you will lose.
#3

I highly recommend John Watson's Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, especially for his discussion of "rule independence"º

I highly recommend John Watson's Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, especially for his discussion of "rule independence"º
#4

Almost every rule has exceptions, but this forum subject is not about advertising or recommending books. It's about discovering the principles that have no exceptions or almost no exceptions.

"Holes in the opponent's position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns."

We are not perfect and we need to make mistakes to learn. Mistakes have been done and principles and methods and concepts have been said to guide the chess players. Without guides, we will have to play as many games as Lc0 (1.6 million) to reach a rating of 2000. If Lc0 could talk, it probably could generate a few chess principles recommend to learn and use while you gain experience.

https://youtu.be/W4tqbEmplug?si=65cOroUTuVilaIXg&t=946

Almost every rule has exceptions, but this forum subject is not about advertising or recommending books. It's about discovering the principles that have no exceptions or almost no exceptions. "Holes in the opponent's position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns." We are not perfect and we need to make mistakes to learn. Mistakes have been done and principles and methods and concepts have been said to guide the chess players. Without guides, we will have to play as many games as Lc0 (1.6 million) to reach a rating of 2000. If Lc0 could talk, it probably could generate a few chess principles recommend to learn and use while you gain experience. https://youtu.be/W4tqbEmplug?si=65cOroUTuVilaIXg&t=946
#5

Checkmate breaks even the strongest rules. Every single one.

Checkmate breaks even the strongest rules. Every single one.
#6

#4
"Holes in the opponent's position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns."
6 Nd5 Nxd5 7 exd5 and pawn d5 occupies the hole d5.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937842

#4 "Holes in the opponent's position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns." 6 Nd5 Nxd5 7 exd5 and pawn d5 occupies the hole d5. https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937842
#7

I guess with the rise of AI that breaking any principle of chess leads to defeat , but I'm an old romantic and love the style of an intuitive player. bold sacrifices and risk taking , I guess you'd call it hope chess , but that's what I really love about this game. It also readily helps you to reading a cheat , at my level anyway. I guess in this day and age Morphy wouldn't have stood a chance against Magnus xxx

I guess with the rise of AI that breaking any principle of chess leads to defeat , but I'm an old romantic and love the style of an intuitive player. bold sacrifices and risk taking , I guess you'd call it hope chess , but that's what I really love about this game. It also readily helps you to reading a cheat , at my level anyway. I guess in this day and age Morphy wouldn't have stood a chance against Magnus xxx
#8

I don't agree with castle early , sorry went a bit off the op's original thread , I apologise xxx

I don't agree with castle early , sorry went a bit off the op's original thread , I apologise xxx
#9

Material does not cause checkmate, only position causes checkmate.

Material does not cause checkmate, only position causes checkmate.
#10

@tpr said in #6:

#4
"Holes in the opponent's position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns."
6 Nd5 Nxd5 7 exd5 and pawn d5 occupies the hole d5.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937842

Ofc pawns as a „nail coffin“ are used time and again.

@tpr said in #6: > #4 > "Holes in the opponent's position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns." > 6 Nd5 Nxd5 7 exd5 and pawn d5 occupies the hole d5. > https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937842 Ofc pawns as a „nail coffin“ are used time and again.