Contributor — NM Paul Chaplin.

TQ - 001 

Chess to Enjoy! — The ancient game of chess has not been made obsolete by the processing power of computers! On the contrary, chess has been shown to promote and improve mental abilities … aah, the human mind — a resource far more powerful and mysterious than any machine! So … play chess to interact with others. Play chess to sharpen your analytical savvy. Play chess in the park, at a tournament, or near a warm fireplace on a chilly night. Play chess for the pure fun of it! — PC

TQ - 002 

A master of chess … — Most sports and activities are enjoyable, but they can also become all-consuming, an ill-advised path in life that if taken can negatively impact anyone — even a world champion. Sometimes a reality check is necessary. Especially with children, both physical and mental challenges are needed to produce a balanced and productive life. A relatively famous movie, Searching for Bobby Fischer, deals directly with this challenge of juggling the needs and desires of everyone involved — from the parents and their children, to the coaches and their students. This movie is highly recommended viewing for the whole family. Unfortunately, there exist those players who ignore a quest for balance in life, and they likely suffer the consequences … masters in chess, but patzers in life. — PC

TQ - 003 

The threat is … — Aron Nimzovitch, one of the strongest chess players of the early 20th century was responsible for helping the masses understand positional chess through his masterful book — My System. Regarding psychology at the chessboard, he is associated with this famous quote: "The threat is stronger than the execution." The result is often apparent in amateur chess; a player in reaction to an opponent's move becomes all-consumed by the opponent's threat and thereafter focuses only on that one facet of the game. For example, after one player attacks another's queen, the opponent reacts instantly by moving her majesty to a safe square — forgetting that other checks, counter-attacks, or even a queen sacrifice may have been possible. — PC

TQ - 004 

Positional Chess — Sometimes misunderstood as being the opposite of tactical chess, positional chess is actually the perfect accomplice. In reality, playing positional chess often guides us to sacrifice a piece or a pawn at a point when the position is "ripe" for tactical success — even without calculation. It isn't necessary to have the calculating abilities of a computer to realize that benefits are likely gained following certain sacrifices. The same can be said of opening gambits; at the cost of a pawn, an early initiative or other tangible advantage can make for quite a lively game. Here is a list of just a few opening gambits that are worth investigating: Benko Gambit, Poison Pawn variations in both the French and Sicilian Defenses, King's Gambit, Smith-Mora Gambit (Sicilian Defense), and the Marshall Gambit (Ruy Lopez). — PC

TQ - 005 

Attacking f2/f7 — During the opening phase and often the middle game, the weakest squares relative to king safety are f2 and f7. It is imperative to keep watch on these squares because they are kept in focus not only by most strong players, but also by beginners looking to inflict a quick checkmate on their unsuspecting opponents. An alert player will usually notice emerging dangers surrounding these squares and make moves that either secure their own position or attack their opponent's. — PC

TQ - 006 

King Safety — Whether four moves or twenty moves into a game, the decision to castle or not should be of primary concern for both players. There do exist some uncommon opening ideas involving king moves other than castling, but usually, it’s a good idea to castle early — to put the king in a safer situation than exists at the start of the game. After minor pieces are developed, the rooks can then be brought into play; castling will facilitate this goal. However, a king left in the center for too long is often a recipe for disaster. — PC

TQ - 007 

In the end … — It all comes down to delivering checkmate. The more winning methods a player understands, the more flexible the player's goals can be. Studying endgames is imperative to advance beyond a simple introductory level of play. For example, why trade pieces if the benefits are unknown? Neglecting endgame studies will cost a player point after precious point. Consequently, learning king and pawn, rook and pawn, and bishop and pawn endings most definitely is worth the effort. — PC

TQ - 008 

Lose/Win Situation— A loss may seem devastating or even inconsequential, but it almost always presents an opportunity from which insights can be gleaned. Though often painful, analyzing a loss is one of the best ways to help improve a player's abilities. It is this beneficial byproduct of game recording that allows us to review the errors and to keep history from repeating. Understanding a loss can help convert a future game into something more than just a big ole goose egg! — PC

TQ - 009 

No Stock Exchange — During the opening and early middle game, the loss of an exchange (rook for knight or bishop) is often not detrimental. In fact, in certain instances, it's often the result of a deliberate act! The reason is simple — open files have yet to be created. Thus, rooks have less value in such positions. Indeed, powerful attacks can be conducted and winning combinations uncovered when less weight is given to material deficits, and more weight placed on development and the initiative. — PC

TQ - 010 

Timely Measures — It comes as no surprise that many games are lost in scholastic chess because players don't take the necessary time to consider their positions. Whether coming straight out of the opening or deep into an endgame, from a winning position or a difficult one, the result is the same — another unnecessary loss. The real surprise, however, is the simplicity of the remedy: Never assume anything! Keep your guard up until the game is over, and always take the necessary time to play your best move. How easy is that? In the end, you may not play the best move, but it will be your best move. — PC

TQ - 011

What a Concept! — Go ahead and memorize as many sneaky traps in the latest fashionable opening lines as you can; but beware, if you don't understand the concepts of an opening, it won't do you much good! There are loads of chess books available, especially books about the openings; however, if you're considering playing a new opening, look for a book that explains the concepts and ideas behind it rather than a book that just gives main lines and sub-variations. Those database-like volumes can be useful at times, but for reference only. — PC

TQ - 012 

Wrapped up in the Drama — Tournament chess can be very dramatic at times, and drama — whether acted or candid — can be distracting enough so as to cause bad moves and even lost games. A good playing routine includes knowing how to tune out or ignore distractions, but there may come a time when an opponent's actions cause you to be distracted. Consider calling over a tournament director if a behavior becomes repetitive! Directors exist to keep tournaments running smoothly. If you are experiencing disturbances while attempting to concentrate, talk to a director. It is his job to make the playing area as conducive to playing good chess as possible. — PC

TQ - 013 

The Need for Speed — Just as in any sport, to stay on top of the game a player needs regular study and practice to avoid erratic tournament results. Reading interesting books, reviewing classic grandmaster games, and training with a coach, all contribute to a well-rounded game. However, one often-missed activity is speed chess. Blitz or quick chess can be fun and relaxing, but it also offers players a way to try out new ideas in the openings, test their under-pressure performance, and reinforce endgame skills. There are constant debates whether bughouse or monster chess harm or even enhance a player's game; however, blitz chess (five minutes or more) is a time control, not a variant. Most world champions have used blitz to their advantage, and all players — from beginners to grandmasters — should do likewise. Note that computer and internet users can find endless opportunities for this activity! — PC

 TQ - 014 

Short and Sweet — Very popular and plentiful are chess books featuring tactical exercises. These works — often containing diagrams only — help us learn and reinforce important patterns and themes. Now, while it is said that the best players have tens of thousands of patterns inside there heads, it is quite another feat to repurpose them over the board! One suggestion for the player is to compliment the study of diagram-only exercises with a book that features short games — or miniatures, as they are sometimes called. By pouring over games that are less than 20 moves long, a player will learn the setup as well as the execution of winning combinations. — PC

TQ - 015 

When to Compute — It's no secret these days that GMs and beginners alike are benefiting from playing and analyizing with computers. However, even though both Kasparov and Kramnik have been beaten by machines, the more common abuse occurs when chessplayers misuse their computers. Chess enthusiasts have come to depend too much on their digital assistants for competition and training, and for gauging their own progress. But rather than downplay the importance of computers (not a realistic or correct approach), reaffirming the importance of studying and practicing with a real chess set and reading chess books should be considered still essential to any serious chessplayer's progress. — PC

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