Chess Principles

r n b q k b n r
p p p p p p p p
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
P P P P P P P P
R N B Q K B N R

The four central squares (e4, d4, e5, d5) are the most important. A pawn in the centre control key squares and gives your pieces room to develop

r n b . k b n r
p p p . p p p p
. . . . . . . .
. . . q . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
P P P P . P P P
R N B Q K B N R

Every move should acomplish something, here Nc3 both develops the knight and attacks the black queen

r . b q . r k .
p . . . . p p p
. p n b p n . .
. . p p . . . .
. . . P . . . .
. . P B P N B .
P P Q N . P P P
R . . . K . . R

Castle to secure your king before starting your middlegame plans

r n b q k b . r
p p p p p p p p
. . . . . n . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . P . . .
. . . . . . . .
P P P P . P P P
R N B Q K B N R

By advancing e5 you gain a tempo on the knight and grab more space. The knight has to move again

r . b q k b n r
p p p . . p p p
. . n p . . . .
. B . . p . . .
. . . . P . . .
. . . . . N . .
P P P P . P P P
R N B Q K . . R

When you lead in development, open the position with a central pawn break. Opening files and diagonals lets your active pieces dominate the board while your opponent struggles to catch up

r . b q . r k .
p p p . . p p .
. . n . p n . p
. . . . . . . .
. b B P . . . .
. . N . P N . .
P P . B . P P P
R . . Q . R K .

All your minor pieces are out and you have castled. The last step to complete your development is connecting your rooks by moving the queen off the back rank. After Qc2, both rooks can see each other and support one another along the first rank

. . . r . . k .
. p p . . p p .
p . q . r n n p
P . . p p . . .
. P . . P . . .
. . P P N N P P
. . Q . . P K .
R . . . R . . .

Good positions do not play themselves. You need a concrete plan: identify your worst piece and find a route to improve it. Here Nf5 is a strong outpost for the knight

. . b q k . . r
. p . p . p p p
n . p . p n . .
. . . . . . . .
. . P . . . . .
. . N . P . B .
. . . P N P P P
Q . . . . R K .

A hole is a square that can never again be attacked by enemy pawns. After Black pushed c6, the d6 square became a permanent weakness. Preventing black from castling (you cannot castle through check!)

r . . q . . . k
p b p p p Q p .
. p n . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . N . . . . .
P P P . . P P P
. . . R . . K .

A rook lift brings a heavy piece into the attack, the black king is about to be checkmated

. r . . . r k .
. p . . . p p p
p . . b . n . .
P . . p . . . q
. . . P p . . .
. Q . . P . . P
. . R B N P P .
. . R . K . . .

A 'bad bishop' is blocked by its own pawns sitting on the same color squares. A 'good bishop' has open diagonals. When you have a bad bishop, look for ways to trade it for the opponent's good bishop or improve its position.

r . . . . r . k
. . . . . . R .
. n . . N . p p
. . R p . . . .
p . . P . . . .
P . . . . . . P
q P . . . . P K
. . . . . . . .

A rook on the 7th rank (2nd rank for Black) attacks pawns from behind and traps the enemy king on the back rank. Two rooks on the 7th rank are devastating, often leading to unstoppable mating threats. Here, doubling rooks on the 7th creates a checkmate that cannot be prevented.