I'm trying to put together a flyer of the golden rules in chess for kids that are absolute beginners. I noticed that they ran into the same trivial mistake that could be easy to fix with a simple switch, and I guess the flyer could help flipping it. Here is my list so far, kinda ranked by how important the principles are :
Practical :
- I shall take my time on each move, at least a good 20 seconds
- I shall pay attention to what’s my opponent last move and what is the intent
- I shall make sure that neither I nor my opponent is giving away a piece
- I shall keep my hand on my chin as long as I am not sure of what will be my next move
- I shall never resign
- A bad plan is better than no plan
- I shall not reveal my intent orally to my opponent
- I shall consider my opponent plays like a grandmaster
- Do not focus on one sector of the board. View the whole board
In game :
- In the opening, I shall deploy the knights, bishops, and then castle.
- I shall not take out my queen in the opening
- I shall use my king in the endgame
- I shall connect my rook
- I shall try to control the center
- A knight on the rim is dim
- Rooks smile on open files
- When behind in material, I shall trade pawns. When ahead, trade pieces
- I shall avoid doubled, isolated or backward pawns and try getting passed pawns instead
- Whenever possible, I shall place my rook on the 7th or 8th rank
- I shall double my rooks on the 7th rank
What do you guys think of it? Any other important principles I didn't think of? Feel free to use it.
Edit : Here's the final look of it. Feel free to use it !