Isolated pawns

Pawns without other pawns next to them are isolated. Avoid this!

Don't waste time

As mentioned in the opening theory, develop your pieces quickly without moving them twice, and control the center.

Avoid double pawns

Double pawns are pawns stacked on top of each other in the same file. This means they can't defend each other so avoid this too.

Castle before move 10

Getting the king to safety quickly is essential. Move 10 is not a set in stone cutoff however, builds this idea of castling quickly.

Endgame king

The king in the endgame is much stronger than the king in the opening as it is able to attack and defend pawns. Utilise the king well.

Knights before bishops

Developing knights before bishops is simply easier due to their low number of move options at the start. You will see some openings that don't follow this.

Connect the rooks

Connecting the rooks by moving them in line of sight of each other is strong as they protect each other.

Bishops over knights

While the same material value, bishops are generally considered more valuable and useful for their long diagonal range. This is not always true however, knights are sometimes extremely powerful. Bishops are better in an open position, knights are better in a closed position.

Passed pawns

Pawns that cannot be stopped from moving by opposing pawns. These are great to push for promotions and protecting with a rook behind is strong.

Backwards pawns

Pawns that have been left behind and cannot safely advance. Try to avoid this.

Knight and bishop over rook and pawn

Even though both pairs of pieces equate to 6 points, having the knight and bishop is stronger as two minor pieces naturally control more squares.

Three minor pieces over a queen

Using the same idea, trading three minor pieces for a queen is often worse.

Knights on the rim are grim

Knights positioned at the edges of the board should be avoided as they control less squares compared to the eight squares they control near the center.

Checks, captures, and attacks

Always look for these possible types of moves and run through scenarios for the opponents responses to find better moves.

Rooks on the second to last ranks

Getting rooks on either the 7th rank as white or 2nd rank as black are valued as they can sweep free pawns or create attacking potential.