Chess Training Without A Board

Chess Aspirant

Here are some practical principles I'll recommend to someone who wants to develop his play.

1. Find a training partner. 

Plan your chess training together and encourage each other to do your best.

2. Warm-up before a game or a training session.

Good focus is needed here and bring your mental skill in top shape.

3. Keep your pieces protected (a good technique to keep in mind).

Make sure your pieces are connected to not overlook something.

4. Spot the opponent's threat (after opponent's last move).

Ask yourself the intention of the opponent's last move and what he will do next.

5. Perform anti-blunder check (before making your move).

Check the opponent's attacking response especially on your half of the board.

Chess Quotes

          Words of wisdom from a "scheming mind".

Chess Reflections

Play the opening like a book, the middle game like a magician, and the endgame like a machine. – Spielmann  

General Tips

Chess is a matter of delicate judgment, knowing when to punch and how to duck. – Fischer 

Opening

Your only task in the opening is to reach a playable middlegame. – Portisch 

Middlegame

The middlegame I repeat is chess itself; chess with all its possibilities, its attacks, defences, sacrifices, etc. – Znosko-Borovsky  

Endgame

The theory of the endgame proper is concerned to a large extent with the conversion of an advantage of one pawn into a win. – Fine 

Tactics and Strategy

The tactician knows what to do when there is something to do; whereas the strategian knows what to do when there is nothing to do. – Gerald Abrahams 

Analysis

Chess mastery essentially consists of analyzing chess positions accurately. 

– Botvinnik