---

Welcome to this second episode of Chess Chats, where we discuss all things about chess!

I’ve recently been reading this fantastic book Pandolfini’s Ultimate Guide To Chess and can highly recommend it. Who is Bruce Pandolfini? He’s an American chess national master, author, and perhaps one of the most experienced chess teachers in the US. He was a consultant for the Queen’s Gambit, both the original 1983 novel and the 2020 Netflix series, and his successful students include GM Fabiano Caruana, who won the Candidates in 2018 to face off against Magnus Carlson in the Chess World Championship.

The book is written in a brilliant manner where it is a dialogue between a student and a teacher, and in chapter 7, the teacher lists 25 things not to do in the opening – the Opening “Don’ts”. This is a great list for beginner-intermediate players! Are you ready?

1. Don’t make unnecessary pawn moves
2. Don’t bring out the queen too early
3. Don’t move a piece twice in the opening
4. Don’t trade a developed piece for an undeveloped one
5. Don’t exchange without good reason
6. Don’t develop just to bring a piece out and not with a specific purpose
7. Don’t block your centre pawns
8. Don’t impede the development of other friendly pieces
9. Don’t weaken your king’s position or move your uncastled king
10. Don’t move knights to the edge of the board
11. Don’t waste time or moves
12. Don’t indulge in pawn-grabbing
13. Don’t sacrifice without good reason
14. Don’t refuse a sacrifice without good reason
15. Don’t play without a plan
16. Don’t develop in an uncoordinated way
17. Don’t change plans from move to move
18. Don’t remain uncastled too long
19. Don’t advance pawns too far too soon
20. Don’t ignore your opponent’s moves
21. Don’t give pointless checks
22. Don’t capriciously avoid making natural captures or recaptures
23. Don’t take your opponent too lightly or too seriously
24. Don’t play a set order of moves without regard to your opponent’s responses
25. Don’t open the centre with your king still uncastled

A brilliant list! However, the last part of the dialogue is even better!

Asks the Student: Okay, that’s at least a total of twenty-five things to remember about the opening. Where do we go from here?

Replies the Teacher: To a place where we once again learn not to follow any piece of advice too religiously…

And with that, this Professor Cat t-shirt, hoodie and mug is available at chessnoob64.com. I hope you enjoyed this video, and thanks for watching!