For whatever reasons neither my family members nor my friends played chess. I learned to play chess in my thirties when my elementary-school-aged daughter learned to play in school.

Having played at least a few games a year I’ve learned a lesson or two about myself as well as about chess.

I think the forethought and decision making principles that we use in chess can help slow down the natural impulses of teens.

Q – How can an impatient person teach impulsive teens to think through chess moves?
A – I’ve listened and learned from others.

Here are some chess tips by Eric Bana I hope to apply today:

Opening:
Develop quickly w knights & Bishops; knights first.
Castle early & prevent opponents castle (ie. Bc5 to block kingside castle)
Develop kingside first
Don’t block in your own bishops
DON’T move a piece twice
Develop rooks to open files
Beware of taking wing pawns early, it slows development

Middle Game:
Capture towards the center
Double rooks on open lines
Knights are strongest in closed games
Bishops are strongest in open games

End Game:
Control the 7th rank with a rook to take pawns and traps the king on the 8th rank
Move the king to the center of the board
Create passed pawns
Opposite color bishops=draw
Get pawns on opposite color of your opponent’s bishop