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Top 20 Chess Strategies
Chess strategy is about choosing the right plan for the position. Below are 20 practical strategic ideas that appear in real games — each explained in plain language, with links to deeper guides when you want to go further.
Fast “choose a plan” rule:
Improve your worst piece • Restrict your opponent’s best idea • Then choose a pawn break or target.
The Top 20 Strategies (Practical List)
These twenty strategic maxims are practical tools you can apply in almost every game.
- 1) Control the centre: central squares improve mobility and help attacks form naturally.
- 2) Develop with purpose: activate pieces so they point at the centre or a clear target.
- 3) King safety first: unsafe kings create tactical disasters and limit your freedom. (king safety guide)
- 4) Pawn structure planning: structure creates strengths, weaknesses, and long-term plans. (pawn structure)
- 5) Improve your worst piece: often the simplest path to a better position.
- 6) Piece coordination: pieces working together beat “one active piece plus spectators”.
- 7) Space advantage: more space usually means more options and easier piece manoeuvres.
- 8) Open files & diagonals: rooks love open files; bishops love long diagonals.
- 9) The initiative: forcing moves make the opponent react and limit their counterplay.
- 10) Prophylaxis: prevent the opponent’s plan before it becomes a threat. (prophylaxis)
- 11) Create weaknesses: induce pawn moves that create holes or targets you can attack later.
- 12) Outposts: secure advanced squares for knights (and sometimes bishops). (knight outposts)
- 13) Rook on the 7th rank: attacks pawns, restricts the king, and wins endgames fast. (rook on 7th)
- 14) Trade pieces wisely: simplify when it helps you — not just because it’s available.
- 15) Convert to favourable endgames: transition when your pawn structure / activity supports it. (endgames)
- 16) Exploit weak squares: holes become entry points for pieces and long-term pressure.
- 17) Use passed pawns: create them, support them, and force the opponent to stop them.
- 18) Attack pawn weaknesses: isolated, backward, doubled, or overextended pawns become targets.
- 19) Bishops vs knights: decide which piece is stronger based on pawn structure and open lines.
- 20) Manage counterplay: every plan must include “what is my opponent’s best active idea?”