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taking any move on trust without checking it for yourself.

Don't stick with only playing what you have studied and learned. I have found that playing something different adds freshness to my play and it is well worth being on the constant look-out for new opening ideas or systems. Here is an example that I discovered some years back. Many players who start with 1.e4 find the French Defence notoriously hard to break down. A good few years ago, to finish first in a tournament, I had to win my last round game against an opponent who specialised in the French and played it very well. Flicking through some books before the game, I saw the following line and after taking a brief look at it on a board, decided to give it a try: 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4 cxb4 5.a3 bxa3 6.d4 Nc6 7.c3. This was as far as my preparation went but I thought this position looked interesting and quite uncomfortable for Black. The game continued 7Bd7 8.Bd3 f6 9.Ng5 and Black, panicking completely in such an unfamiliar position was quickly mated 9..Nge7 10.exf6 Nc8 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qxg6+ and Black resigned. This line has become quite well known as the French Wing Gambit. It has continued to give me a lot of fun, not to mention some good wins.

Finally, it is said often enough but can be repeated once more. Understanding chess positions and strategy is far more important than remembering sequences of moves. Chess skill in tactics and positional play will win you far more games than choosing and learning a particular opening. Whatever your approach, enjoy your wins, don't get too depressed if you lose and definitely don't get obsessed. After all, it's only a game.

Learn more about this author, John Toscano.
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