Chapter I Introduction It is common belief that the amount of work needed to become a good player is proportional to the amount of talent one has. Even though there is some truth to this, many players today are not yet close to their true potential. It is my belief that what is hampering these players is not lack of talent but a misguided view of chess. In this book, I hope to aid the average player in reaching his/her goals. I shall first reveal my view toward chess. My view toward chess will be best revealed through an analogy. To me, a game of chess is no different than the battle for survival between two organisms in nature. For not even an instant in time, the two organisms are exactly the same. They battle for food, shelter and more often than not, the organism best suited to the environment wins its battles and survives to pass on its genes. Similarly, in chess, there is not an instant in time where both the sides have exactly the same position; even before a move is made the difference is present due the tempo. As the game progresses, the position changes and the imbalance in the game increase. The player’s goal then becomes to utilize the pieces as best they can so they thrive in the environment created by the position. It is also the players’ goal to minimize the opponent’s advantages and create his/her own advantages so that the resulting position is favorable. Even then, it is necessary for the player to create a plan that converts the accumulated advantages into a victory. Following observations are important to recognize 1. The opening played creates the position. Both players contribute to the resulting position but this power is not always shared equally. A player can increase his/her influence by choosing moves with forced variations or a move with limited number of replies. 2. The imbalances that result from the opening facilitate numerous short-term plans. Short-term plans are plans that work to shift the balance toward one self but do not result with an immediate and clear winning advantage. 3. Accumulation of favorable imbalances facilitates a long-term plan. A long-term plan works to covert the favorable imbalances into a clear winning advantage.