A few words from Oliver -- Play for the center -- Develop all the pieces -- Castle early -- Prevent your opponent from castling -- Avoid moving castled pawns -- Don't overuse the queen -- Don't give pointless checks -- Remove the defender -- Seize open files -- Get fully set up -- Look for rook lifts -- Pin and win! -- Avoid getting pinned -- Avoid unnecessary pawn moves -- Play with a plan -- Ask helpful questions -- Know your options -- Chose reasonable plans -- Don't play hope chess -- Don't rely on shaky defense -- Don't block bishops with pawns -- A knight on the rim is dim -- Keep your fianchettoed bishop -- Play for two bishops -- Keep the right minor piece -- Mobilize pawn majorities -- Put rooks on the seventh rank -- Capture the right way -- Take toward the center -- Avoid pawn weaknesses -- Set up your tactics -- Look far enough ahead -- Understand relative values -- Trade when ahead -- Don't trade pieces when behind -- Don't be afraid to trade queens -- Don't sacrifice foolishly -- Accept unsound sacrifices -- Don't be afraid to move the king -- Eliminate problems -- Keep your rooks active -- Accumulate small advantages -- Don't ignore enemy invaders -- Avoid pawn grabbing -- Blockade enemy pawns -- Occupy your strongpoints -- Turn problems into solutions -- Combine defense with counterattack -- Don't overextend yourself -- Make your opponent overextend -- Don't automatically make a queen -- Passed pawns must be pushed -- Rooks belong behind passed pawns -- Decoy with the outside passed pawn -- Push the right pawns -- Play for protected passed pawns -- Keep enough to win -- The king is a strong piece -- Keep out the enemy king -- Take the opposition -- Open a second front -- Minimize your losses -- Repeat the position -- Fight to the end -- Glossary -- Acknowledgments -- About the author.