1 knight = 1 bishop = 3 pawns
1 rook = 4.5 pawns
1 queen = 3 minor pieces = 2 rooks = 9 pawns

• A rook is stronger than a minor piece + a pawn
• A rook + pawn are weaker than two minor pieces
• A queen is stronger than rook + minor piece
• A queen is weaker than a rook + two minor pieces

• A queen is generally not as strong as two rooks or three pieces, but if the King of the player with the rooks is not in a safe position and if it is exposed to a lot of checks, the queen is stronger. Minor pieces must be well protected (by each other or pawns), or else they will be captured by the queen. -S. Tarrasch
• A rook, minor piece and passed pawn on the 6th (3rd) rank are superior to the queen. The queen is stronger if there is play on both wings. But if play is concentrated on a single wing, a rook and a minor piece are often no worse than a queen.
• In the middlegame, three pawns are normally weaker  than a bishop or a knight, because the opponent has an extra piece for his attack. Only connected central passed pawns or far advanced pawns are better than pieces.
• In the endgame, the value of the pawns generally increases, and so the three pawns are normally no worse than a minor piece.
• In the middlegame, two minor pieces are often stronger than a rook and two pawns.
• In the endgame, a rook and even a single passed pawn are sometimes better than two pieces.

G. Lisitsin described five factors which influence the relative value of the pieces:

1. The central position of a piece.
2. A safe, well protected position.
3. The activity of the piece.
4. Coordination with other pieces.
5. The mobility of the piece.

TUESDAY
Play and review game (PL / RV)

WEDNESDAY
Stoyko Exercises (Cheng’s book or Pocketbook) {practice analysis} (VG)
Board Visualization exercises

THURSDAY
Play and review game  (PL / RV)
{add missed opportunities and mistakes to notebook}
{review notebook}

FRIDAY
Study Strategy (SG)
{Add Thursday’s game information to Chess Notebook}

SATURDAY
Study Endgame  (SE)

SUNDAY
Play and review game (PL / RV)

2. Understand all of my opponent’s threats at all times.

3. Look for tactics both for myself and my opponent (if I find a tactic see #1).

4. Don’t’ complicate, unless the outcome is clear.

5. Develop all of my pieces before starting the attack.

6. Play prophylacticly, prevent counter play unless my move is winning.

7. Pay attention to the center.

8. Pay attention to pawn breaks (both offensive and defensive).

9. If I find a good move, look for a better one. Make sure that I know all of the idiosyncrasies of the position.

10. Blunder-check before moving.

80% play 20% study – 0-1500
70% play 30% study – 1500 – 1700
60% play 40% study – 1700 – 1900
50% play 50% study – 1900 – 2100
40% play 60% study – 2100 – 2300
30% play 70% study – 2300 – 2500
20% play 80% study – 2500+

1. The material relationship; that is, material equality or the material superiority of one side.
2. The power of the individual pieces.
3. The quality of the individual pawns.
4. The position of the pawns; that is the pawn structure.
5. The position of the Kings.
6. The co-operation amongst the pieces and pawns.

- Ludek Pachman (Modern Chess Strategy)

Review the following position, Black to move and win.
FEN: 8/pp2kppp/4p3/8/1P6/P3PP2/5P1P/2K5 b – - 0 0

1. I continue to practice tactics on chesstempo.com until I get 3 incorrect answers which usually takes 15-20 minutes.  Solving tactical puzzles in this fashion is based on David Pruess’  New Way of Training Tactics.

2. I am playing more often, and when I do I am focused on the threats on the board.

3. I’m not reading any books right now, but I am reviewing my played games and addressing any deficiencies by referring to reference manuals. For example, if I lose a King and pawn endgame I’ll refer to Mueller’s Endgame Fundamentals book and so on.

I feel that this threat based play is helping my game out, and I have posted a 2nd part to the original threats post on begin chess and more will be coming shortly as I experiment with my new found thought process.

read more at Beginchess

Today is the second day of the new training schedule, I really did not have a lot of time to either plan or spend studying so I will have to give this second day more thought in the near future.

• Spent 15 minutes doing Step Method tactics
• Spent 30 minutes solving endgame puzzles on chesstempo.com