#1.28.2015

1. Have a plan, even if you don’t know how things are going to end up. Having a plan is better than making moves at random without reason.

2. Always be aware of your surroundings.

3. Don’t value any one piece more than anther. A queen can lose you the game. A pawn can win it.

4. Poker face. Don’t let your opponent know when you’ve fucked up. Sometimes they won’t notice and you can save the situation.

5. Do not throw the game. Just because it looks like you don’t have an out doesn’t mean you should quit trying.

6. Have a back up plan(s). Most of the time, your original idea won’t work, and that’s okay.

7. Be prepared to lose and start again. It’s not the end of the world if you fail a game. But if you don’t pick up and try again, you’re failing all the games you could have won.

8. Learn from your mistakes (and your opponent’s). Your goal isn’t to make mistakes; that’s unavoidable. Your mission should be to observe your shortcomings and adjust your strategy accordingly.

9. Offense and defense are equally important. If you’re not on the offensive, you’ll never reach your goal (checkmating your opponent). But if you aren’t careful, you can leave yourself open for tragedy.