Excellent advice from the Salem Hills Chess Club

Everyone needs to take enough time on each move to consider the following:
1. What was my opponents last move - what is the threat? What would I do next, if I were on the other side of the board?
2. How many ways can I stop his good move? Which defense is best.
3. If I can't find a terrific move for my opponent, I'll look for a good move of my own.
4. Look for weaknesses in your opponents position -like two big pieces on a line, K & Q on same color square, a nice outpost for your knight, a chance to undermine (we'll learn that Friday)
5. If you're ahead trade pieces. If you're behind try to avoid trading pieces.
6. Don't weaken your position with a bad pawn move. Look for pawn moves that open highways for your pieces and close highways for your opponent's pieces.
7. Toward the end of the game, get your King out and use it as a fighter. Experience will eventually tell you when it's time to get the King out, but a good rule of thumb is if your opponent has less than 10 points in pieces left (not counting pawns), it's time to get the King out.
8. When you are in trouble take extra time - find a way out.
9. When you have your opponent in trouble take extra time - finish him off.
10. When ahead never get overconfident. When behind never give up - even when you're down to just a King, try to maneuver your King into a position where your opponent could easily stalemate you.