The Principles of Symmetry

ChessCafe.com
Novice Nook by Dan Heisman

Quote of the Month: “In a chess fight, it is best to eliminate your opponent’s
advantages in order to eradicate his counterplay.”

What do the following twelve criteria have in common?
1. When you are winning, keep the position simple.
2. If you are going to win material, it is usually better to win a pawn than to
win the exchange for a pawn; similarly, it is better to win a piece than to win a
queen for two pieces.
3. When you are winning an endgame, you should generally avoid pawn
promotion races, unless you are 100% positive you will win.
4. If you win a pawn (not “accept a gambit”!) before either side has castled, it
is usually better to castle on the same side as your opponent. If you lose
material in the opening, try to castle on the opposite side.
5. If you are ahead a pawn in the endgame, with pawns on both sides of the
board; in general, it is better to move your king to the same side as your
opponent’s king.
6. If you are ahead an exchange in the endgame, it is better to have a position
where no pawns are passed, than it is to have a position where most or all are
passed pawns.
7. If you are way ahead in material, you can often “sacrifice” material to
simplify. For example, if you have a queen and rook for just a rook, it is
usually a good idea to exchange your queen for your opponent’s rook.
8. If you can win a pawn in a bad position, where the material is even, then
take the pawn, even when winning that pawn costs you some time.
9. When you are winning, general symmetry (a balance in the position) is
better than asymmetry.
10. If the game is even, and you want to win, create asymmetry and
imbalance.
11. As an answer to 1.e4, the Sicilian Defense is more popular among
grandmasters, especially those playing for a win.
12. If you play a stronger player, you have more chances if you play someone
that does some things better than you and some things worse, rather than
someone that does everything at least as well, and some things better.

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman64.pdf