ChessschoolMaking a middlegame plan
When the opening ends, compare king safety, material and piece activity before choosing a plan.
Start with the opponent
What did the last move attack? Look for checks, captures and threats for both sides. A quiet positional idea must wait if your queen is hanging.
Improve your least active piece
Find a piece that has few useful squares. Can you develop it, place a rook on an open file or connect your pieces? Avoid moving a pawn only because you cannot think of a piece move.
Test a candidate move
Imagine your move, then find a realistic reply. Check whether the opponent can win material or create a direct king attack. Reassess after every move instead of following a plan regardless of changes.
Try it yourself
Your planned rook move ignores an attack on your queen. What comes first?
Check the answer
Deal with the immediate threat, unless you have calculated a stronger forcing continuation. Plans must respond to the position.
Put it into practice
Open the related lesson Practise with puzzles
Sources and corrections
For the official rules, see the FIDE Laws of Chess. Found an error? Send the position and page address.