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Chess Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Basic chess openings, checklists and other useful bits

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Move Mental Checklist

Do I have any checking moves?
 
If Yes, do they accomplish anything?
Can I be checked?
Are any of my pieces hanging or underd­efe­nded?
Does my opponent have any weaknesses I can exploit?
Are there any tactics open to me?
 
e.g., Discovered attacks, Forks, Pins, Skewers
Can I move any pieces to a more active position?
Can I occupy or control any outpost1 squares or open files?
Can I blockade an enemy's knight or bishop with a pawn push?
1 An outpost is a square on the fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh rank which is protected by a pawn and which cannot be attacked by an opponent's pawn.
  

Ruy Lopez

1.
e4
e5
2.
Nf3
Nc6
3.
Bb5
Morphy Defence
3.
...
a6
 
(Exchange Variation) No material advantage:
4.
Bxc6
dxc6
5.
Nxe5
Qd4
Qd4 forks the knight and pawn.
 
(Open Defence)
4.
Ba4
Nf6
5.
0-0
Nxe4

Italian Game

1.
e4
e5
 
2.
Nf3
Nc6
3.
Bc4
 
(Giuoco Piano)
3.
...
Bc5
 
:::
(Main Line)
4.
c3
 
:::
(Evans Gambit)
4.
b4
  
If ... Bxb4, 5.c3. If ... Bb6, 5.a4 a6.
 
:::
(Giuoco Pianis­simo)
4.
d3
 
:::
(Four Knights Variation)
4.
Nc3
Nf6
 
(Two Knights Defense)
3.
...
Nf6