THE YES WAY LIST

The Yes Way List is comprised of the seven most important questions to ask yourself during every game in order to avoid and/or take advantage of one move mistakes. The questions on the Yes Way List should be asked before every move you make and MUST be asked and answered in order to save valuable time and energy.

Question 1     Is my King in check?
We don’t want to lose anybody on the touch move rule.  If you touch a piece and then notice you are in check you must, if at all possible,  block or capture to stop the check with the piece you touched - even if you end up losing your Queen for free.  Your opponent must play by the touch move rule as well so remember to yell “Touch Move” on them!

Question 2    Can I say checkmate in one move?
Look carefully at your opponent’s king.  Where can their king move to safety in one move? Look at the squares surrounding your opponent’s king – what do they have in common with the square their King is on now?  If the answer is “same file” get a rook or queen on that file.  If the answer is “same rank” get a rook or queen on that rank.  Is the answer “same diagonal” then again, get a rook or queen on that diagonal.  Take notice at a knight can attack to squares on the same rank, file, or diagonal.  If the king cannot move anywhere, then any safe check will be CHECKMATE.

Question 3    Can my opponent checkmate me in one move?
Ask yourself the same questions about your king that you asked about your opponent’s king.  If they have an important checkmate square threat on your king, just let them have it.  You king is not that important anyway.

Question 4    Do I have any good checks on their King?
Remember that eight out of nine checks are bad moves.  A good check is one that leads to something positive and is a move that will definitely improve your position or make their position worse.  A good example is a gain of material (double attack on their king plus one of their pieces with the same move) or checkmate.  It is often a good idea to save up and not spend your checks.  Let your opponent’s king stay in danger until you can gain something by attacking it.  Eight out of nine checks are bad moves because 1) they either lose the checking piece or your opponent is able to block the check in a good way for them and a bad way for you, 2) we will just chase their king to a safer or more powerful square than they were already on, or 3) we would accidently move a piece that is really powerful where it is to a not so powerful square just to say “Check”.    Think before you spend your checks!

Question 5    Does my opponent have any good checks on my King?
Some checks are very dangerous!  Look at each one carefully!  Do you need to make some more protectors to set sneaky booby traps for your opponent?  Do you need to start a “save your king” plan?  Try hard to use the idea that eight out of nine checks are bad to your advantage - especially in the endgame.  For example, let your opponent waste time checking your king and let them chase your king across the board where your king can help your pawns get new queens.  Or let your king be chased into being able to stop them from getting questions with their pawns.  You can also let your king be chased into being a helper for you to make a checkmate on their king.

Question 6    Can I win any points in one move?
Can you take any free pieces from your opponent?  Can you make any good trades that win points?  Can you checkmate any of their pieces then take them for free on the next move?  Can you pin, double attack, or remove the defenders of their pieces by capturing or chasing away?  Consider all material threats.  Carefully take a look at all three of your opponent’s targets - king, material and checkmate square.  What do they have in common - same file, rank or diagonal?   Can you double attack any of these targets with one move?

Question 7    Can I lose any points in one move?
If you have even one unprotected target (king, material or checkmate square) you can expect that your opponent is staring hard at it, trying to figure out a way to capture it for free.  Look carefully at your king.  Look carefully at your pieces.  Expect and prepare for your opponent to attack and try to capture them all!  Your opponent’s first plan is to take all your pieces and checkmate your king – followed by taking home YOUR trophy and putting it in THEIR ROOM!  Be prepared and ready to defend yourself and your property (king and pieces) at all times and on all moves.  Give nothing away for free.  When you have to pay, work hard to pay as little as possible.  Work hard to pay nothing when taking their pieces.  All they should get for free is a smile and a handshake after they are in checkmate

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