Strategy
Chess strategy is the ability to realize that certain positions or structures are more favorable than others and to form plans to reach these types of positions. Tactics, then is a means by which we use threats and tricks to realize these plans.
Let me give you the picture of a football team, composed out of egoistic players only after showing off their own abilities, not caring as much about the team as about themselves. When they get the ball, their aim is to put it behind the goal keeper single handedly. They dribble away, by all means skilfully, but the chances of scoring alone are much slimmer than if they teamed up with their comrades. Even if every player was very skilled this team´s results would be poorer than that of a team consisting of less skilled players but playing in concord.
Many beginners in chess go through a phase where they use only two or three pieces to launch a direct attack on the opposing king - preferably the queen and a light piece, bishop or knight. After much practice with this strategy they might become very successful until they play someone handling their pieces as one team. The guerrilla tactics may disturb a little, but in the end the "teamplayer" wins the game more often than not. That is because they defend each other´s backs, and when the guerrilla spear has been broken the guerrilla king is in poor shape to defend himself, since he has wasted a lot of time on the premature solo attack, and the rest of his pieces stand undeveloped and cramped in their starting positions.
For a long time this doesn´t deter the fierce attacker as he is not convinced that his "strategy" is a poor choice. He stubbornly continues and becomes very good in sharp tactical play, but since there is a gaping hole in his play where strategical understanding should be, he will eventually reach a point where he can develop no further.
So now that we realize the importance of cooperation between the pieces, we understand the importance of spending time economically. Time, or tempo in chess language, meaning one move. It´s important to not spend more time on individual pieces than necessary. Develop the piece and go on to the next - if possible, so that when the opening phase is over, all the pieces are prepared and ready to do battle in concord.
What should be our first aim in the game. In one word - to control the center. He who controls the center will have very good prospects for the rest of the game. The reason being that a piece posted in the center is ready to launch an attack either directly on the king, or on the queen´s wing, which ever is the weakest. A chain is only as strong as it´s weakest link.
