15 Mar 07
1 edit
Originally posted by scoop122King Safety
in as much as there can be any standard concepts what do people think are the general principles i.e. aim for rooks to the seventh rank, etc.
just after some general ideas
Undefended/Weak defended pieces
Weak squares/square complexes
Space Advantage
Center Control
Initiative
Weak Back Rank
Bishop vs. Knight
Open or Closed position
Pawn Structure
Material
You should think about these every move.
15 Mar 07
Originally posted by cmsMasterreally useful stuff thank you
King Safety
Undefended/Weak defended pieces
Weak squares/square complexes
Space Advantage
Center Control
Initiative
Weak Back Rank
Bishop vs. Knight
Open or Closed position
Pawn Structure
You should think about these every move.
what are 'square complexes?'
15 Mar 07
Originally posted by scoop122I meant to define that more clearly.
really useful stuff thank you
what are 'square complexes?'
There are square "complexes" around the king, let's look specifically at that around black.
f7, g6, h7 - light squared complex
or
h6, g7, f6 - dark squared complex
If these squares are weakened, or are under heavy pressure from white and blacks king is castled kingside black is probably in trouble.
Consider the following position:
I just made it up...but I think it demonstrates the point. White to move and mate in 4. Notice how black weakened the dark squares around his king, and despite having a nice pawn structure and material advantage he is lost - white to mate in 4, because of white's initiative and black's weak dark squares around his king.
16 Mar 07
Originally posted by cmsMasterOne more.
King Safety
Undefended/Weak defended pieces
Weak squares/square complexes
Space Advantage
Center Control
Initiative
Weak Back Rank
Bishop vs. Knight
Open or Closed position
Pawn Structure
Material
You should think about these every move.
Keep Developing your pieces.
16 Mar 07
Originally posted by scoop122An excellent inexpensive book on strategic motifs is "Weapons of Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini.
in as much as there can be any standard concepts what do people think are the general principles i.e. aim for rooks to the seventh rank, etc.
just after some general ideas
A better, but much more expensive, book on strategic motifs is "Point Count Chess" by IM I.A. Horowitz and Geoffrey Mott-Smith. This book has been out of print for decades. I hope Dover resissues it at some point.
16 Mar 07
Originally posted by cmsMasterit's too early for me to think..whats the mate?
I meant to define that more clearly.
There are square "complexes" around the king, let's look specifically at that around black.
f7, g6, h7 - light squared complex
or
h6, g7, f6 - dark squared complex
If these squares are weakened, or are under heavy pressure from white and blacks king is castled kingside black is probably in trouble.
C ...[text shortened]... to mate in 4, because of white's initiative and black's weak dark squares around his king.
16 Mar 07
Originally posted by cmsMasterAnd also,
King Safety
Undefended/Weak defended pieces
Weak squares/square complexes
Space Advantage
Center Control
Initiative
Weak Back Rank
Bishop vs. Knight
Open or Closed position
Pawn Structure
Material
You should think about these every move.
Compensation (if materially down, what do you have to show for it?)
Kingside/queenside play
counterplay (do you have something to do other than just defend?)
peice placement (eg...knight outposts, rooks on open files, etc)
imbetween moves (anything else to be played before obvoius moves?)
trading down/removing defenders/attackers (do you benifit?)
the peices (ie, in the position is my rook worth less than a Knight)
and time (dont, dont, dont forget the clocks)
