A style of play emphasizing capture of strategic squares and prophylactic moves.
12
votes
3answers
416 views
What are white's plans in this position?
I'll skip the long explanation, but it's not uncommon for me to reach the following position as White out of the opening:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.O-O cxb2 Bxb2
...
1
vote
1answer
117 views
Is it true that a good “flanker” (flanking position) is worth more than a pawn? If so, why?
Perhaps I've used the wrong term, but I'll describe what a "flanker" is.
In the Queen's Gambit, there is often the possibility for White to sacrifice a bishop on h7.
1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 2.Ng5+ Kg8 3.Qh5 ...
8
votes
7answers
283 views
I lost a game without making tactical mistakes; how can I avoid this happening in the future?
Here's a game of mine from last night. It was my first tournament game for many years.
(This game is David Kenney vs. Douglas Stones [me] 1-0. Press F to flip the board.)
[fen ""]
[Event "Bluenose ...
3
votes
5answers
173 views
Switching from 1.e4 to 1.d4?
I've only played 1.e4 as white so far (in clubs, tournaments, online, everywhere!), in the past 5 years since I learned chess. And it has been very fun, but I want to explore the dark side as well, as ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
How do I learn to understand the middlegame?
I am trying to train tactics as well as my general understanding of the beginning/middlegame. I spent a good bit of time understanding endgames, per chessmaster recommendations and those I can ...
7
votes
2answers
172 views
What color squares should pawns be on with one bishop left?
This slightly confuses me. If I have one bishop left - let's say it is the light-squared bishop - ss it better for my pawns to be on the light squares or dark squares? Let's assume also that my ...
1
vote
1answer
127 views
Does the Caro-Kann or the Tartakower System of the Queen's Gambit Declined help with positional skills?
In the following Wikipedia biography on Gary Kasparov, I read the following:
From age 7, Kasparov attended the Young Pioneer Palace in Baku and, at 10 began training at Mikhail Botvinnik's chess ...
12
votes
2answers
238 views
What are some chess games that feature Zugzwang despite many pieces remaining on the board?
The game Saemisch - Nimzowitsch (Copenhagen 1923) has come to be known as the Immortal Zugzwang Game, as a play on Anderssen's swashbuckling Immortal Game. I am interested in finding other examples of ...
7
votes
3answers
502 views
What are the differences between tactical and positional chess?
Does one style of play have an advantage/disadvantage over the other?
Are today's GMs mostly tactical players or positional players?
What GMs should I follow if I want to be more of a tactical ...
7
votes
2answers
185 views
What is the bishop pair worth?
It depends on the position but with all things being equal how much material value would you say the bishop pair is valued at?
6
votes
3answers
151 views
What is the correct definition of a bad bishop?
Is a bad bishop a bishop that is trapped by your own pawns? (For example, all your pawns are on dark squares, so the dark squared bishop is bad.) Or is it when your opponent's pawns trap your ...
11
votes
3answers
221 views
What are the reasons why I should not try to take a Knight with my Bishop if it'll result in doubled pawns?
For instance, in the Ruy Lopez, after
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
why shouldn't I take the Knight?
4 Bxc6 dxc6
Now Black has a doubled pawn.
It isn't a very popular line of play, which ...
