All Questions
Tagged with positional-play strategy
65 questions
2
votes
1
answer
444
views
What's the benefit to attacking f7 or f2 during the opening?
I remember a specific chess.com lesson on common openings, and it seems like one of the most common and safest openings is to take control of the center with the king and queen pawns and the attack ...
14
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Why is it better to take with the knight than with the pawn in this position?
[fen "r3k1nr/p2b1ppp/4p3/3pP3/8/1p1B4/2PN1PPP/R3K2R w - - 0 1"]
I recently had a chess game in which I played as white and the position was as shown in the picture. I chose the move cxb3, ...
- 243
-1
votes
1
answer
103
views
Nimzowitsch and the defensive theory of open lines
I have read from Nimzowitsch over and over again how one could use a file as the basis of a restraining operation. All those who know his work know what I speak of, but good players at all levels ...
- 29
2
votes
4
answers
213
views
Trying to improve
I have a question hopefully someone can help me out.
3 days ago I won a tournament (25+5) semi-rapid section under 1450 OTB. I scored 5/5 beating some high rated players.
My rating OTB semi-rapid ...
- 249
2
votes
0
answers
66
views
Please advise which books are about strategy with explanations [duplicate]
I have many books that show openings, endplays, tactics, different puzzle to find best moves, databases with games, articles...
All this stuff shows specific moves, which I have to find by myself.
I ...
- 121
1
vote
3
answers
303
views
Chess calculation when there's more than 10 best moves
I have seen quite few positions where opponent has more than 10 good moves if I play a specific move. Even at that time, I have seen people calculate for so long. Is it that they are looking at all ...
- 524
2
votes
4
answers
180
views
What strategic principles contribute to black's advantage in this position?
I calculated to the following position during a game:
[FEN "r1r3k1/5pbp/p2qpnp1/3p4/3P4/2N1PB1P/P5P1/2R1QRK1 w - - 1 22"]
At the time I believed black would have a slight positional edge ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
304
views
Did Lichess Level 8 truly lose this game?
Jonathan Scrantz played this game against Lichess Level 8:
[Title "Jonathan Scrantz VS Stockfish Level 8 (3000) after 9. Kh1"]
[FEN ""]
[Startply "17"]
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 ...
- 2,835
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
If the back row of white pieces is moved to be in front of the pawns, which side should I play?
I remember this starting position played many times by my grandfathers. But I am too young to recollect the results of their games. If I have to choose, which side should I play? (White moves 1st)
- 325
9
votes
3
answers
628
views
How do I play against the Queen's Gambit Declined Tartakower structure?
I play the Exchange Variation against the QGD, but I'm really struggling against the Tartakower style setup in the QGD, when black plays b6 and c5. As White, I just don't really know what I'm supposed ...
- 93
3
votes
1
answer
102
views
Playing with Ranks Advantage
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
I was planning to play white against the computer, starting with the positional advantage as shown above. I don't know how to ...
- 325
2
votes
2
answers
319
views
Josh Waitzkin chessmaster mastery quiz - spatial advantage, trading bishops
Update: The computer aspect of this can be answered with showing more lines such as in the lichess engine where h6 is slightly preferred to f5.
Based on: Josh Waitzkin Chessmaster Strategy Section 7 -...
- 2,216
5
votes
2
answers
396
views
How do I create sharp, tactical positions?
It is said that you shouldn't simply look for combinations every move; rather, you should create positions that tend to create tactical opportunities.
But what does this actually mean? I think my ...
- 399
1
vote
1
answer
87
views
Why is the evaluation of the move h5 dependent on position of the bishop?
[FEN ""]
[startply "50"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nd8 14. a4 Ra7 15. Nf1 g6 16. Bh6 Re8 17....
- 2,513
2
votes
1
answer
212
views
Why this move is good here but not few moves ago?
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/p2p2pp/1pn1p3/5p2/1PP1n1P1/P4N2/1BQ1PP1P/R3KB1R b - - 0 1"]
Here, 1... fxg4 gives White an advantage. But 1...Nxf2 2.Kxf2 fxg4 is equal. Why is that?
- 2,513
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why does Black want to trade off their King's Bishop in many d4 lines?
I feel that in many lines starting with d4, such as the Queen's Gambit Declined, or especially the Nimzo-Indian, Black is more than happy to trade their King's Bishop for White's knight on c3. For ...
- 293
4
votes
2
answers
363
views
Analysis of a middlegame out of the Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation
What positional considerations must be made in order to come up with a plan for White in this position?
What are the ideas behind the central squares and weaknesses that must be analyzed for both ...
- 2,227
14
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Positional thinking by Grandmasters
How do Grandmasters think in an unknown position and make the best move?
- 711
18
votes
7
answers
7k
views
Was this “caterpillar” strategy a good way to advance my pawns?
I recently played an endgame as Black in which I thought up a silly, but effective, to advance my doubled pawns. Here is the relevant part of the game.
[FEN "8/6p1/2p2kp1/1p1p4/p2P2K1/P1P5/1P6/8 ...
- 17.8k
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Pushing the e-pawn
I am having trouble understanding why the move e5 which I played in the position below
is not correct according to Stockfish (6th move for White)
I am not doing this move by winning a tempo, but I ...
- 2,227
1
vote
2
answers
137
views
What is the best continuation for White?
[FEN "4r3/pq3k2/1p4p1/2p1Qn1p/2PpN3/3P4/PP3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1"]
It is White to move the above position.
After Ng5 check, the Black king can go only to g8 or f8.
If the Black king goes to g8, they ...
- 233
21
votes
2
answers
5k
views
The Game of the Century - why didn't Byrne take the rook after he forked Fischer?
I'm guessing that there's a pretty simple explanation for this, but I can't seem to see it.
[White "Donald Byrne"]
[Black "Robert James Fischer"]
[fen ""]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5....
- 2,236
3
votes
1
answer
302
views
Short and long term plans in a closed game in the Sicilian Defense
Today, I have played a game as Black.
I reached this position, with Black to play:
The position, as you can see, is closed. The truth is that I had difficulty finding a plan here, considering the ...
- 2,227
4
votes
1
answer
181
views
Winning plan for black in this line of French Defense: Advance Variation Main Line
I play the French Defense as both white and black. I often play this line with black suggested by Korchnoi if I am not wrong. I have found a way to prevent the sudden b4, via Bd7 (if 8.Rb1 Bd7 9.b4 ...
user18196
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Chess strategy versus positional chess
If one master writes a book on chess strategy (example here) and another writes a book on positional chess (example here), are they writing more or less on the same subject?
Do other major chess ...
- 4,589
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Understanding Kramnik's play in game 1 of Candidates 2018
The position I'm studying is the middlegame part of the game 1 of Berlin Candidates 2018 between Kramnik and Grischuk, which Kramnik won with the white pieces.
In particular, I'm interested in ...
- 3,416
20
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Assessing an early c4 against white's Stonewall structure
I made a horrible decision as black in a game, and I do not understand why it's incorrect.
[fen "rn2kb1r/pp2pppp/1q3n2/2pp4/3P1P2/2PQPN2/PP4PP/RNB1K2R b - - 0 1"]
I played c4, Stockfish considers ...
- 243
1
vote
2
answers
455
views
What is the thought process of a GM playing bullet? [closed]
I have read other posts (e.g. this) with descriptions of the thought process when playing long time controls, but I'm wondering what kind of information a GM processes during games with very short ...
- 170
8
votes
3
answers
344
views
Who has the advantage in this position?
I was in a three%day turn bame, I played almost played a line that would have led me to this position. Black’s central pawns seem to be an advantage, although White being up the exchange scared me. ...
- 355
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Examples of harmony?
Recently my chess tutor used a word which in hindsight is very interesting: harmony. He mentioned I should not just develop my pieces in the opening, but develop them harmoniously. Since then, I've ...
- 1,127
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why are these weak squares important in this situation?
I'm watching a video on weak/strong squares. I think that I understand the concept, but not exactly why they are important in this game (Carlsen-Karjakin):
The video explains how Carlsen maneuvered ...
- 685
2
votes
3
answers
499
views
Engine with emphasis on strategic/positional analysis
Are there engines are especially recommended for strategic/positional analysis? I'm especially looking to use the engine in complex, opening position.
- 1,288
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
What is chess style?
People talk about chess stylet. Obviously, some players such as Tal or Shirazi sought out highly tactical positions but is there anything more to it than that? The only alternative to being a ...
- 977
3
votes
1
answer
221
views
Example highlighting overprotection
Nimzovich was a proponent of the idea of over-protection, a concept which I don't understand well enough to ever implement in my games. Are there any example games at the GM level that illustrate this ...
- 245
1
vote
1
answer
194
views
Is there a misuse of the word flanking in My System by Nimzowitch?
Has anyone read the new translation of My System by Aaron Nimzowitch published by New in Chess? In it, the word flanking seems to be used to describe both the attack of a piece from the side and from ...
- 241
1
vote
3
answers
69
views
Significance / Plan behind the move
White's last move was Ra2. I was to curious
to know the plan behind or any strategical / tactical significance
behind that move.
- 655
6
votes
6
answers
627
views
What should my plan be in this middlegame?
This is a game I played recently. After 12. Be2, I really didn't know how to proceed. Eventually, after thinking for a very long time (>30 minutes, it's a correspondence game by the way), I moved ...
- 81
3
votes
3
answers
225
views
What plan should I have followed in this particular position?
I played a game today where I feel that I had a nice positional advantage (the computer supports my opinion) but I only managed to draw it in the end. This is the position that I consider to be ...
- 1,597
8
votes
3
answers
815
views
When is it right to start learning strategy after tactics
I have been furiously solving tactical puzzles for 6 weeks now and about three weeks ago I reactivated my account on chess.com.
Long story short I have seen my "rating" go from 1280 to 1590 during ...
- 527
2
votes
3
answers
141
views
Plan from the position
I am not asking for analysis, just want to know what are the plans to continue for black .(white to move)
- 655
3
votes
2
answers
151
views
Purpose behind the move
I was just guessing the best move in the given position(black to move) .
I thought it would be 'Be6' , But the engine gave 'c5' , which weakens the 'd5' square .
I want to know the plan behind the ...
- 655
4
votes
5
answers
284
views
White's plans from this position
I am not asking for analysis, just want to know what are the plans that white should go for (long term / short term) given that black pawn structure is not so great.
[Title "Black to move"]
[...
- 655
18
votes
10
answers
6k
views
Study endgame first before studying opening? Is it true?
While looking for and comparing suggestions that will help me to improve in chess, I have noticed that some people and some chess book authors suggest that you should study the endgame first.
Some ...
- 1,129
19
votes
9
answers
19k
views
What is positional play in chess?
I have played chess so many times, understood tactics (pins, discovered check, overloading, deflection, skewer), but I never understood clearly the positional play. I have noticed not many tutorials ...
- 972
4
votes
3
answers
515
views
Which type of openings generally lead their users not to waste much time on the clock: sharp/aggressive/tactical or positional/solid/quiet openings?
I’m only asking this question out of curiosity. The answers I’ll get won’t make me change my opening repertoire.
OTB which type of openings generally lead their users not to waste too much time on ...
- 4,944
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Equalize - What does it really mean?
We often read or hear in books or video tutorials the following: "With this move, Black can equalize!". Some authors give 15-move or 20-move variations of some openings (e.g. Caro-Kann, Slav, Semi-...
- 1,129
9
votes
7
answers
3k
views
For Black, against the Caro-Kann Advance Shirov variation 4. Nc3 which move tends to lead to the most positional, slow, solid and strategic positions?
I'm a 1800 Elo player that likes positional, quiet, drawish, slow, boring and strategic openings.
As Black against 1. e4 I play the Caro-Kann. But there is one variation of the Caro-Kann that I ...
- 4,944
4
votes
1
answer
489
views
In the Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik Attack 5... e6 6. Nf3, what are the differences between 6... Be7 and 6... Bb4 ? Which one is more solid and quiet?
In the Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik Attack 5... e6 6. Nf3, I am hesitating between 6... Be7 and 6... Bb4
[StartPly "11"]
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 (6.....
- 4,944
6
votes
1
answer
553
views
Overprotection Of A Piece
What exactly is the logic behind the concept of “overprotection of a piece”?
Wikipedia says that it "...provides greater freedom of movement for the pieces protecting that square." If the protected ...
- 248
8
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What are some good books on the Caro-Kann which propose a Black repertoire based on positional, strategic, solid, boring and quiet variations?
I'm a 1750 Elo player, and 6 months ago I bought the book Grandmaster Repertoire: The Caro-Kann by Lars Schandorff, and I was disappointed.
In my opinion, the repertoire proposed in the book is too ...
- 4,944