If you want to learn more about pawn structures, check out this interactive lesson by GM Aman Hambleton. Morphy won this game in just a few more moves: Black's kingside, on the other hand, is not in the game. White is down material, but almost all of his pieces are active. The image above comes from the famous Opera Game played between Paul Morphy and the duo Duke Karl and Count Isouard. White is down in material but has much more active pieces. A player can have less material than another yet have more active pieces, which can lead to a decisive advantage. Piece Activityĭifferent from material count, piece activity is more of an abstract concept. Another way to win is by using a material superiority to overwhelm the other player's defenses to checkmate the king. The player who has a material advantage can usually win the game by trading pieces to simplify the position and enter a winning endgame. If a player knows how to count the total piece value for each player, they can also determine who has a material advantage. Material count is the most straightforward strategic concept to understand since it's also the most concrete. Those are material count, piece activity, piece mobility, pawn structure, space, and king safety. However, learning a few principles can improve your play and help you win more games. Basic Strategic ConceptsĬhess strategy is a complex subject that requires many years of study and hard work to master. Karpov was one of the greatest strategic players in history. Playing against a strategically solid player is a difficulty that few players like to undertake. World champions like Jose Raul Capablanca, GM Tigran Petrosian, and GM Anatoly Karpov excelled at chess strategy. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. ![]() Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." Indeed, relying solely on your opponent falling for a tactical shot might work well for beginners but is a losing approach for more advanced players. You can look at strategy as the breeding ground for tactics.Īccording to the renowned Chinese general Sun Tzu, "Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. There is a famous saying that points out that "chess is 99% tactics." If that is true, why is studying strategy so important?Īlthough tactics can indeed define a game's outcome, good strategic play creates the opportunity for tactical shots in the first place. Karpov is strategically winning in this position, and Kasparov eventually resigned. Unlike tactics, chess strategy involves long-term goals, usually related to king safety, pawn structure, space, piece activity, etc. ![]() Would you like to have that same power? If you do, then you have to learn the concepts of chess strategy.Ĭhess strategy is the purposeful attempt to gain an advantage over your opponent. Do you know that great chess players can glance at a position and quickly assess which side is winning? Not only that, but they can also determine the best moves and ideas for each side.
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