One of the golden rules is maintaining control of the center of the board. Fine, we all get that. When the battle is such that the main play on the board is to one side or the other, is a new "center" then created? For example, I'm involved in a real time game where both sides have castled to the King side and the majority of the pieces and pawns are on that right side (white orientation) of the board.
So, my question is: do you approach the game as though the center has shifted to that more crowded side OR do you use the emptier side to mount your attack? Obviously, much depends on what pieces are involved and positioning. I'm just talking about philosophically.
I hope the question makes sense.
"No the center of the board is always the center of the board. However, I think what you're saying is that if you have locked control of the center, then basically there is a "center within the center" because the center is now part of your territory, and there is a new focal point between your territory and your opponent's territory."
Bingo. That's exactly what my question was about. I was curious as to how the better chess players view the board when the action shifts away from the dead center and whether their view is now like a miniature version of the start of the game with the same principles but now reduced and located differently.
I am fascinated by the vision of the better chess players and how it changes during the course of a game, how it evolves or how it stays the same. I'm interested in how the better players attack relative to an ever-changing space. It's the artistic side of chess and the architectural side as well. Building, attacking, defending, closing in... all with established principles that are an expression of each player's unique personality.
In short, it's why chess is cool.
One thing to keep in mind though, is that every piece except the rook has more possible moves from the center four spaces, resulting in increased efficiency of each piece. Plus, controlling this area forces the opposition to the sides of the board cutting down their move choices, splitting up their forces, and giving you more cooperation between your pieces.
I agree with #5. Control of the centre is like holding the high ground on a hill. Of course each contest will focus on various squares anywhere on the board which are important for that particular position but the advantages associated with the centre are seldom trivial.
I always try to contest the centre, but only because i'm told to by the innumerable books I've read. But I don't think I've ever said, after a loss: "my weak centre cost me that game". Maybe my strategic sense is too weak to notice it.
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