The 6 Elements of Chess pt3
The Six Elements of Chess Part 3
By N.M. Steven Colding
Exploiting a Space Advantage
Part 1
It is one thing to recognise one has a space advantage but what do we do once we have it? When we see that are pieces can act more freely than our opponents pieces we can attribute this to a space advantage. So what if our piece can move more freely ,where do we attack? Of course, it depends on the position. Let us use the next diagram as an example.
This is the same game we were using from the previous article. In it White has an undeniable space advantage. Now it is Black's move but where should White attack? His choices are the Kingside, the Queenside or the Center. Where should White attack?
The answer is that White should attack where Black has a weakness! Wait a minute what is a weakness? Where do weaknesses come from? Well weaknesses come from pushed Pawns! Whenever you push a Pawn (with the exception of the center Pawns) you create a weakness.
OK, well when a Pawn advances where is the weakness located? The weakness can be in the back, in the front, but most likely on the side of the Pawn. Let's look at the following diagram.
Black has just played the move a5. The weakness he has created is at b5 the adjacent square. Why is this square a weakness? It is a weakness because it allows a White piece into that square without the ability to chase it away with a Pawn. When a square cannot be protected by a Pawn that square is said to be a hole.
Rule: Stick your pieces in the holes.
When a piece in in a hole and you protect that piece with a pawn it now becomes an outpost because it becomes very difficult to expel that piece from your position.
Summmary
1) Wait for the weakness.
2) Weaknesses come from pushed Pawns.
3) The weakness that comes from a pushed Pawn can be in front,
in back, or most likely on the side of a Pawn
4) When a square cannot be protected by a Pawn the square
becomes a hole.
5) Stick your pieces in the holes.
6) When a piece in a hole is protected by a PAwn it then becomes
an outpost.
Next time : Exploiting a space advantage Part 2
