Master the Chessboard's Engine: Why Center Control Wins Games
Dear Chess Friends!
The center isn’t just four squares—it’s the engine of your strategy. In my recent workshop, "The Role of the Center in the Opening," we explored how controlling e4/d4/e5/d5 squares every phase of the game. Missed the live session? Watch the full recording here, and dive into these 4 master games that reveal why giants like Kasparov and Keres treated the center like gold.
Why the Center? The 3 Superpowers
- Mobility
Centralized pieces move faster. A knight on e5 attacks 8 squares; on a5, just 4. - Flexibility
Control the center, and you can strike anywhere. Flank attacks? King assaults? All flow from here. - Suffocation
Dominate the center, and your opponent’s pieces choke. Ever see a bishop trapped behind its own pawns? Thank central control.
4 Game Fragments That Teach Everything
1. Koltanowski vs. Reilly (1935)
Lesson: Classical Pawn Power
Key Move: 8.e4!
White’s pawn duo (d4/e4) squeezed Black like a vice. When Koltanowski later broke with 16.e5!, it unleashed a mating net.
Takeaway: Pawn centers create space for attacks.
2. Kotov vs. Keres (1950)
Lesson: Hypermodern Piece Play
Key Move: 16.Nf4!
Kotov ignored pawns and used knights/bishops to blast through Keres’ kingside. The knight sac 18.Nh8!! proved central control lets pieces dance.
Takeaway: Control the center with pieces? Pawns become irrelevant.
3. Loginov vs. Sakaev (1996)
Lesson: The Cost of Neglect
Fatal Error: 10.cxd5?
White’s passive knights and weak center collapsed after 10...Ne5!. Black’s pawn storm (9...d5!) exposed the price of ignoring e4/d5.
Takeaway: Lose the center, lose the game.
4. Spiridonov vs. Kasparov (1980)
Lesson: Modern Dynamism
Key Move: 14...f5!
Kasparov sacrificed space for activity. His ...f5! break turned static central control into a kingside avalanche.
3 Ways to Dominate the Center
- Occupy It (Classical)
Example: d4 + e4 pawns. Restrict enemy pieces, then advance like Koltanowski. - Attack It (Hypermodern)
Example: Knights/bishops eyeing e5/d4 (like Kotov). Lure pawns forward, then strike their base. - Sacrifice For It (Dynamic)
Example: Kasparov’s ...f5! Trade space for counterplay.
Your Challenge
In Koltanowski’s game (after 18...Kg6), would you play 19.Qg4 or 19.f4? Analyze the position here and reply with your verdict!
If you would like to participate in our next event in live, you can register here: https://chesslance.com/masterclass/
Your participation is absolutely free.
Keep your pieces centralized and your plans unstoppable,
FM Viktor Neustroev
