Master the Chessboard's Engine: Why Center Control Wins Games

Master the Chessboard's Engine: Why Center Control Wins Games

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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

Hi!
My name is Victor Neustroev. I'm a FIDE Master with Elo rating 2305.


Experienced chess coach specializing in tactics and openings. An author of educational chess courses on different learning platforms.

The coach of the champion of Siberia among girls under 9!

Affordable rates! A test lesson is also possible!

I'm 34. I live in Russia, Novosibirsk. I learned to play chess when I was 5. I regularly won prizes at Novosibirsk region Championship and Siberia Chess Championship among juniors. I'm a champion of Novosibirsk City Chess Club at 2002 and a champion of Novosibirsk at 2019.


I got Master's Degree in Economics at Novosibirsk State University and also played for its chess team.


Today I am focusing on teaching chess online and offline. The reason why I do this is because I feel happy when see how my students achieve success.

 

I teach juniors since 2002. Almost all of my students were ranked. Some of them got prizes at Novosibirsk region Championship.
I also work with adults.

 

I will teach you how to find tactical strikes in certain position types and how to classify them. I can help you to improve you calculational ability. I also teach you chess openings and I believe you know how important they are. According to the statistics right-playing of the opening makes from 30 to 60% of your success (the exact number depends on your level).
Please, check my youtube videos to know how I teach and what you will achieve working with me.