Middlegame Strategy Training for 2000+ - Part 1
This post features 5 advanced strategic exercises taken from my book How to Create Plans in the Middlegame. The positions are designed to train your ability to identify long-term plans based on pawn structure and piece activity — two essential pillars of positional understanding.
The difficulty level is aimed at players rated around 2000 and above, but ambitious players below that level may still benefit from reflecting on the ideas and comparing their thinking to the solutions.
This is Part 1 of a 3-part series. Each post will present 5 positions with brief context and full explanations after each diagram. Try to pause and think before reading the solution — the goal is not just to get the move, but to understand the plan. The explanations of each exercise are on the end of the blog.
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 1
1...Ne6
With this move, Black intends to maneuver the knight to d4, where it will be very well placed. After the maneuver, Black can put pressure on the a5 pawn.
Exercise 2
1...Bxc3
With the idea of weakening the e4 square.
2.bxc3 Bf5
With the idea of eliminating White’s strongest piece.
3.Bxf5 Qxf5
With this, Black can place the knight on e4.
Exercise 3
The bishop on g7 is a great piece that participates not only in the attack but also in the defense. Therefore, White tries in some way to eliminate it.
1.g4
With this move, White threatens g5 to drive the knight away from f6 and exchange the bishops. If 1...e5, Black, besides weakening the bishop on g7, creates a weakness: the d6 pawn.
Exercise 4
1.c5
With the idea of ruining Black’s pawn structure.
1...bxc5
2.dxe5 Bxe5
3.Nxe5 Nxe5
4.Bxe5 Qxe5
Exercise 5
The d6 square is an advanced outpost and can be occupied by the knight on c3.
1.c5
With this move, White gains even more control over the d6 square.
1...a5
2.Nb1 g6
3.Na3
In the next moves, White can complete the maneuver and achieve a better positional advantage.
I hope you enjoyed the exercises. The next part will be posted as soon as possible.
