5 lessons to defend yourself with precision in chess

The 5 lessons to defend yourself with precision in chess
  Hi all! Today I would like to talk to you and give you some lessons on what defense is in chess and how to apply it effectively. Defense is a very important issue to know, since if applied correctly we can obtain very good results and very beautiful games, and on the other hand, if we do not master it very well, it can lead us to make mistakes through which to lose games well be it friendly or in official tournaments.

How to defend yourself in chess?
   In general, defense in chess is an aspect that tends to go unnoticed by most intermediate players and let's not say anything by players who begin to play. That we like to attack is obvious, and that we think that this is the best way to play chess is also a conception that is clearly widespread. However, despite the fact that always playing an active game is one of the most important attitudes to develop a game, on many occasions, we confuse playing active with playing on the attack.

How do the best players understand defense?

    
José Raul Capablanca
  Although defending oneself in chess is not usually a pleasant thing, the best players in the world have always expressed an interest in the harmonious development of their talents both on offense and defense. The great masters of defense have been: the world's leading player, Steinitz and his opponent, the prominent russian chess player Chigorin. And their successors: Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal (yes, Tal) and Petrosian.

  Any gamer who is unfamiliar with the art of defense may consider an incomplete gamer, which is why at this article, I try to instill "the hateful love of defense" and tenaciously develop it alongside the ability to find tactical advantages.

  For what reasons should you learn to defend yourself well?

   In addition to what I have explained to you previously, you should know that the side that is forced to defend itself is subject, to a certain extent, to the plans of the other. And in chess it is especially important to avoid this scenario by applying all possible means. For example, if your opponent is about to attack the king's position, take the appropriate measures to reinforce it in due time; avoid the collapse of the group of pawns that defend it, and mobilize the necessary pieces to support the defense.

  Now that we know the importance of defense, I want to tell you 5 lessons that will help you better defend yourself or, at least, to correctly interpret the defensive aspects in your games:

1. Defense is important in all phases of the game

   The objective of the chess game is to mate the king, and this can happen in any phase: opening, midgame or endgame. The principles of the opening game teach us that we must protect our king within the first 10 moves, therefore it is recommended to castle in this period of time. This does not mean that, when we see a high-level game, in which the players (or one of them) is not castling, they are not playing properly, what will be happening is that said player is able to keep his king safe. using factors other than just castling. However, these techniques (such as the defense of the king in the center) are not recommended for beginners or intermediate players, as they cause more problems than benefits if not used properly.

2. The weakening of the pawn defense

  Pawns are an important factor in the defense of the king. Probably the most important of all. In chess, taking every general rule and scheme as an axiom is harmful to your chess development; and the general rules should apply whenever certain conditions are met.

  "When there is an even position on the board, the game rarely has much content and the game usually ends in a draw. The player who does not like the draw (and I am among them) must try to alter the game in some way. existing balance. You can try to sacrifice something and thus take the initiative, or allow your opponent to attack. I do not like to attack first, or sacrifice pieces and pawns. I prefer to give my opponent the opportunity to undertake a attack, weaken his pawns and sacrifice something and, when the time comes, I return what he has sacrificed ”.

Emanuel lasker

  However, practice has shown us that the initial position of the pawns is the most beneficial to potentially avoid any approach to our king. So you should avoid any modification of this structure around the king unless it is necessary.

  When is it necessary? You will never know. Sorry to tell you this. Even professional players have doubts as to when it is necessary or not. However, what should reassure you is that as your experience increases, the fewer doubts you will have when it comes to weakening the position of your king.

3. There is no single form of defense

  Chess is a very rich and complex game. Playing chess is very easy, but playing very well is very difficult. And this is one of the reasons why there are different types, techniques and defensive principles. Some of them are:
• Active defense: counterattack.
• The simplification of the game and the passage to the end.
• Sacrifice as a defensive weapon.
• Different tactical defense procedures.
• The forced activity of the king.

  Active defense

   The prominent chess players of the Russian school such as Chigorin, Alekhine, Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal and Petrosian and many others were supporters of active defense. In their creative art they have tried to link defense closely with the gradual elaboration of the counterattack.

  Active defense carries within it what might be called the grain of victory sand because it keeps the counter-offensive or the passage to an advantageous end in its sights.

  However, it should be noted that on many occasions, passive defense is the only means to avoid defeat and is strongly conditioned by the characteristics of the position. But as far as possible it is the strategy that you should avoid.

4. Prophylactic defense is the springboard for a good attack

  There are countless examples in which the best chess players in the world in superior positions in which they could intuitively attack prefer to play defensively, anticipatory and prophylactic. Which is the reason? Precisely what we explained previously, the counterattack is one of the most forceful defensive strategies so that preventively "drying" the opponent's options becomes, not only something desirable, but a necessity.

5. Emotional stability is a very important factor

   To be a highly effective player in the defensive area requires a great deal of study and understanding of the game. It is a very delicate and especially difficult subject in the game, since it not only covers a merely strategic area, but also a psychological one. Since there are many emotions that are found when playing a position where we have to defend ourselves very well, at those moments there are feelings such as: frustration for not having been able to get a better position, pressure for not having much space in the position. position or many options to continue, fear of making a mistake and losing the game, anger, etc. But we cannot allow ourselves to be controlled by those emotions, we must have a strong mental capacity to cope with those feelings and know how to be in the context of which we are talking, this through adequate psychological preparation. It also requires a great mental effort since a defensive position requires a lot of analysis and extremely deep and exact calculation of all the approaches and plays of the rival, as well as the continuation that one as a defender must follow.