This is a great post, kokino! Thank you! Analyzing weak squares/pawns is exactly what I've learned to do in the opening position. (I usually then look for tactics that I can follow through with after attacking the weak squares/pawns). As stated, sometimes there aren't any weak squares/pawns, though. In both situations, you still have to have a plan for the type of position you'd like to build during the opening.
For anyone with a creative streak who enjoys 'correspondence'-style chess, but is tired of fighting against and relying on databases for openings, explore 960! I am really enjoying it and am telling others about it, too!
Reasonably speaking, it takes but little experience with the variant called Fischer Random Chess (a.k.a. Chess960 or FRC) to become convinced of the depth of Mr. Fischer’s creation. Set firmly within the framework of standard chess, Chess960 is based upon a very refined usage of the 17th century “shuffle concept”: the resultant 960 starting arrays permit of a chess that is, at once, more profound and creative, and yet in no way burdened with a ponderous “openings theory”.
Therein, however, lies the drawback as well: the Chess960 player is required to analyze the particular starting array he finds before him based solely upon general principles.
Very strangely, considering the countless articles written on Chess960, this, the most basic problem posed by this variant – i.e., How do I go about analyzing a Chess960 opening position? – has all but been ignored!
With this in mind, then, I’d like to offer the following basic method.
I. Analyzing
Confronting a Chess960 starting position, two questions must be asked:
II. Naturally Weak Squares
In the opening array, a square of the second or seventh rank is said to be naturally weak if
a) it is guarded by no piece,
or
b) it is guarded by the king alone. In standard chess, as is well known, the sole naturally weak squares are f2 and f7.
Let’s look at some examples from a few Chess960 positions:
As can be seen, the majority of Fischer Random positions contain naturally weak squares. The point should be obvious: a great many opening set-ups in Chess960 revolve around defending and attacking these key squares.
III. An Opening Goal
When setting out to write a short story, the first thing in Edgar Allan Poe’s mind was the ending. In other words, before he even started, he knew precisely (or Poe-cisely) where he wanted to finish. In thinking about a possible opening set-up for a Chess960 game, that’s just how you should start: In, say, 10 to 12 moves, where would I like to see my pieces?
Don’t misunderstand this: I did not say, “How can I get my pieces into such-and-such a formation?”, that’s a plan, but rather merely, “Where would I like them to be?”, that’s a goal.
Let’s look at an example.
Again taking position 959, after some consideration, I visualize this:
Now, of course, my opponent is going to actively inhibit my plans; further, something better may occur to me as we proceed; but still, with this ideal first conception clearly in view, I’ve made some big steps toward working-out a winning game.
IV. An Opening Plan
Ok, you know where the naturally weak squares (if any) are, and you’ve visualized some kind of opening formation, now, what about a plan to realize all this?
This is a game played by 2 Chess Masters (one of their first Chess960 games) and can be taken as example of a simple opening plan:
V. Summary
Weak squares and a possible set-up scenario are two key concepts in the Chess960 opening. Obviously, a solid knowledge of classical chess formations is required. In classical chess, the quickest part of the game is the opening; in Chess960, as seen in the demo game, this is not at all the case. From the very first move, Chess960 demands creative analysis on the part of the players.
I posted this article in 2 different posts long time ago in another Chess960 group here @chess.com. However, they were merged in one by the admin there.