any resources on squares seizing strategy ?

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wistiti3000

I am very enthusiastic in watching some games where the strategy consists in seizing squares slowly one by one (usually from one color). For ex. in some games of Karpov, Capablanca, Rubinstein.

That result is quite clear to me : controlling 1 color square in the center, then another one, then another one around the center, then, etc... then controlling all the colors till the opponent suffocate.

I am very interested in this strategy, unfortunatly, I've found very few resources based exclusively on that squares control evolution. Of course lots of books or games annotation mention the importance of colors or square control, but not the dynamic strategy consisting in choosing/targeting squares at each step from the beginning to the end.

Do you know any resources about that ?

 

kindaspongey

Maybe Simple Chess by Michael Stean would be helpful.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf

wistiti3000

Thank you for the link. I've already read that book and it is good indeed, however I am searching for a more specific resource dealing with squares seizing dynamism.

talesfromthehood

I just take my opponent's queen, then I demolish them. They be like, "What happened? Where my queen be at?"

MickinMD

The closest instruction I know is Chapter 7, "Attacks on Colour Complexes" in The Chess Attacker's Handbook, by IM Michael Song and GM Razvan Preotu.  The strategy is demonstrated through complete games.  The chapter discusses looking, when your opponent loses a Bishop, at the squares of the color that Bishop traveled on, noting that a Knight can be posted on the opposite color so it attacks squares of the desired color, etc.

kindaspongey

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/The_Chess_Attacker's_Handbook.pdf

wistiti3000

Thank you for the resource, will have a look!

wistiti3000

After searching a bit, I found a method about squares strategy from Alexander Bangiev. Anyone knows ?

captaintugwash
talesfromthehood wrote:

I just take my opponent's queen, then I demolish them. They be like, "What happened? Where my queen be at?"

You're doing it wrong.

The idea is to give up the queen then demolish them.

defenserulz
wistiti3000 wrote:

I am very enthusiastic in watching some games where the strategy consists in seizing squares slowly one by one (usually from one color). For ex. in some games of Karpov, Capablanca, Rubinstein.

That result is quite clear to me : controlling 1 color square in the center, then another one, then another one around the center, then, etc... then controlling all the colors till the opponent suffocate.

I am very interested in this strategy, unfortunatly, I've found very few resources based exclusively on that squares control evolution. Of course lots of books or games annotation mention the importance of colors or square control, but not the dynamic strategy consisting in choosing/targeting squares at each step from the beginning to the end.

Do you know any resources about that ?

 

 I think MatoJelic has a video on YouTube discusses color complexes.  

 

I seem to remember too that Karpov was particularly good at exploiting color complex weaknesses.  

 

Having said that, I don't know if it's a good idea to focus on that as a priority (if anyone was thinking that), but rather it's probably a good idea to keep in mind within a large gamut of possibilities and options.  Everything in chess is situational.  

 

Depending on the EXACT game at hand, adopting a color complex domination/exploitation strategy may or may not be helpful.  But it's a good concept and strategy to understand.  You might be appropriate for a given situation.  ....It's kind of like when I learned the minority attack.  I was like:  "Cool!  ...but, eh, ....it's not really useful in many games."  lol.

 

Your specific game situation has to dictate what moves and strategy to adopt.  I guess that's a huge thing I learned recently from watching GM Daniel Naroditzky's videos online.  You rails against just mindlessly playing "bookish" lines and conceptual moves even if they don't fit the position.  It might look good, but the actual position may demand a different move. 

 

k, said enuf.  lol.  Sorry for being preachy.  But just wanted 2 throw in my 2 cents.  If you get some games involving color strategy and don't mind posting them, it'd be cool to get examples we can analyze and learn from! 

LePredator
wistiti3000 wrote:

After searching a bit, I found a method about squares strategy from Alexander Bangiev. Anyone knows ?

It's very difficult to find a one-source comprehensive material on this very particular subject, as it tends to be scattered in various strategy books. The single source I've found that deals exclusively with this subject is the Bangiev Method, which unfortunately has the information shrouded in weird terminology and shorthand, in my opinion much worse than the somewhat relatable jargon employed by Hans Kmoch in 'Pawn Power In Chess'. 
 
As to the subject matter, what makes it even more confusing is that you hear about square color control even as early as the opening moves! When someone plays 1.b3 for instance, you'll instantly hear of (and often, see) control of the central dark squares. The early moves of the Caro-Kann and French are said to challenge White's pawn duo central control 'on the light squares', and those of the Pirc, KID and Open Sicilian 'on the dark squares'. Minor piece trades early in the opening are often spoken of in these terms. In the NID, almost all of Black's early moves (including what GM Maurice Ashley calls the 'grandmaster exchange', bishop takes c3-knight) 'play on the light squares', similar to QID and Owen's defense. The London, Colle-Zukertort and Torre systems are inherently dark-squared in nature.
 
To all these points I've always wondered, WHY? Just why? Especially in the opening. No one seems to be able to explain it in simple terms to lower-rated players like me. I mean, I understand the idea of 'working a weak color complex' in the middlegame to some degree. But in the opening? What's the motivation?

 

I wish the Bangiev CDs were written in simple language. Maybe anyone who understands it can help translate.