Also, I would like to ask you another question: In which type of middlegame positions you do not feel confident?
Are You Afraid of Closed Positions?
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GM Grigorov, your analysis is very informative. You go beyond the superficial, and I learned from your game. I should note, though, that at times your words aren't very flattering to us non-masters. You say that the idea behind Black's a6 move is 'obvious,' or that the retreat Ne8 is a 'natural move,' I did not find either obvious or natural, and I'm sure many would agree with me.
In terms of your question, I think too many chess authors try to explain closed positions using examples like yours, namely, the KID pawn structure. The plans are relatively straightforward and well-known, and they are easy to teach. That's great, but it's hard to transfer what I read here to what I tend to get in the French or Nimzo, for instance:
These structures don't have the same well-known plans, and it's tough for me to understand or even formulate a plan beyond, "I've got more space on one side, I guess I'll just advance my pawns there."
tl; dr: What middlegame positions do I not feel confident in? Closed positions that aren't the KID. Oh! And also the Black side of the Maroczy Bind-type structures. White slowly squeezes Black to death and it's so hard to know where to find counterplay.
Oct 30, 2016
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#4
Dear Mr.SmithyQ,
First of all, I would like to thank you for your valuable feedback. You really help me in getting better chess writer and trainer. Additionally, I should say that I really appreciate your chess culture - you know a lot!
Let me share my thoughts on the French structure you feature in your post. Generally speaking, in closed positions, you should play on the side where you have a space advantage. In the French structure, the e5-pawn gives you a space advantage and you should consider a kingside pawn expansion. In this line of thoughts, it is normal to contact Black's e6-pawn, trying to create a weakness and open a file. At this point, I would like to point something very important: The fact that Black's king is on the queenside doesn't make our kingside expansion pointless. We want to create weaknesses and open a file. There are two important rules of thumb that we should mention
1) The side which has a space advantage usually wins the battle for an open file due to the better communication lines which give a room for maneuvers
2) It is almost impossible to build a successful attack on the wing where your opponent has a space advantage (in the French structure, Black could hardly develop a successful kingside attack, if his opponent plays precisely).
Let me give an example:
This is a classical KID position which was reached in the game Petrosian - Gligoric, Candidates tournament 1953. Despite the fact that White's king is on the queenside, his main idea is connected with the execution of the c4-c5 advance. That is what Petrosian actually did in the game. It is difficult to imagine how Black could build an attack on the queenside. In French Defence, the logic is the same.
In the future, I will start preparing some article featuring this type of French structure.
I hope that this discussion would be really useful for you!
Oct 30, 2016
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#5
Oh, I forgot to answer your second question.
In your second example (Nimzo-Indian structure with doubled pawns), White already has a weakness - the c4-pawn. Black's most reasonable plan is to attack it by means of moves like Na5 followed by b7-b6 and Ba6. As I have pointed out in my previous comment, we create a pawn contact (on the side where we have space advantage) in order to open a file or to create a weakness. Here, there are is no point in playing b7-b5, since White already has a weakness.
Actually, closed positions are what I am worst at. I have this one player in my club who keeps playing the Staunton-Cochrane Variation of King's Pawn Opening. I am not sure how to handle the position. In G30 games he just closes up the position by pushing pawns, then tries to trade a bunch of pieces and relies on the clock running down and me making huge mistakes due to time trouble to get a win. He just plays for the draw during the middlegame and is never on the offensive. I have a general idea about what I should do (i.e. build up small positional advantages over time and take advantage of his inactivity), but really need to figure out how to better do these things.
Closed positions are where the fun is!
Oct 30, 2016
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#8
Dear Mr.gchess33,
Thank you for your comment! Your opinion confirms my observations - the vast majority of the players do not feel confident in Closed positions. Of course, the topic is complicated but I will try to put it in a nutshell by pointing our some basic principles:
1) You need a long-term positional plan
2) You choose your plan according to the pawn structure - usually, we should play on the side where we have a space advantage
3) In most of the cases, you should attack the opponent's most advanced pawn (on the side where you have space advantage) in order to open a file and create a weakness
4) Attack the weakness and invade the opponents camp via the open file.
Of course, in order to apply these rules in your own games, you need to practice. Also, always look for some classical examples. I wish you good luck!
Thank you, GM Grigorov, for your reply. You helped crystalize something for me. I always assumed we are opening lines for an attack. I see now that the idea is to create or expose a weakness. There's a small but distinct difference. That's why I immediately assumed, if Black castles Queenside, that my attack doesn't make sense. True, my attack against the King is over, but my attack against new weaknesses is still on-going.
I'll have to think about this more as I analyze more closed games.
Oct 30, 2016
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#10
The pleasure is mine! I am glad that I my opinion was useful for you. I wish you a lot good luck and a lot of success in the closed positions! 
I encounter this position as white after 10...h6 against the KID. I have tried both 11.Bf6, and 10.Bh4 with similiar results. I prefer 10.Bf6 but am wondering if one is that much better than the other?
Oct 30, 2016
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#14
Dear Bilbao21,
As I have mentioned in one of my previous posts, the best way to open a closed position is to contact the opponent's pawns on the wing where you have a space advantage. Your idea is to open a file and to invade. I will paste once again the basic principles:
1) You need a long-term positional plan
2) You choose your plan according to the pawn structure - usually, we should play on the side where we have a space advantage
3) In most of the cases, you should attack the opponent's most advanced pawn (on the side where you have space advantage) in order to open a file and create a weakness
4) Attack the weakness and invade the opponents camp via the open file.
Oct 30, 2016
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#16
Dear GodsPawn2016,
On the diagram you provide us with, I see a very typical closed position. Given the fact that you have a space advantage on the queenside (your pawn is on d5), your idea is to create a pawn contact on the queenside. You have two opportunities:
1) Go for a2-a4-a5 followed by b2-b4-b5-b6
2) Remove the c4-knight and play c3-c4-c5.
What about your g5-bishop? Since this bishop is your best minor piece, you shouldn't exchange it. You would ask why the bishop is so strong. OK, the answer is simple. White's central pawns are on light squares and the mobility of the dark-squared bishop is not restricted. You shouldn't put your pawns on the colour of your own bishop.
Given the fact that our long-term plan is to build a queenside pawn expansion, I would put the bishop on e3. From this position, our bishop supports the advance of White's queenside pawns.
Oct 30, 2016
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#17
I find this thread intensely interesting, deep and original.
The GM is making here very deep and interesting observations, teaching insights that are far from being common knowledge even at the expert ranks.
Then, user SmithyQ forces him to further sharpen his observation by asking pointed questions, drawing out more pearls of rare wisdom and ability.
I have read much, but I never came across such angles as GM Grigorov finds here - and one can immediately see and appreciate from what a well of deep and true understanding he draws.
I'm enjoying every minute!
Thank You for the input!
Oct 30, 2016
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#19
GM Grigorov's input goes beyond the usual. He does provide insights on how to play a specific position he is asked about - but then he makes powerful general observations that stay with the reader long after the thread is closed.
The reader will examine many closed positions in the future, and bearing in mind GM Grigorov's remarks (as we hope he will), will ask himself questions: "How does this idea apply here?" "What if I try this idea here?".
Those basic guidelines will serve to help the reader understand what the players strive (or SHOULD strive for), and are they playing the position according to its nature and needs.
Powerful writing indeed!
Hello guys,
How to find the correct plan in a closed position? How to understand the concept of space?
I would like to share with you a part of a recent article which I have written for Modern Chess Magazine. I hope that the knowledge I provide you with will be useful and instructive. I am waiting for your feedback.