What is space in chess?

I first come to positional chess, and some resources defined space as 'how many square your pieces can move to', but some other said 'how many square your pieces or pawns controlling', and other resources said 'the number of squares you control in opponent's territory. So can you give me a clear, detail definition of space in chess?

@1

"I first come to positional chess" ++ Space is overrated.

'how many square your pieces can move to' ++ Yes, but reasonably so. After 1 e4 e5, Bf1 can move to a6, but that makes no sense. Pieces here means pieces and pawns. After 1 e4 the pawn can move to e5, e.g. 1 e4 Nf6 2 e5, but also to d5 or f5, e.g. 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 or 1 e4 f5? 2 exf5.

'how many square your pieces or pawns controlling' ++ Yes, this relates to the previous definition. Control means possible moves of pieces or pawns.

'the number of squares you control in opponent's territory' ++ Wrong. After 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d6 white has more space, but no more in opponent's territory. Space is territory.

so space is possible squares for your pieces (include being controlled square and not controlled square) or space is squares for your pieces and being controlled by a pieces. Which defintion is most correct

@3

"so space is possible squares for your pieces (include being controlled square and not controlled square) or space is squares for your pieces and being controlled by a pieces. Which defintion is most correct"
++ Space are squares you control,
i.e. you either occupy or where you have more pieces that attack them than your opponent.

Space is the amount of squares you control that your opponent does not

If that space is useful or not though depends on the position you can attack with more space and open lines at the same time you can over extend

.

Consider an example.
In the initial position white controls 3 * 8 = 24 squares and black controls 24 squares.
2 * 8 = 16 squares are no men's land.
After white opens 1 e4, white controls e4, d5, f5, e5, c4, b5, g4, h5.

It is when i decide to let you make a move without obliterating you off the board.

What if i have two pawns controling a square and opponent's one pawn controling also. So is that my space or that square is neutral( no player controlling). And is space for your pieces to develop to also? Does occupy mean put a piece to that square?

I try not to overthink it.

For me, "space" in chess just refers to how much "room" a player has for his pawns and/or pieces to move.

Consider this position:

Without counting any squares, and just by visually inspecting the board, which player would you say has more "space" to move his pieces in - White, or Black?

It should be rather obvious that White has more space. His pieces are less restricted, and he has more possible squares for his pieces to maneuver with, without being as cluttered by his own structure as Black is.

More space means more mobility, and more control of the board.

Less space means less mobility, and less control of the board.

https://www.chess.com/lessons/reading-the-board/space

Wait, what is occupy

Read this.

GM Larry Evans' method of static analysis - Chess Forums - Chess.com

i read and i saw a line said that you dont count the occupy square cuz you cannot use it so what is the best definition of space

Why do you need an exact definition? It's the CONCEPT that's important, not whether a space count works out to 14 instead of 15.

I suggest you read down to post #12 in that linked thread. It's the important one.

@17

"you dont count the occupy square" ++ You do count an occupied square: after 1 e4 white controls e4 (occupied), e5 (possible move forward), d5 & f5 (possible captures), c4, b5 (bishop), g4, h5 (queen).

@15

"what is occupy" ++ To put a piece or pawn on a square.

@9

"What if i have two pawns controling a square and opponent's one pawn controling also. "
++ If you have pawns c4, d4, e4 and your opponent has a pawn on e6, no other pieces, then you control square d5, as you can push d5, which is then defended twice and attacked once.

Let us revisit the example position @13.

White controls: a1 to h1, a2 to h2, a3 to h3, a4, b4, c4, d4, f4, h4, a5, b5, c5, e5, g5, b6, d6, that are 37 squares.
Black controls: a8 to h8, a7 to h7, a6, c6, e6, g6, f5, that are 21 squares.
No man's land are: squares f6, h6, d5, h5, e4, h4 that are 6 squares.

Thus white has more space indeed: 37 to 21.
Space however is overrated. You cannot generally win on a space advantage alone.
Much more important is control over the four central squares d4-e4-d5-e5.
The center is like high ground. If you control a central square and you can install a piece there, then it is powerful: controls more squares itself, can attack and defend.
Control over say e4 is much more important than control over say a4.
In this case white controls central squares d4 and e5, while e4 and d5 are no man's land, so white has an advantage in the center.

In the given example white has a winning advantage: he can move his bishop to b6 or c5 to dark squares he controls, and he can double rooks on the d-file with Rd2 and Rad1. White can also push b5, and after captures axb5 cxb5 cxb5 Bxb5 Bxb5 Nxb5 install a knight outpost on d6 he controls.

thank you so much. You did clear my confused about space in chess, tygxc. Have a good day so

Space is often described in terms of the number of squares that a player's pieces and pawns control or influence on the board.