Thinking Systems before Steinitz

It is said that chess in the name of Sanskrit word Chaturang (Chatur Ang means four
arms (of controller Queen or Minister) - Rooks, Bishops, Knights, and Pawns
depicting the Army (Elephants), Navy (ships) or Oont (Camels) in Deserts, Air Force
(Horse) and cavalry (pawns)) was invented in India. And it is also said that the
king Ravana (remember Lord Rama story) used to play this game with his queen
Mandodari. But then Chess would have been invented in Sri Lanka (unless Mandodari
who invented this game to keep her husband busy would have been Indian or the game
was invented in India and then reached Lanka from here). Hey! my Indian friends
would beat me up and many historians even say that Lanka claimed to be Ravana's
kingdom was in India at that time (though I don't think so). So, let us assume that
chess was invented in India and flourished in Persia & Arab countries then
entertained Europe, got settled in Russia, romanced with US and then returned back
to India (with World Champion Anand) & China as well. Overall, it is a true
international game.

From thinking point of view, chess in olden times was played for recreation &
passing good time and not as a tournament. So, the thought process was slow
movements. And if a combination emerged somewhere that was the main source of
amusement. Entertainment value in chess was proportional (and still it is) to the
deepness & number of combinations played in a game. Also, in old times if a small
army used to beat a big army, it was appreciated. Same happened in chess too. If
you could win after sacrifices and less material, people especially beautiful
ladies in audiences were ready to kiss you (I dream so).

Hence, combinations and sacrifices were order of the day in chess before Steinitz.
The most brilliant player before Steinitz was Paul Morphy from America. His key to
success was Development:
- Bring out your forces quickly, effectively and economically. The concept of tempi
was best utilized by Morphy in beating the opponents who were even better in
combinations than him.
- Attack and play accurately especially in open games

______________
Steinitz System
Mr. Wilhelm Steinitz, the first world champion is considered the father of
positional chess. In simple terms, we can understand his chess thinking systems
like this:

Thinking Before Steinitz: Lead in development leads to winning combinations &

fierce attacks which lead to material advantages and win. Blitz games are still won
in this style at low levels.

Steinitz thinking: Lead/ equality in development shall lead to accumulation of

small positional advantages which lead to combinations & fierce attacks leading to
material advantage and win.

Thus, Steinitz led the game of chess away from gambling. He could nip the
opponent's combinations in the bud itself through his grand plan of accumulation of
small advantages, attacked fiercely after gaining sufficient positional lead and
kept on winning leaving combinational magicians gasping and spectators bedazzled.
This was the birth of competitive play in chess tournaments and concrete planning
in chess.

The basis of Steinitz's thinking system was that superior position of our pieces
are hard to maintain for long but the superior position and structure of our pawns
lasts till end. So, focus in the opening to middle phase shall also be on pawns and
pawn structures and not only on pieces alone.

But, what small advantages Steinitz was telling to accumulate.:

1. Keeping connected pawns with us (strong position for us)
2. Creating backward pawns in opponent's wing (medium weakness for opponent)
3. Creating doubled pawns in opponent's wing (Serious weakness for opponent
especially isolated doubled pawns)
4. Isolation of opponent's hostile pawns (Medium weakness for opponent)
5. Keeping our majority of queen side pawns to create remote passed pawn advantage
in the end (Philidor focused on the king-side pawns but Steinitz on queen-side
pawns also)
6. Weakening of the phalanx of hostile pawns especially in the vicinity of the
opponent's king
7. Creation of secure advanced posts and posting pieces there
8. Domination of open lines
9. Play in the centre
10. Assault with a queen-side pawn-chain to cramp the enemy (Philidor talked about
king-side pawn chains only)
11. Keep the Bishop Pair advantage with you and devoid your opponent from this
advantage if possible (exchange his one bishop with your knight)
12. Avoiding all such weaknesses in our camp (unless serious material loss is
threatened) and create these positional strengths for us.

Steinitz's Theory of Balance of Positions and the Principle of Attack: Steinitz

says that if advantages held by one chess player are compensated by the advantages
held by his opponent, then the position is balanced and one shall not attack in
these positions. Balanced positions with best play from both sides will again and
again lead to balanced positions.

Only, after balance of positions has been disturbed (by a weak move or bad play by
opponent), a chess player gets an uncompensated advantage and he shall attack to
win.
Where to attack: Steinitz compares the position of opponent to a chain of many
links and the attacker must attack the points where the opponent's chain is weakest
and must break the opponent's chain. So, follow the path of least resistance in
attack. Commonly, the weakest point has always been found to be the opponent's f
pawn (f7 & f2 pawns).

Steinitz's Theory of Economy and the Principle of Defence: On the flip side of
advantage and attack, Steinitz says that if a player is at a disadvantage, he must
defend with the principle of economy. The principle of economy says that grade your
weaknesses and improve the worst weakness first and proceed in that order till
balance or advantage is achieved. Stability of a position is gauged by its least
stable point and so a player must attempt to achieve at every point the same degree
of stability.

_________________________

Lasker System
Mr. Emanuel Lasker, the second World Champion analyzed the Steinitz's principles,
appreciated them a lot but also found certain weaknesses. Steinitz did not say what
to do in balanced positions. Shall we just wait for a weak move by opponent (again
shifting to gambling). Lasker found the answer as "Piece Coordination".

The theory of Piece Cooperation: Pieces shall be coordinated in all the three
positions. Though it looks similar but in fact, piece coordination in these 3
conditions is quite different :
1. Attacking Positions: Cooperation shall be achieved to strengthen each element of
the group. Here, pieces shall attack the same square (normally weak square) and if
more pieces are able to accumulate and focus the same square, it may result in
material gain after exchanges.

2. Defending Positions: Here, pieces shall safeguard each other.

In the above two cases, as a compromise of focus/ defence, the pieces will not be
able to cover the squares left by other pieces.

3. Balanced Positions: Pieces shall complement each other. Here, pieces cover more
and more squares as they need not focus on the same point or safeguard each other.
Good Bishop pair is best example in such cases.

Impact of Distance in piece coordination: Usually it is thought that pieces at a

distance cannot cooperate but Lasker pointed out that even distant pieces can
cooperate. For example, in the end game, passed pawns on a and h files can
cooperate and one can draw opponent's king towards it so that other one can get
promoted to queen (principle of two weaknesses).

The theory of local imbalance in balanced positions: Lasker pointed out another
fault in Steinitz's theory of balanced positions. There are very few perfectly
balanced positions. Other positions are locally imbalanced even if overall
balanced. So, the players can attack at different points even if the position is
overall balanced often leading to fierce struggles. For example, White may have
advantage in queen-side and Black in the king-side.

The Principle of Justice: Lasker says that in balanced positions, one shall follow
the principle of justice. Here, he talks management. Suppose, you are a CEO of a
company. Would you afford, some one working day and night and other one sleeping.
Or a highly paid one working less and lowly paid working hard. Justice has to be
there on chess board as well. Pieces shall act as per their capability and made to
contribute fully. However, if a piece can contribute more in the end, it can be
kept behind initially and other less or equally capable pieces may be given a
chance (so the famous Lasker instruction - Develop knights before bishops).

The Principle of Proportion: Lasker writes that though Steinitz would have thought
about this theory but he could not put it in words. During attack in imbalanced
positions, the advantage which an attacker shall expect shall be in proportion to
the positional advantage he has before the attack starts. Attack is the means of
converting positional or dynamic advantages to material or permanent advantages. In
a similar way, the defender can estimate his losses as well. Many attacks and
defences have failed due to over-rated expectations or fears. Positional sacrifices
shall also follow this principle of proportion.

Psychology in Chess: Kasparov in his book "My Great Predecessors" says Lasker was
master of preparations. He used to adjust his style of play as per his opponent.
The psychological advantages he had in most of the games he played due to his
perfectly balanced and varied style was the root cause of his longest reign as
World Champion.
_______________________

Nimzowitsch System

While Steinitz and Lasker used positional chess as a platform to launch

combinational attacks (both were excellent combinational players too), Aron
Nimzowitsch showed that entire games can be won with positional play itself. His
book "My System" is still a positional player's bible. Nimzowitsch collected all
the elements of positional chess, brought his own innovations and gave it a shape
of complete system of playing a new kind of chess which has later been adopted by
many players including former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik. The elements
proposed by Nimzowitsch can be found in almost all chess players' games at IM or GM
levels. Moreover, positional chess has been the main weapon in the hands of many
GMs to beat or hold advanced computer software which are too good in finding
combinations.

So, what were Nimzowitsch's main innovations:

1. Centre Control with Pieces: Nimzowitsch suggested that centre must be controlled
with one's pieces (where they will be most effective) rather than pawns. Any
adventures by the opponents on sidelines (king or queen side) can be punished with
centre control itself. Further, centre control helps in sudden switch of the
attacks from one side to the other.

2. Prophylaxis: One shall understand and prevent opponent's plans.

3. Blockade: Nimzowitsch suggested that passed pawns must be stopped and Knights
are the best pieces to block the progress of passed pawns. "First restrain, then
blockade and finally destroy" was the call by Nimzowitsch.

4. Fianchetto & Horrwitz Bishops: Nimzowitsch suggested that bishops are most
effective at diagonals. So, fianchetto development of bishops (bringing them on g2
or g7) has a lasting effect on the game. Also, Horrwitz bishops (bishops on
adjacent diagonals) are very useful in attacking the opponent king and also
supporting our pawn advancements while stopping opponent's pawn.

5. Open Files and Outposts: Open files are the files either having no pawns or
rooks/ queen ahead of pawns. These are useful for rooks & queens. Semi-open files
have only one pawn on them. Outposts are the squares mainly in the opponent's camp
where our pieces cannot be attacked with pawns. Nimzowitsch stresses a lot on open
files and creation of outposts where pieces (especially knights) shall be posted to
have maximum impact.

6. Invasion of Seventh/ Eighth Rank with Rooks and/or Queen: Nimzowitsch found out
that once our rooks (alone, in pair or with queen) invade opponent's seventh/
eighth ranks, there are very high chances of win or at least a draw. So, this must
be a goal of our strategy.

7. Over-protection: Applicable in some positions are his ideas of overprotection

that we shall protect our important squares or pieces with more pieces than
required so that we shall not loose them in cases of eventuality.

8. Attack on the pawn chain: One shall attack the base of a pawn chain. However,
defender can shift the base as well. In some cases, pawn chain is also attacked
from front (i.e. by black f pawn in French advanced variation).

These elements created a complete system which can be followed to win a game. In
this way, Nimzowitsch could show that goal of positional play is not just to create
combinations or material gain alone but we can achieve mating positions also
through positional maneuvering. In some games. Nimzowitsch could restrain his
opponents in the begining 17-18 moves itself to the level that whatever move
opponent was making, one or more pieces were lost by him.

Positional (Strategic) and combinational (Tactical) chess: Here it is important

for us to understand the difference between the two. In management terms, strategy
means a long term plan while tactics means day to day success. Therefore,
Positional or Strategic chess means putting our pieces on the squares where they
will have lasting effect while combinational or tactical chess means executing a
short term idea which results in instant success. A combination is a set of forced
moves which results in a mate, material gain or significant positional gain.
Mostly, if exchange of pieces is involved in a set of moves, it is called
combinational. But if maneuvering is being done without exchanging pieces, it is
positional.

Another difference arises that chess consists of two elements, board and pieces.
When we play for control of the board and its squares, it is strategic or
positional chess and when we play for gain of the material or pieces (including
pawns) it is combinational or tactical chess. The player who controls more squares
especially on the enemy side can cramp the enemy and then create tactical
combinations. But in the process, if he looses significant material, then he may
loose square control as well (less pieces will not be able to control more
squares).

One more difference arises from the fact of local imbalances. Tactical combinations
arise locally in a limited area of the board (especially mating combinations). But
Positional chess is often played across the board. However, tactical combinations
also occur across the board many a times (and they are the most difficult to guess
and so most successful) but their effect is mostly local (focused at some points).

So, an important difference emerges that positional chess stresses on control of

more and more squares while combinational chess stresses on focusing at weak
squares of the opponent and gaining material advantage through exchanges. But those
weak squares in the opponent position are created through positional chess mostly.

The system of win emerging from this discussion is good opening (lead in
development), then creation of weaknesses through positional play, attack through
combinational play, material or positional gain, planning for endgame with
positional play again and then mate or forcing opponent to resign.

Also, it is said that open games or openings are tactical (possibilities of

exchanges are more) while closed games or openings are positional (possibilities of
silent maneuvering are more) but many open games have been found to be a lot
positional.

Chess thinking looks like propagation of light where positional play (magnetic
field) gives birth to combinations (electric field) which in-turn gives birth to
more positional gains (magnetism) and so on. This idea was best utilized by
Capablanka (next section).
______________________
Capablanca System: A Top Down approach
Nimzowitsch devised a full system to positionally beat an opponent. The system was
based on middle-game plans. Most of the players of that time were looking for an
advantage in opening to middle game phases. Steinitz, Lasker and Nimzowitsch
systems were popular with them.

But Capablanca revised the Morphy approach in a new format. He was a master of
endgames. So, equality or even limited inferiority in opening to middle games
phases could not deter Capablanca. He took the games to endgames and won there.
Most of the Capablanca games were planned keeping end game positional advantages in
view.
Another, attribute Capa had was very long combinational calculations. If a
combination is too long it is more strategic than tactical as it can take a game
from opening to endgame. Capa was a master of strategic combinations.

One of Capablanca's strategies can be described like this:

1. Play common balanced openings like Queens gambit declined or Ruy Lopez where
serious disadvantage shall not be there. Equality is OK.

2. Control the center with pawns (Unlike Nimzowitsch who said to control with
pieces, here Capa followed Steinitz).

3. Exchange opponent's one bishop with your bishop, one knight with your knight,
rooks & queens with your rooks & queen and one knight with your bishop (Here Capa
differed with Steinitz and most chess thinkers).

4. In this way, bring the game to endgame where you have one knight and opponent
one bishop.

5. Keep more and more (especially central) pawns on the board. As far as possible
opponent's pawns shall be fixed on the same color squares as of his bishop. Pawn
structure shall be made rigid. This will restrict bishop's movements and make it
bad.

6. Now utilize your knight which will jump over the pawns and take one or two.

7. Centralize king and win the game supporting pawns to queen.

8. If queens are on the board, its better as queen and knight complement each other
better than queen and bishop. Then plan to mate the opponent's king.
______________________

Alekhine System: A middle-up-down system

While Capablanca was the master of endgames, Alekhine was a genius of opening to
middle-game phase especially middle-game complications. While it is easy to say
about an endgame expert that he is a real master of endgames, it is not that easy
to say that about the endgame expertise of a middle-game expert as he wins before
endgame arrives, rarely playing an equal or inferior endgame.Capablanca, in his
book claims Alekhine to be a weak endgame player but this statement might have come
out of personal rivalry. But one thing is sure that a combination of Capblanca and
Alekhine can be a deadly one even for a present player. If someone plays opening to
middle-game phase like Alekhine and also plans his endgame like Capa, he can even
beat strongest software today (my personal guess).

But is it possible? Are the Capablanca system and Alekhine system compatible with
each other? Will the opening to endgame advantage approach of Capablanca not
interfere with middle-game strong attack approach of Alekhine? We will now break
their approaches in elements and analyze this aspect.

While all the previous champions claimed that positional advantage can result in
strong combinations, this aspect is most clearly visible in Alekhine's games. But
then why Alekhine is claimed to be a combinational attacking player rather than a
positional genius. It may be because Alekhine made adjustments in the positional
principles of that time soothing to his attacking style.

Kasparov calls Alekhine "the pioneer of universal style of play". According to

Kasparov's theory about Alekhine's success, chess has 3 components:
1. Material: Quite obvious
2. Time: More complicated but understandable like gain of tempo, passed pawn
advance or attack on the king
3. Quality of Position: The least obvious strategic factor consisting of:
i) Pawn Structure
ii) Strong & Weak Squares
iii) Active & Passive pieces
iv) Two Bishops
v) Bad King
Only a master understands these factors fully. Alekhine linked these 3 factors
intuitively in his play. He showed that sacrifice of material which was strictly
regulated by the Steinitz school, is perfectly OK depending on position.

______________________

Euwe System: Tactical Accuracy & Precision

It is said that Mr. Max Euwe rarely played an inaccurate combination and rarely
left an inaccurate combination by his opponent unpunished. He was a mathematician
by education and that could have brought accurate analysis skills in him.

In the history of chess, Euwe completed the most difficult task. It was almost
impossible to defeat Alekhine in a match seeing the form Alekhine had at that
time. So, to achieve that task, Euwe studied almost everything about chess
available at that time. Euwe read and explained in his books most of the varied
aspects of chess a player needs to know. But it is difficult to say which ideas
were Euwe's own and which were compiled from other sources. If Nimzowotsch
compiled all the positional aspects of chess in his books, Euwe covered all the
middle game aspects (positional and tactical both) in his books. The style of
Euwe's explanations are crystal clear. Euwe's book "Planning & Judgement in Chess"
can be considered as a text book of middle-game in chess. Similarly, "Chess Master
vs Chess Amature" and "The Road to chess Mastery" cover all the aspects of chess
especially opening and middle games through 25 fully annotated games in each book.

General Strategy of a King Side attack: Though it can be found in many books now
but Euwe writes this strategy in clear terms (With a warning: check tactical
possibilities well before applying this strategy):

1. To start a King side attack, first check two points:

(i) You have control over the centre, or
(ii) The centre is stable so that opponent cannot start serious action in the
centre

2. Get as many pieces as possible available for immediate play.

3. Open as many lines (files & diagonals both) as possible.
4. The pieces shall be brought in favourable positions one by one with tempo
keeping in view that opponent shall not get time to take essential defensive
measures on his King side.
5. Sacrifices also can be made to bring the right pieces on key squares.
6. Strip the opponent king from all protection making exchanges and sacrifices if
feasible.
7. Threat must be optimally utilized both on board and psychologically to bring
both on-board and time troubles for the opponent.
_______________________

Botvinnik System: Opening Innovations & Objective Analysis

Though Euwe understood openings very well and planned his middle & end games as per
them, it was Botvinnik who started the era of opening innovations and thus the
Russian School of chess which dominated the chess world so long after him.
Botvinnik did not believe in short term opening traps but his lines were developed
to take the game in new directions where Botvinnik's knowledge was far ahead of his
contemporaries. It was unfortunate that a World Championship match between Alekhine
and Botvinnik never happened due to early death of Alekhine. Even World
Championship match did not happened between Euwe and Botvinnik also because Euwe
got involved in other assignments. But chess world could enjoy Tal-Botvinnik
matches twice and also Botvinnik-Smyslov and Petrosian-Botvinnik matches. The key
points behind Botvinnik's long rein were logical objectivity & continuous
innovations in opening lines.

Reflections of the Botvinnik approach of taking the game towards your own analyzed
territory can not only be seen in present day GM games but in computer software
games as well. Many new engines analyze some not well established opening lines
very well and then are able to beat well established engines in a game or two.

Major opening line innovations by Botvinnik:

A. Botvinnik System in English Opening:

For White: 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e4
Botvinnik System reversed for Black: 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3
e5
or 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5

B. Botvinnik variation in the Semi-Slav defence in the Queens Gambit Declined:

Botvinnik Variation - 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4
Botvinnik System - 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5
7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5

C. Botvinnik/ Kasparov System in the exchange variation of the Queens Gambit

Declined

D. Panov-Botvinnik attack for white in the Caro-Kann defence

E. Various approaches for black in the Caro-Kann defence

G. Winawer Variation in the French Defence.

Middle-game innovations by Botvinnik:

Creation and Utilization of Space advantage: Botvinnik in most of his games,

created and used space advantage fairly well. His approach was letter used by
Kasparov also.

Flank attacks: While centre control was the theme of Nimzowitsch system according
to which, flank attacks shall be started only after centre is closed, Botvinnik
showed that flank attacks can be started in open centre also and flank attacks can
be used to control the centre as well.
_____________________________

Lipnitskty System: Raising Questions on chess assumptions

Mr. Isaac Lipnitsky of Ukraine is unknown to most of us. He was a brilliant player
but could live only 36 years due to severe illness. The system developed by him
through his superbook (as it is called) "Questions of Modern Chess Theory" brought
the game of chess from Nimzowitch era to a new one. He raised questions on almost
all the assumptions in positional chess principles and could establish the
conditions for the success of these principles. For example, he demonstrated that
even after gaining a strong centre, players have lost games as their opponents
attacked the centre vigorously as it happens in Alekhine Defence and in many other
openings. Thus gaining a strong centre is not sufficient in itself but we have to
strengthen it further and use it to launch attacks on the opponent. Similarly, we
can attack opponent's centre and win the game without holding a strong centre
ourselves.

___________________________________
Alekhine System: A middle-up-down system
While Capablanca was the master of endgames, Alekhine was a genius of opening to
middle-game phase especially middle-game complications. While it is easy to say
about an endgame expert that he is a real master of endgames, it is not that easy
to say that about the endgame expertise of a middle-game expert as he wins before
endgame arrives, rarely playing an equal or inferior endgame.Capablanca, in his
book claims Alekhine to be a weak endgame player but this statement might have come
out of personal rivalry. But one thing is sure that a combination of Capblanca and
Alekhine can be a deadly one even for a present player. If someone plays opening to
middle-game phase like Alekhine and also plans his endgame like Capa, he can even
beat strongest software today (my personal guess).

But is it possible? Are the Capablanca system and Alekhine system compatible with
each other? Will the opening to endgame advantage approach of Capablanca not
interfere with middle-game strong attack approach of Alekhine? We will now break
their approaches in elements and analyze this aspect.

While all the previous champions claimed that positional advantage can result in
strong combinations, this aspect is most clearly visible in Alekhine's games. But
then why Alekhine is claimed to be a combinational attacking player rather than a
positional genius. It may be because Alekhine made adjustments in the positional
principles of that time soothing to his attacking style.

Kasparov calls Alekhine "the pioneer of universal style of play". According to

Kasparov's theory about Alekhine's success, chess has 3 components:

1. Material: Quite obvious

2. Time: More complicated but understandable like gain of tempo, passed pawn
advance or attack on the king
3. Quality of Position: The least obvious strategic factor consisting of:
i) Pawn Structure
ii) Strong & Weak Squares
iii) Active & Passive pieces
iv) Two Bishops
v) Bad King
Only a master understands these factors fully. Alekhine linked these 3 factors
intuitively in his play. He showed that sacrifice of material which was strictly
regulated by the Steinitz school, is perfectly OK depending on position.
__________________________________
Smyslov System: The strengths & limitations of chess pieces
Mr. Vasily Smyslov had a perfect understanding of the strengths & limitations of
different chess pieces. His game was based on creating simple but uneven positions
favourable to his pieces.

Smyslov System can be understood as a combination of Botvinnik and Capablanca

systems:
Opening Innovations: Like Botvinnik, Smyslov developed many opening systems.

Simplified Middle-game: Here, Smyslov differed from Botvinnik. While Botvinnik

believed in taking the game away from opponent in opening to middle-game phase,
Smyslov depended more on his endgame expertise. So, Smyslov kept midddlegame simple
(like Capablanca).

Perfect Endgame: It comes out that all the players who learnt chess from their
father were excellent in endgame (Capablanca, Smyslov, Karpov). Smyslov is known as
a perfect endgame player. His wins came out mostly from his endgame expertise.

Smyslov beats Botvinnik in their World Championship Match with positionaly accuracy
Smyslov punishes small positional mistake by Korchnoi of advancing his b pawn too
ahead and wins the game with his endgame accuracy
____________________________________

Tal System: A system of accurate attack

Tal has been the most aggressive and attacking player till date. He developed a
system of attack which could rip through the defences of most of the champions of
that time including Botvinnik (in their first World Championship match).

The elements of Tal System of attack are as follows (step by step):

1. Keep the opponent king in the centre and yours away from centre (till endgame)
2. Achieve breakthrough in the centre
3. Increase the assault ratio (through initiatives)
4. Open Invasion Trajectories (files & diagonals)
5. Open your lines of communication and cut those of opponents.
6. Maintain Outposts
7. Eliminate defenders of opponent king
8. Take your pieces near opponent's king
9. Destroy the opponent king's fort.

Now a bit more details about these elements:

Element 1- King in the Centre: Tal says "As long as my opponent has not yet
castled, on each move, I seek a pretext for an offensive. Even when I realize that
the (opponent) king is not in danger".

Element 2 - Breakthrough in the Centre: In practical play, domination of one

player in the centre completely rules out activity by the other. An advantage in
the centre almost always allows an attack to be obtained, either in the centre
itself or on one of the flanks, depending on the concrete features of the position.
With a mobile pawn centre, the strength of attack grows greatly after a
breakthrough in the centre, which usually achieves several aims like -
* opening of lines along which rooks and bishops at our queenside can instantly
join the attack (whose scope is often limited by the centre pawns),
*vacating of the central square via which a knight can join the attack or a rook
can switch ranks or
*disruption of the coordination of the enemy pieces.
Thus, a breakthrough in the centre is always start of an attack which may be swift
or explosive or can grow by degrees. Voluntarily conceding the opponent a mobile
pawn centre or only a single pawn in the centre which is capable of advancing is
too dangerous.

Element 3 - The Assault ratio: The player with a lead in development is obliged to
attack, or risk losing this advantage. A successful attack on the king (in the
centre or castled) is guaranteed only when an especially strong piece grouping can
be created in the attack zone, when the power of such an assault exceeds for
certain the defensive possibilities.
Thus assault ratio (a new term coined by Tal) can be explained mathematically as:
Assault ratio = Total power of our pieces in the opponent's king zone/ The power
of opponent's defending pieces near his king

Another new term in chess introduced by Tal is "Launching". This term has been
taken from Canadian Ice-Hockey where a player passes the puck not to a team member
but close to the opponent's goal in the hope that one of his team-mates will get to
it first and will be able to shoot it at the opponent's goal. In chess also, a
piece may be moved close to the opponent's king without any concrete aim but with a
hope that future developments will utilize it and plan further game as per this
piece.

Launching had a surprise effect on many opponents of Tal. This was one way of
gradually increasing the assault ratio.

Element 4 - Invasion Trajectories: A key idea in Tal system is the "Invasion

Trajectories" which are the diagonals, ranks and files which are initially blocked
by pawn barriers of both sides and increasing the mobility of pieces is main
problem for both players. To get clear trajectories for his pieces, a player has to
battle, sacrifice pawns and pieces or make positional concessions. A related term
is "holes in the fortress walls". Like an attack along a weak diagonal, a whole
complex of weak squares in the vicinity of the opponent's king can be attacked
depending on different pawn formations near the opponent's king. There is a single
attacking mechanism in such cases - establish your pieces on the unprotected
squares which from close range pursue the opponent's king completely destroying its
protection.

Element 5 - Lines of Communication: Communication lines are files and diagonals.

Success of our attack depends on how our pieces behave on these lines of
communication and can we cut these lines of our opponent's pieces.

Tal introduces a concept of "Barrier". Barrier can be material or non material

through which a whole group of pieces is unable to pass. Barrier is a communication
line under close-range fire and the creation of one is a basis for future success.
A term related to barrier is "Interference". While barrier is positional in nature,
interference is a purely tactical blow aiming to cut-off the opponent's forces from
the defence of some key points. Another key idea is "Obstruction" or "Obstructive
Sacrifice". This is a barricade which can be erected in the path of enemy forces.
Obstruction is achieved normally through a pawn sacrifice which disrupts the quiet
course of the game.

Element 6 - Outposts: An outpost is defined as "a well defended fortification in an

advanced position". A piece on the outpost (usually a knight) in the heart of the
opponent's position beyond the demarcation line cramps the opponent's forces,
hinders the maneuvers by opponent aimed to bring his pieces to the main part of the
battlefield and controls various key squares. It is outpost which helps in
increasing our assault ratio.

Element 7 - Eliminate opponent king's defenders: An important task in any attack is

to eliminate those defenders that stand in your way to the opponent's king, even if
a considerable price has to be paid. Out of many ways, the most convenient way of
doing this for the attacking side is to force its exchange.

Element 8 - Reach the Royal Court: The royal court is the two extremes at either
end of the board, first and second ranks or seventh and eight ranks. An invasion of
the opponent king's residence is a highly effective means of attack and most
suitable pieces for doing this are rooks and queen. There are two aims of doing
this - either to give back rank mate or to drive the opponent king out of his
residence into the open field to bring it under the fire of other pieces.
Nimzowitsch also stressed on this point in his "My System" that seventh rank must
be captured with rooks and queen. Thus from both positional and tactical points of
view, invasion of seventh rank with rooks and queen is a good achievement.

Element 9 - Destroy the Fortress Walls: The pawn ranks f7/g7/h7 (in king-side
castling cases) or a7/b7/c7/d7 (in queen-side castling cases) is the wall behind
which the black king seeks shelter until an attack destroys these fortress walls.
The pawns are most solidly placed on their initial squares in which case, the
attacker must spend much more time on the concentration of the forces.

A rapid attack is possible from a far against a pawn that has advanced to h6 or
a6. The pawn at h7 in king-side castled cases is most often a weak one and target
of attack to draw the king out with classic bishop sacrifices and then mating with
knight and queen combinations. Also, double bishop sacrifices on h7 and g7 bare the
black king completely.

Sacrifices on g7 are effective when the pawn rank has been disturbed and heavy
artillery like rooks or queen is available on the g file. But unlike the h7
sacrifices, a precise calculation is not possible for g7 sacrifices.

Though Tal System has later been modified by Fischer, Kasparov, Topalov and Anand
for Standard Chess tournaments but this system is still the best bet for a chess
player to win blitz chess (3 0, 5 0 or 20 5) tournaments.

Example Game 1: Attacking Opponent's King in the Centre: Tal beats Larsen in
Alekhine Defence (Please click mouse on the first move and then either arrow key on
keyboard or mouse click on next moves to see game on the board. Enjoy and
comment !)

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Example Game 2: Breakthrough in the Centre: Tal creates an active pawn centre with
a pawn sacrifice and beats Spassky with Nimzo-Indian Defence

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Example Game 3: Assault Ratio and Launching: Tal beats Averbakh with Ruy Lopez by
launching a knight and increasing assault ratio

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___________________________

Petrosian System: The White Square Strategy

Mr. Tigran Petrosian developed a system of chess thinking which is most difficult
to understand. Not only me but Botvinnik too felt like this. Petrosian took the
positional chess to extreme heights.

Along with Nimzowitsch principles (mainly prophylaxis - preventing opponent's

offensive capabilities), Petrosian developed his own strategy where all his pieces
were kept on white squares and controlled the black squares from there. Petrosian
kept a lot of pawns on board and exchanged his bishop (usually white bishop or both
bishops) with opponent's knights quite often. After this, his knights used to rule
the black squares. This strategy was very useful for white against Kings Indian
defence and in english opening.

Petrosian was called "Iron Tigran" because of his consistent ability to avoid
defeat. As Black, he preferred to play closed openings in Sicilian Defence, Najdorf
variation and French Defence. As white player, he often played the English opening.
Exchange Sacrifice (Giving rook for opponent's bishop or knight) just for the sake
of quality of position: Kasparov, who later induced this idea in his own games
describes Petrosian's style in these words:

" Petrosian introduced the exchange sacrifice for the sake of 'quality of
position', where the time factor, which is so important in the play of Alekhine and
Tal, plays hardly any role. Even today, very few players can operate confidently at
the board with such abstract concepts. Before Petrosian no one had studied this. By
sacrificing the exchange 'just like that', for certain long term advantages, in
positions with disrupted material balance, he discovered latent resources that few
were capable of seeing and properly evaluating."

Petrosian's Opening Innovations:

1. Petrosian System for White against King's Indian Defence:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 (closing the
centre early in the game). White plays Bg5.

2. Petrosian System for White against Queen's Indian Defence:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 (preventing Bb4). This system was later used by
Kasparov to defeat several grandmasters.

3. Petrosian System for White against Grunfeld Defence:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5

4. Petrosian System for Black in French Defence:

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Qd7

5. Petrosian - Smyslov variation for Black in Caro-Kann Defence:

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7

Example Game 1: Petrosian beats Spassky's Torre Attack (Please click mouse on the
first move and then either arrow key on keyboard or mouse click on next moves to
see game on the board. Enjoy and comment !)

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Example Game 2: Petrosian beats Spassky's Kings Indian Defence

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Example Game 3: Petrosian beats Suetin's Kings Indian Defence with his Deep
Prophylaxis method
___________________________
Spassky System: A colorful universal style with sharp attacking play
Mr. Boris Spassky has been called a universal player by Gary Kasparov in his book
"My Great Predecessors - Part III (Petrosian & Spassky)". This is because he played
all types of chess - attacking, defensive, tactical, positional equally well as the
situation demanded. Spassky also used gambits, exchange sacrifices etc. frequently
and thus he comes closer to the group of Tal, Alekhine and Chigorin more than that
of Botvinnik, Petrosian etc.

Elements of Spassky System:

1. A Strong Mobile Centre and Free Development

2. Direct attack on the opponent's King

3. Subtle Manoeuvers

4. Defending Inferior Positions (like isolani in Tarrash Defence)

5. Good Endgame Technique

Spassky's Opening Innovations:

1. King's Gambit: Applying this opening at the top levels was in itself a
revolution. Spassky has a record of 16 wins (including those against Fischer,
Bronstein and Karpov), no losses and a few draws with Kings Gambit opening.

2. Revival of the Marshal Attack for black in Ruy Lopez: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5

3. Development of Leningrad variation for white in the Nimzo-Indian Defence: 1.d4

Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5

4. Spassky variation for black in the Nimzo-Indian

5. Closed variation for white in the Sicilian defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3

6. Spassky line for black in Kings Indian Attack: 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b5!?

7. Spassky variation for black in Grunfeld Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Ne2 c5

Example Game 1: Spassky beats Bronstein with Kings Gambit

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Example Game 2: Great Bobby Fischer falls to Spassky's Kings Gambit

_____________________________

Reshevsky System: An unexplored positional system

Mr. Samuel Reshevsky developed a positional system of chess thinking which can be
considered the most unexplored till date. He used to win games as effortlessly as
legendary Capablanca. Unfortunately due to second world war and other problems,
Reshevsky could not become a World Champion but his games are worthy of declaring
him an equivalent.

Reshevsky's style is best described in his own words:

"I am essentially a positional player, although I can conduct an assault with

precision and vigor, when the opportunity arises. My style lies between that of Tal
and Petrosian. It is neither over-aggressive nor too passive. My strength consists
of a fighting spirit, a great desire to win, and a stubborn defense whenever in
trouble. I rarely become discouraged in an inferior situation, and I fear no one."

"By playing slowly during the early phases of a game, I am able to grasp the basic
requirements of each position. Then, despite being in time pressure, I have no
difficulty in finding the best continuation. Incidentally, it is an odd fact that
more often than not it is my opponent who gets the jitters when I am compelled to
make these hurried moves."

In the words of none other than Bobby Fischer:

"He (Reshevsky) is like a machine calculating every variation and has to find every
move over the board by a process of elimination. He can see more variations in a
shorter period of time than most players who ever lived. Occasionally, in fact, he
comes up with new moves - spontaneous ideas he has fabricated from no knowledge."

Elements of the Reshevsky System: Though Reshevsky adopted most of the thoughts
about positional chess from Nimzowitsch and Steinitz, he stressed on a combination
of positional and tactical chess to achieve the major aim of winning a chess game.
While Steintz and Nimzowitsch derived a lot of pleasure from demonstrating the
triumph of their newly found principles of positional chess over tactical
combinations, Reshevsky states that chess is inherently positional but tactics is a
way to get those positions. Though attack can be launched from strong positions,
but how to get those strong positions was the focus of Reshevsky's studies.

Following are the main elements in the Reshevsky system:

1. Weak Pawns: Reshevsky states that when you threat your opponent of a strong
attack through your pieces, your opponent moves his pawns just to stop your pieces
from conquering the key squares and while doing this, weak pawns are created in the
opponent's camp. Then you can form a strategy of conquering these weak pawns or
forcing your opponent's pieces to get tied in safeguarding these weak pawns. This
lets your pieces take control of the board and win the game. Thus, lead in
development enables us to create threats of conquering the key squares in
opponent's side which forces him to move pawns leading to weak pawns which tie the
opponent's pieces leaving us an open field to control and launch attack on the
king.

Types of Weak pawns: Reshevsky identifies four types of weak pawns:

i) Isolated Pawns: These pawns are isolated from their fellow pawns and are
vulnerable to get captured. Pieces are required to safeguard these pawns and thus
the pieces can not work at their full strength or can not attack.

ii) Doubled Pawns: Doubled pawns are not always a weakness. But in the middle to
endgame transitions, doubled pawns can not be used to create passed pawns and thus
become a weakness.

iii) Too Advanced Pawn: A pawn that is too advanced looses its defence and becomes
vulnerable to capture. Though pawn advancement leads to space advantage in opening
or middle-game but too far advanced pawn gets into trouble.

iv) Retarded Pawn: A pawn that is left backward is also a weakness. Such pawns do
not create any threats, get blocked and captured in the endgame. Thus a balanced
pawn advancement is required.

2. Passed Pawns: As per Reshevsky, there are several decisions to be take up

regarding passed pawns (the pawns which have got no pawns to stop them from moving
ahead and promoting to queen). These are:

i) Is outside passed pawn (usually queen side pawn if opponent has castled king
side), more useful than kingside or central passed pawn: Usually true but depends
on the position of the pieces also.

ii) Shall we blockade opponent's passed pawn or create our own: Takes hell lots of
calculation.

iii) Passed Pawn in the Middlegame: If somehow, we can get a passed pawn in the
middlegame, then nothing like it. The entire game further focuses on to preserve
and advance it (for the side who has got it) or to restrain and capture it (for the
opponent). Even if that particular pawn is lost, it usually gives an advantage in
some other terms.

iv) Get your rook behind your passed pawn: If you have got a passed pawn, get your
rook behind it. Or if your opponent has got a passed pawn, somehow prevent his rook
from getting behind his passed pawn.

v) Pieces vs Pawns: When to sacrifice a piece to get passed pawns? Usually in the
endgame if opponent's pieces are away from the passed pawns we are able to get. A
piece sac in this situation enables us to advance our passed pawns till opponent's
pieces reach near them and thus we can win the game.

(More to come....)

Example Game 1: Reshevsky beats Capablanca in his own territory (Queen's Gambit
Declined)

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_______________________________

Fischer System: A Burning Desire to Win

In an era, when chess was settled to a level that most of the low rated chess
players felt lucky to escape with a draw against a much higher rated opponent
assuming that win cannot be achieved in equal positions, there emerged another
great american genius (after Paul Morphy) named Bobby Fischer who treated draw as a
loss, whosoever be the opponent. Such was his will to win that in our view even if
god would have been an opponent on the other side of the board (which was in fact a
case in his real life), god would have wished a win for his worthy opponent who
fought vigorously against all odds both on and off the board.

Even today, the prodigies like Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Aronian, Anand etc. have
continued the chess legacy of Fischer by surprising the chess world by discovering
new resources yet unearthed, time to time. The style of Fischer's chess can be
understood from the fact that while the legendary Tal in his book "The Life & Games
of Tal" demonstrates that it was opponent's mistake not to choose a particular move
(under time pressure or the complexity of situation) which could have drawn the
game or could even have resulted in a defeat for Tal, Fischer demonstrates in his
book that after a certain move by Fischer, whatever move the opponent would have
made, it would have resulted in a win for Fischer. Fischer left nothing to chance
in chess. His quest for chess perfection is still motivating chess players to
analyse more and more.

Fischer's Opening Innovations:

1. Fischer Variation in the Ruy Lopez Exchange: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6
dxc6 5.0-0 (For White)
2. Fischer Line in tackling Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3
a6 (or e6) 6.Bc4 (For White)
3. Fisher Line in the Nimzo Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6
5.Ne2 Ba6 (For Black)
4. Poisoned Pawn Variation of the Sicilian Najdorf: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 (For Black)
5. Fischer Defence to the Kings Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 (For Black)
6. Kings Indian Defence: Fischer was an expert in this defence. His games must be
studied by any player willing to learn this defence along with Gligoric and
Kasparov games.
7. Grunfeld and Neo-Grunfeld Defences: These were also exceptionally handled by
Fischer
8. Sicilian Najdorf: This was also Fischer's favourite defence.

Fischer's Endgame Innovations:

1. Fischer Endgame: The endgames with Rook, Bishop and pawns against Rook, Knight
and Pawns are called Fischer Endgames due to his countless wins in these endgames.
______________________________

Karpov System: A Complete Chess Accounting

Karpov developed a system of complete chess accounting which enabled him to remain
undefeated at the topmost levels for years and years.While Fischer tried to find
the winning move (and avoid any drawish move) at each stage and lost some games in
order to win, Karpov created a much more objective system of ensuring a win or
escaping with a draw on every move. Hence Karpov system is more objective and
solid.

Elements of the Karpov System:

A. Seven Timeless Reference Points:

1. Material Relationship between the forces: Calculation of material strength is

the starting point for evaluation of any chess position. If the material position
is equal, accent gets shifted to other six reference points. However, if the
material equality is destroyed, then under stable equal conditions, the side having
an advantage must win. To win, the player having advantage shall perform systematic
exchanges reducing the number of active pieces and shall make his material
superiority more and more noticeable and dominant. The goal of player in advantage
shall be to take the position to one of the theoretical endgame positions which he
can handle more confidently. Karpov is a follower of Philidor here "the ability to
play the end of the game is the ability to play". The weaker or defending side (the
side in material loss) usually strives to organize tactical complications in such
situations, to take the struggle into irrational positions in which the opponent's
material superiority looses its significance.

2. Presence of direct threats: Three questions shall be asked constantly during the
evaluation of any chess position:
(i) What is threatening me?
(ii) What else can my opponent do?
(iii) What else can I do?
Result of such evaluation can be - better, equal or worse position. You can't play
good chess without constant, concentrated attention during the game.

3. Position of the kings and their safety:This is quite often the most important
reference point of evaluation of a chess position. A successful attack on the
opponent's king mostly wipes out many of the opponent's pluses in a chess position
and leads to the biggest material losses of all kinds. With same side castling, the
main method of destroying the opponent's position is to exploit a weakness in his
pawn cover. But in the cases of opposite side castling, the number of attacking
methods increases significantly. Typical plan of attack in opposite side castling
is - "Pawn Storm" the goal of which is to destroy the pawns covering the opponent's
king and to open lines for a decisive attack by the pieces. When we have our
advanced pawns in front of the opponent's king, the lines of attack can be opened
much more easily.

4. Possession of open lines: Important lines are files, ranks and diagonals.
Control over these lines have significant influence over evaluation of a chess
position and if other points are equal leads to a better game.There are four
strategic plans based on fighting for different types of open lines:

(i) Breakthrough in the Centre: This helps in mobilizing your forces fast to any
part of the board.

(ii) Breakthrough between the Centre and the Flank: This plan works on the c and b
files.

(iii) Attack on the Edge of the board: The queen rook file (a file) is the
farthest from king in short castled positions. Opening of the outside a file
diverts opponent's forces from his king side towards queen side and provides an
opportunity of opening his king side. This often leads to outside passed pawn too
which plays a significant role in pawn endgames.

(iv) Dangerous Diagonals: Entire opening systems (like King's Indian, Sicilian
Dragon etc. for black's dark squared bishop and Reti and English Openings etc. for
White's light squared bishop) have been created in which right from the first move,
battle is focused on opening and controlling the long diagonals on which the
bishops can display their strength. Quite large sacrifices are sometimes made to
control the long diagonals. Many times a player gives up his rook in exchange of
opponent's bishop to gain control over long diagonal.

5. Pawn structure, weak and strong squares: The position of pawns has always
directly or indirectly influenced the choice of plans, actions of both sides and
finally the result in chess. Pawn structure created in the opening to a large
extent determines the course of the game. One of the most popular pawn structures
is the Carlsbad structure which arises in Queen's Gambit declined (1.d4 d5, 2.c4
e6, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bg5 c6, 5.e3 Nbd7, 6.cxd), Grunfeld Defence (1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 g6,
3.Nc3 d5, 4.Nf3 Bg7, 5.Bg5 Ne4, 6.cxd Nxg5, 7.Nxg5 e6, 8.Nf3 exd), Nimzo-Indian
Defence (1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 Bb4, 4.Qc2 d5, 5.cxd exd) and with colors
reversed in Caro-Kann defence (1.e4 c6, 2.d4 d5, 3.exd cxd, 4.Bd3 Nc6, 5.c3).
In the Carlsbad pawn structure, white has at his disposal pawn minority attack or a
break in the centre with e3-e4 and also king side attack.
Black's defence usually depends on the course of action taken by white and consist
of counter attack with pawns or pieces on the king side, positional methods like
creation of a defensive line including b7-b5 or piece control over the c4 and b5
squares and also undermining of the centre or a counterattack on a queen side
castled position. .

6. The Center and Space: There are five basic types of pawn positions in the centre
and there are fairly precise plans of attacking and defensive play for each of
these positions:

(i) Closed Center with Fixed Pawn Chains: These arise after the Ruy Lopez, the
French Defence or the Kings Indian Defence openings. The game moves to the flanks.
Attacks take place on the side with open lines or where superiority of forces can
be created in the shortest time. In the cases of Opposite side castling, the attack
always occurs on the side where opponent's king is located. Plan of Attack: Flank
attack with a pawn storm to clear a path for attacking pieces.
Plans of Defence: 1. Counter attack on the other side. 2. Put obstacles on the way
of opponent's pawn attack.

(ii) Static Center with Central Pawns fixed in pairs: Characteristics are a
manoeuvring battle for the central squares and switching of the attacks to the
flank at an appropriate moment. We need to keep in mind that a peaceful center is a
necessary condition for flank attacks on the opponent king. Hence, the plan of
action is - 1. Obtain the initiative with a peaceful center. 2. Look for an active
play on the flanks.
(iii) Dynamic Center where final position of the pawns is not yet fixed: These
arise after half open openings and Sicilian Defence games. These can transpose to
any of the other four pawn positions. Thus we need to keep a careful eye on the
center and to forsee upcoming changes. In fact, we shall convert this position to a
position which suites our playing style or the playing situation (we want sure-shot
win or draw is also acceptable). We need to be cautious towards opponent's flank
attacks too.

(iv) Mobile Center where any of the central pawns can move: This is a feature of
Evans Gambit, Alekhine's Defence, the Grunfeld Defence and some other openings. The
main method to handle a mobile center is to blockade it. An attack on a central
pawn forces it to advance after which it should be blockaded and the weakened
squares in front of the pawn shall be occupied with our pieces.

(v) Open Center where there are no pawns in the center: These arise after the Ruy
Lopez, the King's Gambit, the Slav Defence and the Queen's Gambit Accepted. Absence
of central pawns in this type of center takes the game to sharp active tactical
piece play. Action plan is to take possession of central lines and important
central squares.
Plan of Attack: 1. Achieve a superiority in the center. 2. Create weaknesses in
your opponent's camp. 3. Make a coordinated piece attack on the side or center
where opponent is weak.
Plan of Defence: 1. Defend the weak squares. 2. Offer piece protection to the flank
under attack.

7. Development and the position of pieces: As per Karpov, the most important law of
chess is - Restricting the mobility of our opponent's pieces and increasing the
domination of your own pieces. There are seven methods for restricting your
opponent's piece mobility:

(i) Make opponent's piece occupied with the defence of another piece or an
important square.
(ii) Make your opponent's piece tied down with covering a valuable piece or an
important square.
(iii) Make two or more of the opponent's pieces or important squares simultaneously
under threat.
(iv) Make your opponent move a piece unfavorably when the moved piece destroys an
established connection (blocks another piece's line of action or takes an essential
square away from it).
(v) Make the square(s) to which an opponent's piece can move attacked by your
pieces.
(vi) Make the square where your opponent's piece can move blockaded or occupied
with your piece or opponent's piece.
(vii) Make the opponent's pieces' paths obstructed by your own or opponent's
pieces.

B. Chess Accounting: This shall be performed in following stages:

1. Stage One: Compare Reference Points - After comparing the positions on the basis
of above seven reference points, a player can determine whether he is in advantage
or loss position. Selection of plan in stage two is dependent on this estimation of
the position.

2. Stage Two: Choosing a Plan - A player shall choose an attacking or defensive

plan depending on the objective evaluation of the position in stage One.

(i) Better Position: If a player has got an advantage in development, he should try
to prevent his opponent from completing the mobilization of his (opponent's)
forces. To achieve this, the player in advantage shall choose as the opportunity
arises, moves that present concrete threats, forcing the opponent to waste time and
energy deflecting the threats. Often such moves are tactical blows to open the game
and get to the opponent's king more quickly.

(ii) Equal Position: In equal position, as a rule proceedings go peacefully.

Unnecessary aggressive actions might only ruin one's position. Usually a long
period of positional or tactical maneuvering starts, during which both sides try
hard to avoid weaknesses in their position and try to create weaknesses in the
opponent's camp.

(iii) Worse Position: In worse position, the main task of a player is to slow down
the opponent's attack. The best method to slow down an attack is to simplify the
position by exchanging the opponent's attacking pieces. Once a player has slowed
down the opponent's attack, his next plan shall be to prepare a counter attack.

3. Stage 3: Strengths & weaknesses of chess pieces: Karpov also studied the
limitations of different chess pieces and developed methods to trap each one of
them. A set of such studies are available in the book mentioned below.
_________________________

Karpov System: A Complete Chess Accounting

Karpov developed a system of complete chess accounting which enabled him to remain
undefeated at the topmost levels for years and years.While Fischer tried to find
the winning move (and avoid any drawish move) at each stage and lost some games in
order to win, Karpov created a much more objective system of ensuring a win or
escaping with a draw on every move. Hence Karpov system is more objective and
solid.

Elements of the Karpov System:

A. Seven Timeless Reference Points:

1. Material Relationship between the forces: Calculation of material strength is

the starting point for evaluation of any chess position. If the material position
is equal, accent gets shifted to other six reference points. However, if the
material equality is destroyed, then under stable equal conditions, the side having
an advantage must win. To win, the player having advantage shall perform systematic
exchanges reducing the number of active pieces and shall make his material
superiority more and more noticeable and dominant. The goal of player in advantage
shall be to take the position to one of the theoretical endgame positions which he
can handle more confidently. Karpov is a follower of Philidor here "the ability to
play the end of the game is the ability to play". The weaker or defending side (the
side in material loss) usually strives to organize tactical complications in such
situations, to take the struggle into irrational positions in which the opponent's
material superiority looses its significance.

2. Presence of direct threats: Three questions shall be asked constantly during the
evaluation of any chess position:
(i) What is threatening me?
(ii) What else can my opponent do?
(iii) What else can I do?
Result of such evaluation can be - better, equal or worse position. You can't play
good chess without constant, concentrated attention during the game.

3. Position of the kings and their safety:This is quite often the most important
reference point of evaluation of a chess position. A successful attack on the
opponent's king mostly wipes out many of the opponent's pluses in a chess position
and leads to the biggest material losses of all kinds. With same side castling, the
main method of destroying the opponent's position is to exploit a weakness in his
pawn cover. But in the cases of opposite side castling, the number of attacking
methods increases significantly. Typical plan of attack in opposite side castling
is - "Pawn Storm" the goal of which is to destroy the pawns covering the opponent's
king and to open lines for a decisive attack by the pieces. When we have our
advanced pawns in front of the opponent's king, the lines of attack can be opened
much more easily.

4. Possession of open lines: Important lines are files, ranks and diagonals.
Control over these lines have significant influence over evaluation of a chess
position and if other points are equal leads to a better game.There are four
strategic plans based on fighting for different types of open lines:

(i) Breakthrough in the Centre: This helps in mobilizing your forces fast to any
part of the board.

(ii) Breakthrough between the Centre and the Flank: This plan works on the c and b
files.

(iii) Attack on the Edge of the board: The queen rook file (a file) is the
farthest from king in short castled positions. Opening of the outside a file
diverts opponent's forces from his king side towards queen side and provides an
opportunity of opening his king side. This often leads to outside passed pawn too
which plays a significant role in pawn endgames.

(iv) Dangerous Diagonals: Entire opening systems (like King's Indian, Sicilian
Dragon etc. for black's dark squared bishop and Reti and English Openings etc. for
White's light squared bishop) have been created in which right from the first move,
battle is focused on opening and controlling the long diagonals on which the
bishops can display their strength. Quite large sacrifices are sometimes made to
control the long diagonals. Many times a player gives up his rook in exchange of
opponent's bishop to gain control over long diagonal.

5. Pawn structure, weak and strong squares: The position of pawns has always
directly or indirectly influenced the choice of plans, actions of both sides and
finally the result in chess. Pawn structure created in the opening to a large
extent determines the course of the game. One of the most popular pawn structures
is the Carlsbad structure which arises in Queen's Gambit declined (1.d4 d5, 2.c4
e6, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bg5 c6, 5.e3 Nbd7, 6.cxd), Grunfeld Defence (1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 g6,
3.Nc3 d5, 4.Nf3 Bg7, 5.Bg5 Ne4, 6.cxd Nxg5, 7.Nxg5 e6, 8.Nf3 exd), Nimzo-Indian
Defence (1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 Bb4, 4.Qc2 d5, 5.cxd exd) and with colors
reversed in Caro-Kann defence (1.e4 c6, 2.d4 d5, 3.exd cxd, 4.Bd3 Nc6, 5.c3).
In the Carlsbad pawn structure, white has at his disposal pawn minority attack or a
break in the centre with e3-e4 and also king side attack.
Black's defence usually depends on the course of action taken by white and consist
of counter attack with pawns or pieces on the king side, positional methods like
creation of a defensive line including b7-b5 or piece control over the c4 and b5
squares and also undermining of the centre or a counterattack on a queen side
castled position. .

6. The Center and Space: There are five basic types of pawn positions in the centre
and there are fairly precise plans of attacking and defensive play for each of
these positions:

(i) Closed Center with Fixed Pawn Chains: These arise after the Ruy Lopez, the
French Defence or the Kings Indian Defence openings. The game moves to the flanks.
Attacks take place on the side with open lines or where superiority of forces can
be created in the shortest time. In the cases of Opposite side castling, the attack
always occurs on the side where opponent's king is located. Plan of Attack: Flank
attack with a pawn storm to clear a path for attacking pieces.
Plans of Defence: 1. Counter attack on the other side. 2. Put obstacles on the way
of opponent's pawn attack.

(ii) Static Center with Central Pawns fixed in pairs: Characteristics are a
manoeuvring battle for the central squares and switching of the attacks to the
flank at an appropriate moment. We need to keep in mind that a peaceful center is a
necessary condition for flank attacks on the opponent king. Hence, the plan of
action is - 1. Obtain the initiative with a peaceful center. 2. Look for an active
play on the flanks.

(iii) Dynamic Center where final position of the pawns is not yet fixed: These
arise after half open openings and Sicilian Defence games. These can transpose to
any of the other four pawn positions. Thus we need to keep a careful eye on the
center and to forsee upcoming changes. In fact, we shall convert this position to a
position which suites our playing style or the playing situation (we want sure-shot
win or draw is also acceptable). We need to be cautious towards opponent's flank
attacks too.

(iv) Mobile Center where any of the central pawns can move: This is a feature of
Evans Gambit, Alekhine's Defence, the Grunfeld Defence and some other openings. The
main method to handle a mobile center is to blockade it. An attack on a central
pawn forces it to advance after which it should be blockaded and the weakened
squares in front of the pawn shall be occupied with our pieces.

(v) Open Center where there are no pawns in the center: These arise after the Ruy
Lopez, the King's Gambit, the Slav Defence and the Queen's Gambit Accepted. Absence
of central pawns in this type of center takes the game to sharp active tactical
piece play. Action plan is to take possession of central lines and important
central squares.
Plan of Attack: 1. Achieve a superiority in the center. 2. Create weaknesses in
your opponent's camp. 3. Make a coordinated piece attack on the side or center
where opponent is weak.
Plan of Defence: 1. Defend the weak squares. 2. Offer piece protection to the flank
under attack.

7. Development and the position of pieces: As per Karpov, the most important law of
chess is - Restricting the mobility of our opponent's pieces and increasing the
domination of your own pieces. There are seven methods for restricting your
opponent's piece mobility:

(i) Make opponent's piece occupied with the defence of another piece or an
important square.
(ii) Make your opponent's piece tied down with covering a valuable piece or an
important square.
(iii) Make two or more of the opponent's pieces or important squares simultaneously
under threat.
(iv) Make your opponent move a piece unfavorably when the moved piece destroys an
established connection (blocks another piece's line of action or takes an essential
square away from it).
(v) Make the square(s) to which an opponent's piece can move attacked by your
pieces.
(vi) Make the square where your opponent's piece can move blockaded or occupied
with your piece or opponent's piece.
(vii) Make the opponent's pieces' paths obstructed by your own or opponent's
pieces.

B. Chess Accounting: This shall be performed in following stages:

1. Stage One: Compare Reference Points - After comparing the positions on the basis
of above seven reference points, a player can determine whether he is in advantage
or loss position. Selection of plan in stage two is dependent on this estimation of
the position.

2. Stage Two: Choosing a Plan - A player shall choose an attacking or defensive

plan depending on the objective evaluation of the position in stage One.

(i) Better Position: If a player has got an advantage in development, he should try
to prevent his opponent from completing the mobilization of his (opponent's)
forces. To achieve this, the player in advantage shall choose as the opportunity
arises, moves that present concrete threats, forcing the opponent to waste time and
energy deflecting the threats. Often such moves are tactical blows to open the game
and get to the opponent's king more quickly.

(ii) Equal Position: In equal position, as a rule proceedings go peacefully.

Unnecessary aggressive actions might only ruin one's position. Usually a long
period of positional or tactical maneuvering starts, during which both sides try
hard to avoid weaknesses in their position and try to create weaknesses in the
opponent's camp.

(iii) Worse Position: In worse position, the main task of a player is to slow down
the opponent's attack. The best method to slow down an attack is to simplify the
position by exchanging the opponent's attacking pieces. Once a player has slowed
down the opponent's attack, his next plan shall be to prepare a counter attack.

3. Stage 3: Strengths & weaknesses of chess pieces: Karpov also studied the
limitations of different chess pieces and developed methods to trap each one of
them. A set of such studies are available in the book mentioned below.
_______________________________________
Kasparov System: An eternal quest for the Chess Truth
Kasparov System

Now let us discuss the thinking system of one of the greatest players (sometimes
called the greatest) of Chess Sir Gary Kasparov. There are two strengths of
Kasparov's Thinking System. First is that he absorbed most of the chess thought
developed before him as beautifully expressed in his "My Great Predecessors" series
of books. Second strength is his concept of three elements in the game of chess -
1. Material, 2. Time and 3. Quality of Position. Kasparov many times traded
material to gain time (faster reach towards opponent's king/ valuable squares) or
to improve the quality of position (making all the pieces/ pawns effective even if
they are of lower value than the opponent's higher value ineffective pieces). There
is an important difference between Karpov System and Kasparov System. While Karpov
System stresses more on endgame and says that middlegame shall be converted into
favourable or equal endgame as soon as possible, Kasparov System gives equal
emphasis to all the phases of chess game - Opening, Middlegame and Endgame and
transition phases. Kasparov says that yes Endgame is very important but the goal of
opening is to get a favourable middlegame and main fight is in the middlegame whose
goal is to get a favourable endgame. So, Kasparov System prohibits Overdependence
on endgame but stresses on equal importance to all phases of a chess game.

1. Space Advantage: Gary Kasparov is the greatest exponent of Space advantage in

chess. He studied, innovated and applied many openings to achieve the space
advantage and was able to exploit it to the fullest.

2. White's Night on f5: Gary Kasparov as white liked to put his knight on f5 and
put everlasting pressure on the black's king.
3. Switching the sides: Kasparov stressed on controlling the centre and switching
the focus of attack from one side to the other swiftly (usually from Queenside to
Kingside).

4. Complex Positions: Another feature of Kasparov's style of play was his expertise
on solving very complex chess positions (especially middlegame positions) quite
accurately. Most of his opponents were surprised by the winning solutions found by
Kasparov of the complex positions which they thought equal or even inferior.

5. Bringing the opponent out of his comfort zone: Kasparov stressed that opening
preparation or ability to solve complex positions shall make a chess player able to
bring his opponent out of his comfort zone either in the opening or in the
middlegame (through a calculated risky play).
________________________________________
Kramnik System: A System of Cool Positional Perfection
Mr. Vladimir Kramnik developed a system with extreme positional orientation.
Current World Champion Mr. Vishy Anand has once said that Kramnik never looses a
game. Kramnik's method of winning can be described as following:

1. First take each one of your piece at its positionally correct square so that it
can exert maximum pressure on the opponent position. Also keep looking if your
opponent is not getting any tactical advantage during this process. If so, handle
the tactical nuiances also keeping in mind the positional correctness. Keep
patience.

2. Only when all your pieces have reached their positionally correct squares,
launch aggressive attacks on opponent weaknesses.

3. Follow prophylaxis by not allowing your opponent to take his/ her pieces to
their positionally effective squares. So determine the positionally correct squares
not only for your pieces but for your opponent's pieces too. Then bring your pieces
to their positionally effective squares and do not let your opponent do so for
himself at the same time. Chess is a continuous struggle of occupying best squares
for your pieces and not letting your opponent do the same. (Oh I heard armies
follow the same principles while fighting a war. So chess is similar to real
battleground).

4. Long and Complex Positional Maneuvers: This is a key element in Kramnik System.
His positional maneuvers are often so long that his opponent gets confused that
what is Kramnik doing. The positional accuracy in Kramnik's games is just
overwhelming.

__________________________________________

Topalov System: Tactical Chess at its best

Vaselin Topalov, the FIDE world champion of 2005 tournament has a very attractive
style of tactical play. He is a known crowd pleaser. His thinking system can be
described as:
1. Take the game to risky, unclear lines in the opening or in the middle game.
2. Use your superb tactical skills to come on top in the endgame.
3. Be prepared to use long endgames to win the game.
4. Take attacking initiatives, calculated risk and have computer like accuracy.

Using his system, Topalov on many occasions, has won so many games in a series in a
tournament that he gets accused of cheating but that is his natural ability.
__________________________________________
Anand System: A Sherlock Holmes type deep but quick investigation at each move
Vishwanathan Anand, the current chess world champion since year 2007 and who has
won FIDE world championship five times in years 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012 has
a tactical style of play but adjusts to situation very quickly.

In one of the series by Sir Aurthur Conan Doyale, Sherlock holmes describes how he
reached a certain conclusion. He says that he links one evidence to other, gets an
obvious conclusion, then links this conclusion to another evidence, gets another
conclusion and doing this again and again reaches a completely un-obvious
conclusion described by many as a genius one.

Anand's System of chess thinking in my view matches a bit with Sherlock Homes style
of investigation. At each move he links one improvement to other and finds a series
of moves which will finally lead to success. So, his immediate moves or not
obviously devastating but a series of moves are finally winning.

In some way, Anand's system of play is similar to Capablanca but Anand has got very
strong in opening analysis too. Like Capa, Anand also makes chess very simple with
his very aggressive but solid style of play. Anand's preparation in openings has
been his forte. Another factor which has helped Anand is his intutive ability to
calculate a deep series of moves very quickly. So a certain sacrifice is looked as
a mistake by opponent as it has been played very quickly (especially when Anand has
made several mistakes too in the past) but has actually come out of deep
calculation. So, these quick moves by Anand are more dangerous than normal or moves
coming out after long thinking.
__________________________________________
Carlsen System: Versatile Openings, Deep Positional Play and Accurate Endgames
Magnus Carlsen, current World Champion (after winning the challenge to Vishy Anand
in Nov. 2013 for the throne of FIDE World Chess Champion) has a very deep
positional style of play with very accurate endgame ability. Also, Carlsen has
experimented with so many new openings at the topmost levels and taken the game to
his analysis area and won. Even the inferior positions coming out of not so strong
openings have been defended very well by Carlsen and won or drawn at the end.

As a young player, the first book read by Magnus Carlsen is said to be "Find The
Plan" by Bent Larsen. This book is an open ended chess thought book. It gives
positions, author gives his views and then tells reader to think more. Carlsen is
said to have spent hours with the positions in this book. May be this advise has
prepared Carlsen to find a win in the positions declared as dead drawn or even lost
previously. Originality of analysis and planning has been the main strength of
Carlsen which has made him reach and retain the top position in FIDE chess rating
list at such young age.

Carlsen System of chess thinking can be described like this. Suppose you are
playing at club level at short time controls like Blitz or Bullet games. There will
be ameture players making so many tactical mistakes and you will keep winning game
after game (If you are stronger player). Then if you are playing at classical time
control at state or national level, then players will not make much tactical
blunders but they will commit positional mistakes and by exploiting their
positional judgement errors you will win. But if you are playing at International
Levels (IM or GM level), then your opponents will not make any obvious tactical or
positional error and you will have to exploit very minute and insignificant
positional or tactical mistakes and win the game and at the same time you will need
to avoid any such opportunity for your opponent. And then if you are fighting for
the throne of World Championship, then your opponent is the World Champion himself
and to win it you will have to create opportunities for yourself through very long
well prepared positional maneuvers. Thats what Carlsen did recently in November
2013 and succeded. The decisive games were all thought to be drawn by experts world
over but Carlsen created a winning opportunity for himself by long maneuvers and
exploiting very small errors by the opponent.

It also looks that Carlsen has studied the play by software like Houdini or Rybka
very closely as it has been reported that his moves match with the first choice of
these software very closely (It has become Carlsen's natural ability to reach this
level of perfection). One more thing we could observe that Houdini and Rybka also
take the game to draw position against strong software and then through long
maneuvers create an opportunity to win for themselves. So, Carlsen has a similarity
with these software in this regard.
___________________________________________
Smirnov System

Grand Master Igor Smirnov of Russia has developed a system of chess thinking based
mainly on activity of the chess pieces.

The System is quite practical and easy to apply in actual games:

Opening Phase:
1. Control the center with pawn moves first and then with knight moves.
2. Move your long range pieces like bishops and rooks as close in opponent area (as
close to control the squares near opponent's king as possible). In the opening
phase, only bishops need to be moved.
3. Castle king or queen side as per the particular situation and opening
requirements.
4. Once the center pawns, knights and bishops get developed, connect your rooks by
moving your queen and then centralize your rooks by bringing to d or e or c or f
files. This step is mostly forgotten by amatures and must be taken care off.
5. Opening phase gets completed once all your pieces get developed and king becomes
safe.
____________________________________________
he Grand Synthesis:

Let us first discuss current budding chess players' dilemma:

Strategic vs Tactical, Positional vs Combinational: This is the biggest confusion a

budding chess player has today. Many players are talented enough to make very good
and deep combinations but are thrashed by their coaches that they must play
positional chess. On the other hand, many players are slow maneuvering positional
players but are forced to make brilliant combinations by coaches. Though on higher
levels (say above 2000 FIDE), one has to be very good both positionally and
combinationaly but below that a new player especially a child must be allowed to
enjoy his game in the best style which he naturally likes.

Which phase to study most - Endgames, Middlegames or Openings: Most of the books
recommend that endgames shall be studied first because endgames teach you the exact
power of each piece or pawn and precision in your moves. Many endgame situations
emerge at some part of your board in the middlegame and opening phases themselves
and you can use your endgame knowledge to gain advantage at that part of the board.
For example, delivering check mate with a bishop and knight may not occur actually
in your game but the coordination which you learn by studying such ending helps us
in achieving bishop and knight coordination in the middle game phase too. Though
many argue that what is the benefit of studying endgame when a chess game can end
in opening itself and keep studying opening traps all their life. Though opening
traps are a good part to study but after knowing some traps, your job is to avoid
falling yourself into it but stressing too much on them may not get you too far
especially at 60:30 or 90:30 time controls as your opponent comes prepare with all
those traps and may not fall into it and you situation may get spoiled positionally
in getting that trap. Hence, equal emphasis on all three phases and in-between
transitions too can only help one become a great player. Though starting with a
mastery on endgames is an excellent idea in a sense that an endgame expert is
always confident of winning the game as any chess game is finally going to enter
the endgame.
Calculation at each move - Generation of candidate moves: Following system can be
applied on each move in chess:

Always watch closely, your opponent's last move or better set of moves made by him.
In this aspect chess is similar to cricket where a batsman has to always watch the
bowling hand of the bowler and bowler the batsman position.

1. Check for Mate & Attacking possibilities: Always check if you can mate your
opponent's king with your next move. If yes just mate him and you will win the game
whatever the situation be on the board.
If your next move or set of moves have no possibility of mating your opponent's
king, then check if your opponent is going to mate your king on next move or in a
set of moves and if yes find the escape plan or a precise plan to mate your
opponent's king before he does that.
Even if there are no mating possibilities, check for the attacking possibilities.

2. Check for combinations: At each move, check if your opponent has laid some
combinations for you. If yes, think how you can refute that. If no, think if you
can put some combination. Also, check if your combination does not affect you
positionaly much. Combinations can be checked as per following elements and their
combinations:
(i) Discovery: My piece is shielding an opponent's piece from attack from another
of my pieces. Now if my shielding piece moves so that it attacks another opponent's
piece, then one of the two opponent's pieces is lost. And if my piece delivers a
check after moving then opponent's piece is surely lost and it is called discovered
check.
(ii) Skewer: If two of your opponent's heavy pieces fall in the same range (side or
diagonal) of one of your pieces (Bishops or Rooks), opponent will have to loose one
of those pieces.
(iii) Fork: If your pawn, bishop or knight attacks two or more of your opponent's
pieces in different directions, it is called fork. Opponent will have to loose one
piece in most cases.
(iv) Back rank mates: If your opponent's king on first or last rank has no place to
move any rank above (due to pawns), he gets mated. Many combinations are based on
this theme.
(v) Pawn promotions: If one or more of your pawns reaches last rank, it gets
promoted to the piece you want and you gain massively.
(vi) Pawn breakthroughs: Through a jugglery of pawn moves, you can gt a passed pawn
and queen it.
(vii) Pawn storms: You may take a series of pawns ahead and create big problems for
your opponent's king.
(viii) Smothered Mate or attack: If your opponent's king, queen or any piece except
knight is surrounded by your opponent's pieces and there is no place to escape then
if your knight attacks it from a safe place (from where it can not be taken), you
will be able to mate your opponent or take that piece.

3. Perform a thorough positional analysis: A six step MOSCOW system (developed by

Michael Stean though not in this exact name) can be used to perform positional
analysis:

(i) M - Minority Attack: Often it is said that if your opponent has got more pawns
in one side than you, he has all probability to create passed pawn and trouble for
you. But Minority attack is a clever technique through which you having less number
of pawns can create trouble for your opponent. Mastering this tool can help you a
lot in real games and leave your opponent with backward or isolated pawn.
(ii) O - Outposts: An outpost is a square in opponent area which cannot be attacked
by opponent pawns. A piece (mostly a knight but may be bishop or rook too) on a
central outpost applies significant pressure on the opponent and controls the game
quite efficiently in your favour. Pawn structures quite often generate outposts. If
you have more number of outposts than your opponent, you can control and win the
game provided you can occupy those outposts in time.
(iii) S - Space: Essence of chess is mobility of pieces. Hence, if you have got
more space in middle-game, your pieces can move more freely and can even help you
in switching attack from one side of the board to the other side and win the game.
If your opponent has got less space, it is your duty to restrict him further so
that his pieces get maximum difficulty in coming out.
(iv) C - Colors (White Color or Black Color strategy): Positional Chess quite often
depends on controlling the white squares or black squares in your opponent's camp
(mostly near opponent king) through your long range piece - bishop. Bishop in fact
is the most helpful piece in positional play. Many openings and middle-games are
based on this color strategy.
(v) O - Open files & diagonals: Open files help your rooks and queen to reach the
squares in your opponent camp (mostly near opponent king) faster and mate the
opponent. In fact, if your opponent king is at the first or last rank and your
rooks or rook and queen reach seventh rank (if you are white) or second rank (if
you are black) than your winning chances are quite high. Similarly, open diagonals
help your bishops create maximum damage to your opponent.
(vi) W - Weak Pawns: If you can create weak pawns in your opponent camp (isolated
pawn, backward pawn, doubled pawns, too advanced pawns, hanging pawns etc.) and
limit such weaknesses in your camp, your chances of winning the endgame are quite
high.

4. Planning & Judgement: This is the most difficult part. Judging the opponent's
plans accurately (you must know your opponent's prospects more than him) and
creating counterplans. Also, Creating concrete plans for yourself and judging which
one will be most difficult to be countered by the opponent. Karpov's Seven
reference points (MTK OPSD) for chess accounting can be used to judge a position
accurately:
1. Material relationship
2. Threats
3. King Positions
4. Open Lines
5. Pawn Structure
6. Space & Center
7. Development & mobility of pieces

Though it is a matter of personal taste but I found GM Moskolenko's five

touchstones very useful in planning in my recent tournament win. These touchstones
are MDPKT:
1. Material
2. Development
3. Placement of Pawns and Pieces
4. King position
5. Time: This is not the time on chess clocks (though that is also one very
important factor) but the speed at which an attack can be organized. For example,
in one endgame I promoted my pawn to queen and my opponent also did the same on
next move (both of us were having one rook each but my opponent an extra pawn too)
but since my queen came into action first, it delivered mate with the help of my
rook and opponent could not get time (a move) to bring his queen in action and try
to win or draw the game.

At each move, we can plan next move keeping these five touchstones in mind. In
fact, Development goes into background after first ten moves or so (if you have
developed properly which is the main goal in the opening phase of chess game) and
we need only take four touchstones MPKT into account. Also, I found that with white
pieces, you may develop in 8 to 10 moves but with black pieces, full development
takes a bit of more moves (or time) say 12-15 moves.
5. Play the Endgame thoroughly: Prepare a set of key endgames and apply your
knowledge skillfully in the middle to endgame transitions and in endgame.

6. Creativity & Innovation: Whatever chess study we perform, we must understand

that in chess, we need to outwit our opponent at some point or the other. Hence, as
the level grows, our own creativity & innovation ability takes center stage and at
GM or Super GM levels, we have to devise and discover chess knowledge and concepts
on our own. At other levels also, our own winning moves do matter though we need to
be through in winning technic too.