Understanding the Middlegame

How to Analyze Positions, by Richard Westbrook (2003).

The opening is a race to develop your pieces When trying to figure out what to do next, it
and control the center. It usually lasts 10-15 is important to keep the four elements of
moves. The middlegame begins when all, or chess in mind:
most, of your pieces are developed. How do
you figure out what to do next? Grinding out (A) Material or Force
variations based on the first move(s) you see (B) Time
is a poor method of thinking. You must learn (C) Space, and
to think about each side s strengths and (D) Position, which usually means pawn
weaknesses. structure.

First, here
s some background. There are six It is possible to have the advantage in any, or
well-known concepts which form the basis of all, of the four main elements.
middlegame theory.
(A) Material is easy to assess superficially,
(1) In chess, only the attacker can win. By but the finer points of positional analysis
definition, "check" is an attack; "checkmate," include being able to determine which pieces
is an attack from which there is no escape. are effectively posted, which are not, and
what that means. Also, how much extra is
(2) The right to attack belongs to the player enough to win in any given situation?
who has the better position. Therefore, no
attack can be successful from an inferior (B) Time is a temporary advantage which is
position without a mistake by the other side. closely linked to mobility and space. An
advantage in time must be exploited quickly;
(3) The side with the advantage not only has otherwise your opponent may catch up.
the right to attack, but also has the obligation
to attack or else risk losing the advantage. (C) Space is also a temporary advantage, but
for a different reason than time. As more
(4) There are two types of attack: strategic pieces are swapped, space becomes less
and tactical. We usually think of attack being important. In practice, this is harder to exploit
amongst the various pieces: close, hand-to- than time. It may take many moves before the
hand combat. But, an attack can be conducted effects of superior space are evident.
at a distance and in the form of maneuvering
for a better position. (D) Positional elements usually relate to
pawns, but also include issues related to
(5) The attack must be aimed at the pieces. A good, but by no means complete,
opponent's weakest spot(s). While one list for novice players consists of
weakness may be fatal if severe enough, two
weaknesses are usually needed as objects of Pawns:
attack. It may be that the second weakness Isolated, Doubled, or Backward
does not become clear until enough pressure Holes (in front of backward pawns)
is brought to bear on the main weakness. Passed pawn
Protected passed pawn
(6) The inferior side must be prepared to Outside passed pawn
defend, and to make concessions while at the Pawn majority (or minority)
same time trying to keep alive some Outside pawn majority
possibility of a counter-attack.

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 Understanding the Middlegame
How to Analyze Positions, by Richard Westbrook (2003).

Pieces: the near future. It may mean that you can

Superior development sacrifice a pawn, or even the exchange, to
Strong outpost square launch an attack.
Control of an open file
Control of a half-open file Once you have identified the elements you
Control of a diagonal think are most important, and have made your
Rook(s) on 7th rank assessment as to who has the advantage, you
Bishop pair on an open board still have to make a plan. Make your plans
Poor piece placement according to the following five questions:
Poor king placement/field
(I) King Safety
To add to the confusion, some of these (II) Material Balance
advantages are permanent, some are (III) Pawn Structure
temporary. Furthermore, some overlap, are (IV) Mobility
interdependent, and can be categorized in a (IV) Tactics
number of different ways.
(I) King Safety really belongs under Tactics,
How can the student make sense of all this? but is of such great importance that it
Obviously, it is impossible to consider deserves to be the first question considered!
everything each and every turn. Your king must be protected; your opponent's
must be destroyed. If there are immediate
First, identify all the elements you can about threats, they must be met first!
the position from each side's perspective.
Give the positive elements one point; subtract (II) Material: It is well known that a rook is
one point for negative elements. Add up the the minimum extra force required to mate
plusses and minuses for each side. The against a lone king; it is less well known that
difference in the totals gives you an indication a rook-plus-piece superiority in the king's
of who has the advantage and how large it vicinity are generally required for a direct
may be. mating attack to be successful. Of course,
there are countless exceptions, but as a
If there is no difference the position is even. principle of attack, it is an extremely useful
Try to create a new plus for yourself or a new guideline.
minus for your opponent.
The technique for winning with a material
The side with a difference of plus one has a advantage is to increase it until it is enough to
very slight advantage, but the side with a force checkmate. You will either win more
difference of plus two has a good position. pieces, or you will win more pawns (which
The player with a plus of one or two should might be promoted). Conversely, the only
try to use them to get the initiative and/or compensation for a material deficit is counter-
increase pressure. attacking chances.

The side with a difference of plus three has a (III) Pawn structure is critical to the middle-
distinct advantage, probably worth about a game. Think of pawns as the skeleton of the
pawn! That does not mean that a pawn is position. The pawn formation will determine
available for immediate capture, but you may (generally) who, if anyone, controls the center
be able to force the win of a pawn, or more, in and has an advantage in space.

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 Understanding the Middlegame
How to Analyze Positions, by Richard Westbrook (2003).

Pawn structure also defines strong and weak The position comes from is very instructive. It
squares, and suggests strategic and tactical is Whites move (after 10...b6). White is
possibilities, i.e., where your pieces can be already better after skirmishes in the opening.
most effectively posted and the "flow" of the Lets ask our five questions:
battle. The items above can guide your
thinking about how to use the pawn structure. 1. Both kings are safe for the time being.
2. Material is even.
(IV) Mobility of the pieces is greatly 3. White has the better pawn structure. He
influenced by the existence of pawns. You has a solid pawn chain d4-e3-f2; Black
can not have superior mobility without having has a backward pawn on a half-open file.
an advantage in space! Whereas King Safety, 4. White has a lead in development of 4:3,
Material, and Pawn Structure are usually and he has an advantage in space due to a
permanent in nature, an advantage in mobility pawn on 4th v. pawn on 3rd. His bishop
is temporary! If you do not use it, you will pair is very mobile and aggressively
lose it! A lead in development will evaporate placed
if you do not actively strive to maintain it. So, 5. There are no immediate tactical threats.
make a threat if you can!
Now, let
s assess the plusses and minuses:
The process of increasing your advantage in
Mobility/Space consists of (1) restraining and We can give White plussesfor
weakening your opponent, (2) breaking Better development;
through, and (3) "cashing in" -- which can be Bishop pair;
a mating attack or capture of decisive Strong outpost square (e5).
material. White has no minuses.
Total for White: +3.
(V) Tactical assessment is examination of
direct and indirect threats available to each Black has no plusses!
side. Of course, these threats are aimed at We can give Black minusesfor
weaknesses cited above and are based on such Backward pawn on a half-open file; and
elements as double attacks, pins, weak pawns, A poorly placed piece (Ne7).
unprotected pieces, and a host of other Total for Black: -2.
themes, the thorough study of which is
absolutely essential to making progress in Thus, White is up fiveand therefore has a
chess. very strong position even though there is no
immediate attack. The plan is to maintain his
Next, let
s apply the ideas discussed above. lead in development by moving his queen, a-
cuuuuuuuuC rook, or even his knight, and should target
(rDb1w4kD} Black s weak c-pawn.
70w0whp0p}
6w0wDphwD} 11.Qc2!
5DwDwDwDw}
&wDB)wDwD}White to move. Also strong is 11.Ne5! occupying the outpost
3DwGw)NDw} square, but I did not want to encourage Ng6
2P)wDw)P)} just yet. The immediate 11.Rac1 is good, too.
%$wDQDRIw}
v,./9EFJMV 11... Bb7

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 Understanding the Middlegame
How to Analyze Positions, by Richard Westbrook (2003).

12.Ne5 Qd6 attack against his king and to build an attack

13.Rfd1 against White s.

White puts a rook on the same file as Black

s 20.Qxf7+!!
queen which creates some tactical threats.
It is very common for novice players to give
13 Ng6 check just because it is possible to do so. You
14.Rac1 must have a good reason for giving check!
For example, you force the king to a worse
White increases the indirect pressure on square; you also fork an unprotected piece;
Blacks c-pawn. you gain time to bring another piece into the
attack, etc.
14 Nh4
15.Bf1! Qd5 Here, the check is much stronger than simply
taking the bishop! (The bishop isnt going to
Blacks threat is easy to counter, but it must run away!)
be seen! Take time to look for threats
checks, captures, double attacks, etc. 20... Kh8

16.f3 Nh5?! Black s position is obviously bad. He is two

pawns down, his king is in danger, and his
Better is 16...Rac8, but Blacks situation is pieces are all poorly placed. How should
critical in any case. Moving the knight away White continue?
from the center weakens e4, so -
21.Qxe8+! Rxe8
17.e4! Qd8 22.Nf7+ Kg8
18.Bb4! 23.Nxg5 h6
24.Nh3!?
White has cleared the c-file for his heavy
pieces and now must win material. White makes a move typical of novice and
intermediate players he moves the
18 Re8 threatened piece out of danger. However, it is
not always necessary to move such a piece if
This move is practically forced, because you can give check, or attack a piece of equal
18c5? loses material to 19.dxc5 which or greater value than yours which is being
uncovers an attack on the queen. Note that f7 attacked. White overlooked two very strong
is now weak. replies:

19.Qxc7 Qg5?! (A) 24.Nxe6! Rxe6 25.Bc4 Kf7 26.Bxe6+

Kxe6; and
This is desperate attempt to counter-attack. (B) 24.Bb5!
Better is 19Qxc7 even though that allows
White to get a rook to the seventh. In general, 24... Kh7
an attack can be reduced in strength by 25.Rc7 Bc8
trading the most important piece usually the 26.Rdc1 10.
queen. Black is offering his bishop to slow the